Season 2023 Episode Three Launch and we are off

 Season 2023 Episode Three  Launch and we are off .

We think we are ready...

We even managed a better colour match

Oh, the mast head lights are not functional. Andrew from Annabel J went up with his multi meter and removed the two LED bulbs that were only partially functional + the wire seemed compromised. So back to the computer. A new sealed tri light and anchor light was not much more than replacing the two bulbs so that and new wire were ordered.

We met our pals Aidan and Anne for crab sandwich lunch and then for a drive to Innistigue for a walk, what a magical place. 

 Unicorn grazing peacefully 

Sally & Aidan 

 These arrive the next day at the boat yard...did we mention how wonderful the boat yard in New Ross is? The day the stuff arrived it was thunder storms and heavy shower's we thought our pal Andrew had gone home but he was waiting for us getting jobs done on their boat. So this time Michael used the cherry picker and he was able to work at a good height for working at the top of the mast.  Job done, Mora had arrived and was waiting for Andrew to go. 

 Andrew stringing new wire and installing our new mast head running and anchor light.

What wonderful people!

Noel is not good with heights and I'm not good with electrical wiring so this was a huge help. 

 

 Along side, my boots walked into spilled paint so guess who was not let on board till her boots were off!

Full of fuel, food and spares so we head off before high tide yet close to slack water. Heading down the Barrow river is very beautiful and pushing a bit against the tide did not slow us down much. 

 Under way passing the dry dock.

The Wexford muscle fishing boat Wings of the Morning exited the dry dock shortly behind us and over took us just before the railway bridge at cheek point. This is now pinned in the "Open" position which we as boaters find much better then having to telephone for an opening. 

 Wings of the morning thorough the locked open Barrow rail way bridge.  

Lovely sunny light breeze we considered stopping in Dunmore East but went on around the "Hook" to Kilmore Quay. 

 Happy skipper

 Hook light

All was going well, we got the Jib out and cleared the sheets of the mooring lines and set the jib cars. Not enough wind so furled it away an kept motoring. 

Then... 

UGH...

The engine stopped just like that after thirty three miles of no issues. We were at The Greater Saltee Island and under jib alone I was able to maintain about 2 knots of speed. Noel was doing everything he could think of to get the engine working. It seemed starved of fuel. After a supremely frustrating two hours he was spent and exhausted of ideas for what to try next. We at this point were sailing peacefully along at two knots running the range into the harbour. If you were ever going to sail into a small busy harbour this was the ideal speed. We could not raise the harbour master on the telephone nor the VHF so....we published a "Security" call on VHF channel 16. The coast guard responded and the life boat was dispatched. We were met at the harbour entrance and taken under tow. We think we may make the records for the shortest tow and quickest time from call to secured along side. The PR lady was delighted as she got the whole thing on her camera from the end of the pier. Her name is Elaine and joined us on board for a quick visit after we were tied up. 

What a way to start the season.

rnli.org › kilmore-quay-lifeboat-stationKilmore Quay Lifeboat Station - RNLI

Kilmore Quay Lifeboat Station. An all-weather lifeboat has launched from the rural fishing village of Kilmore Quay since 1847.

 Noel with the pick up at a loss as to what to do next. - Nicky the harbour master solved it by "Call Brian, he will sort you out."

Well we could not have picked a better place to have mechanical issues. 2014 we purchased a new Beta engine for Kalinka 1 and the mechanic that did the installation lives and works here in Kilmore Quay + its where John and Carol sail from so when Ron Ruadh gets launched she will be here too. 

 Brian's pump assembly got clear 118 Lts .of diesel in about 20 mins. Wonderful, he came with jugs and Josh.

 New larger welded pick up, hopefully no air leaks. 

Noel was hanging about Kilmore Quay while this was getting sorted I was able to head back to New Ross boat yard and help with raising the mast and putting on Ron Ruadh's sails. 

Loved doing this and had lots of fun, got teased about not leaving after we had left....

Wonder are we meant to get Kalinka 1 back to Canada or what? 

   

Season 2023 Episode Two Commissioning

Season 2023 Episode Two, Commissioning.

Spring commissioning can seem endless but you chip away and it all gets done. 

Remove the tarp and....start from there. 

We have listed the boat for sale onto the two sites that are used here in Ireland. We are not so keen to sell on one hand but then may be its time after thirty years of fun and adventures. We shall see what happens in the mean time we will prepare for sailing back to Canadian waters. 

                                    Noel at the computer sorting the listing and researching. 

   1st up was to sort out our fuel filter. We have upgraded the primary fuel filter to super size.

Then came the brightwork....what a chore that turned into. 

 Tired Noel. 

 Then the taft rail + swim ladder.

 Preparation for anchor locker glass work.

Between all this was the water system working. We are living on the boat while all this is being done so we are very comfortable. We have what is referred to as the VIP stairs in the boat yard which make a wonderful difference. 

 Life lines back in place, now the glass work can begin. Vertigo is no fun up on the hard.  

