Sailngdog,
What is it with you? Didn’t you read all of my threads? I tried to explain the whole story the best way I could and yet you are digging into it!
Look, we all (crew) agreed to it in order to make the trip. The crew was not experienced at all, but with lots of enthusiasm. I would not sail across with them without some assurance that they will make it. To accomplish this I was planning to sail with them before we sail and train them in changing sails, reefing, cooking etc. This was my preferred approach to this trip. Not intentionally somehow it did happened otherwise.
The main job was to replace the engine. I and one of my permanent friend-crew (mechanic genius!) in two days pooled out the engine (something that half a dozen of boatyard mechanics said it’s impassible without cutting out whole center-cockpit and they needed 3 months to do the job!). We decided about it at last moment, as it was not pure and simple boatyard work – sailors have had to do this instead – perhaps that is why many boatyards do not like sailors! It was not bad job at all, but time consuming. Then crew prepared the engine compartment (messy job) and relatively fast got the new engine in. During installation and all connections we run into number of unexpected small problems that definitely burned our enthusiasm (needs for new parts, shipping, driving few hours for, making new parts, broken
exhaust system, running time etc). Remember, either crew or I never installed any engines before. We wanted to sail across and we wanted to help in it as much as we could – IT WAS OUR MUTUAL INTEREST AND DECISION- no one was forced to do this. At all this time we were progressing. Boat was generally ready for sailing as it is approved for Class I Ocean Racing guided by ISFA. Empting the drawers and storage compartments is normal for any transatlantic trip as it needs to be reorganized according to the needs and number of crew (space is crucial and I don’t care how new the boat is or how good the owner/captain is). This trip was not weekend trip but 30 days of sailing at sea, and I would never go at sea with crew that I don’t know and don’t believe that they will succeed. Ideal if we can know each other at least for one week or more). After that, crew checked all the sails (12) and that took as about a day to drag it, open it on the grass check for rips, learn how to stow them etc. We (I and other crew member helped me) painted the bottom in about 2-3 hours as it was previously prepared for it. Crew did all the wood work (oil) and varnished companion-way boards. After three days as guests at my house crew decided to live on the boat. They stayed in that mess plus mess tied-up to the engine work and constant moving around all the guts of the boat, regardless.
Again, remember that they were not chartering, delivering the boat or myself across the Atlantic – they were doing all of it for there own trip and safety. Yes, because of that I prepared whole program on the other side of the Atlantic and they were big part of it.
The crew did tremendous work helping with installation of the engine and other things.
The boat was ready for sailing on time and the trip did not happened anyway and it was very unfortunate. We fail as a crew we fail as a sailors and I take all the blame. Indeed, crew was offered any trip they want at any time convenient to them.
Saildog, you seem to understand the whole story without accounting other views and facts. Past weekend I sailed with one of the crew members from that time (he is from Europe) and went thru the whole story again. We will sail again, and again, and again, and Kacper will sail with us as well if he only wants to as he stated it in one of his threads. Other two crews I don’t care as they ever intended to sail with us to begin with and their contribution to the trip were minimal.
Therefore, what is it you want to proof by making the whole story a horror story?
We can discuss the aftermath or consequences, or how to, etc, but as much as I am respecting your opinion I can not agree to your “burn it out” tendency’s.
What are your intentions?
Captkris
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