Cruising Forums

haiqu · 02-28-2014, 03:44 PM

Did the weekly rubbish deposit/mail run/shopping yesterday. In the post was a very nice condition 41yo copy of Hartley's "Ferro-Cement Boat Building" that I scored from a guy in NZ. I've wanted to read this for ages, and it was great to have something to do until the sun comes out again to charge the batteries.

haiqu · 03-01-2014, 02:24 AM

There was a bit of drama on the VHF last night at sundown. Some guy up in the Hawkesbury River was trying to get the water police to attend a boat sinking at its mooring but they couldn't find it. Fortunately it seems as if no-one was aboard at the time.

Some poor boat owner is going to be having a ba-a-a-d weekend when they eventually contact him.

haiqu · 03-02-2014, 05:52 AM

Four days without a glimpse of sunshine. *groan*

haiqu · 03-26-2014, 03:13 AM

Today I had my annual mooring inspection. I was expecting to have to pay for a new 12mm chain but apparently it will last another year. However the swivel and shackles had to go. This marks two years that I've owned Keppelena, and still she sits on the mooring.

Since returning from NZ in January I've slept a lot and achieved nought. The stress of too little money, constantly having to redo things like cleaning and repainting the waterline to remove barnacles, and fixing long-neglected stuff that previous owners allowed to decay has been taking its toll. I still haven't got the engine in yet, and still have trouble contacting the crane barge guy.

My advice to anyone considering a life of sailing is to buy something in usable condition. It doesn't have to be the prettiest boat on the water, but after the first year the enthusiasm wanes unless you can take her out occasionally and have some fun.

Right now it all seems like a chore, and even subsistence living on land would be preferable. I'm sure I'll get over it.

Oldsquizzy · 03-26-2014, 10:16 PM

I think most of us have periods of Blah...All seems to hard...Some it is money some it is health or the weather and others just time...Hang in there, You're posts have kept a lot of people entertained so they come here and read you'r progress.
Have missed the daily updates whilst doing much the same.
Eleuthera is usable so if ever in Perth give us a tingle....

haiqu · 03-27-2014, 05:49 AM

Thanks Squizzy. I'm sure the constant rain and gloomy skies we've been experiencing in Sydney lately have a lot to do with my viewpoint. I just keep looking for that better day. With 160W of solar panels I barely have enough power to use the dunny right now.

Meanwhile, Del just set sail out of Lyttleton in Chiara Stella, heading to the Southern Ocean. Bon voyage, buddy.

haiqu · 03-28-2014, 02:41 AM

When will it end? Got an email from my brother today. He was called to the yacht last Tuesday after the neighboring yachtie noticed Shenoa was low in the water. They used two pumps for an hour to pump the water out, which was above the floorboards again.

This is a direct result of neglect. The yacht was allowed to bounce around in the mud for several months after I left, and most likely the repairs I made last year have been damaged. Then the yacht was moved and even though my brother noticed high water levels he didn't go back and investigate until a crisis occurred. I am not happy today, at all.

Not one little bit.

haiqu · 03-28-2014, 09:25 AM

Smile, they said, things could be worse. So I did, and they were.

Today will go down in memory as probably the lowest point in my life. I sent an email to my sister, who is the co-executor of my father's estate, asking for accounts information so I could finalize taxes for 2012-13. I already paid it but didn't have the official figures. Well, she tells me that because of a challenge to the will the income will have to be taxed before distribution - according to her "experts" anyhow - which means that about 40% of the money evaporates before I even see a cent. Add to that the cost of accountants and lawyers and it doesn't look like there will be a lot left to live on.

I'm already struggling to survive on $300pw and because I don't live on land getting a job is impossible. If indeed I could get one at 61yo with failing eyesight, which is not exactly a plus point for an electronics tech accustomed to working under microscopes.

FML. Seriously. I bought a Lotto ticket, my number must surely be up.

haiqu · 03-31-2014, 02:17 AM

Well, all my financial woes are over. I won the Lotto!

Yep, along with 145,554 other people I will be collecting $30.85 tomorrow. April Fool.

Auzzee · 03-31-2014, 03:34 AM

Scrub up, whack on yer best thongs and head for the casino. $30 will get you a feed and, on the whimp's machines, some entertainment while you aim for a biggie.
Good luck..

haiqu · 04-01-2014, 02:02 PM

Del's latest position report puts Chiara Stella just south-west of the Chatham Islands.

Chiara Stella position report

I'm going to Brisbane at the end of the week to relieve my brother of any further responsibility for Shenoa, and to repair the damage caused by his neglect.