Life at the boat yard is interesting, their a many distractions and loads of people to chat with.

 

Down in the dry dock, happy John.

 

 The door getting swung into place.

 Michael at the controls.

 John swims the sill.  

 Almost done, big beam along the top and then pumps.  

Between all the jobs that the boat requires are visits to friends, sharing meals and visiting all lots of fun. We have been lent a lovely red car from our pals and its wonderful.

 

 Noel in the anchor locker removing the old hawse fitting for the chain. This is no longer used due to the windlass.  

We got fuel delivered by fork lift to the boat. They use this system with all the various machinery about the yard and for the boats that do not need so much that they need a tanker in but still need a bit of fuel to get going. Wonderful service. This enabled checking for leaks with the new filter and getting our diesel cabin heater running. The heat distribution is much better with the plumbed in air ducts. . 

We took Sunday off to join John and Carol in their rib to travel up the Slaney River from Wexford town with the boat club. That was very social and lots of fun. What a lovely day we had. There were some steering issues on the boat so another boater took us under tow on the way home. They were waiting for us at the crane to haul us out before the tied got any lower. We could have stayed for wood fired pizza in the club house but none of us were keen on driving in the dark so headed back to the house. On our way we purchased fuel for both the diesel car and the outboard pumping from two separate pumps yet at the same bay. The cashier had not had that before. 

Glass work done, clean up and paint remains.

 Noel driving the sky jack. 

 Brail reinstallation of the windlass.

 Fresh bread, lovely to do on a cold day.

Launch was delayed when we learnt that our Scottish outboard was not worth fixing. That was a disappointment but better to know now than somewhere at anchor too far from the shore to row where there is no one around to help fix or the ability to be able to find a replacement. We ended up getting a new four stroke 9.9 Yamaha. The weight of the motor was a surprise and we realized we had been comparing it to a two stroke 9.9. So the list is back when the motor is on its rail mount and we really hope we have not made a mistake with the size of the outboard. Then gradually, finally the job list ran out and we were ready for launch. Now to find a time slot for the travel lift. Its the busy season now and there are restrictions due to needing high tide. We were about on Sunday and Michel came by and said that he could launch us as another boat had changed to a later day in the week. 

 The new prop.

 Ready or not...

We launched about 2 PM and pulled ourselves around onto the pontoon for the night. Noel had to bleed the diesel system again after sorting out a leak near the new super size fuel filter. We let it run for about an hour and a half on the pontoon, all seemed happy so made plans to head away the next day on the tide. The red car went back with John after his boat got towed to the yard earlier that morning. He stores his boat at home but raises the mast and launches at the boat yard. 

How great it is to be back in the water and soon to head off on another summer's adventure.  

Season 2023 Episode One, Winter in Canada then back to Ireland.

 Season 2023 Episode One

We traveled back to Toronto via a direct flight. Luggage for some reason was a massive industry wide logistics problem. We suspect this is the result of pent up energy for travel and lack of inclination for people to commit to working. The problem seemed to bet magnified by social media griping. We are pleased to report apart from a time delay we traveled without issue.

 

Thankfully we had landed in time for Noel's mums century birthday celebrations. His three children had worked together and organized a party that was cheerful and fun. 

Winter passed with my again having the privilege of working with 17 RCSCC Ontario Sea Cadets. We had our sail week end early October with strong winds and inexperienced cadets. Lots of shore based training and fun was had. 

 

Robbie Burns feasts with family and friends.

We then went on a cruise to The Sea of Cortez not a part of the world we are likely to bring Kalinak1 to. The group was with a great crowd of fellow cadet related training people and retired military. Conversations were very wide ranging and interesting. 

Then we were back to Toronto, into the car to drive to New Orleans. We took three days in transit each way. We had booked into a camp site in the suburbs of New Orleans for the Mardi Gras festival. We were there for the week preceding Ash Wednesday. We had our great pals Craig and Michele in their travel trailer at the same park who took us under their wing and were wonderful guides. What a lot of fun and feasts we had. The car camping worked wonderfully. We had sufficient room to move the table in to the tent so we had our "Living area" very comfortable. We slept in the car so were off the ground and the tent would remain standing without the car. Great use was made of this feature to the point that it would be hard to justify the added cost for a furnished camper van. 

  

We visited friends on our way home in North Carolina who spend the winter on their boat. It was great to be on the water again...we had driven 15 hours to get to them...that was exhausting and not recommended. Carl and Patty had a similar marathon of boat work preparing for our visit, we were all in the same boat, exhausted!   

Then back to Toronto for various dentist and doctor appointment's all sorted prior to our travel back to the boat for this years adventure.   

Noel made a new log book for this season.

We had great fun over Easter weekend. My sister made us a felt cat "Ross" for the boat we were included to celebrate our friends "Diamond" anniversary (60Yrs). Got to enjoy Easter dinner with masses and masses of cousins from my mothers side. It was a great start to the season...and next comes the spring commissioning while on the hard at the New Ross Boat Yard.