Deck view

Just found this picture in a file from Oyster - quite a nice view of the deck!

Insurance - arghhhhhh!

Today I have been trying to figure out which insurance company to use for Askari - trying to compare the terms and conditions is one thing, then you get onto the fact that they all have different cruising areas. So I have done the sensible thing for reviewing latitude and longitude positions and get a globe out....

This very technical globe was given to us by Richard Ayers (a fantastic surveyor and friend) who surveyed our last two boats; we have a great story about him as he flew to Mallorca with Andrew when we bought ReVision II and they ended up sleeping the night on a balcony in the middle of winter after a 'bloke in a bar' found them accommodation....

We love this globe and have actually used it for passage planning - here's the proof!  A very young looking Andrew mid Pacific on Rev2 in May 2006; with the same beach ball globe and Jimmy Cornell's World Cruising Routes - both which will of course have to be packed up soon for Askari....

Enough of memory lane - back to the insurance spreadsheet!

Sprayhood Options

Today's first world problem is whether or not to have an opening window in the sprayhood/dodger. These small decisions can actually be quite a challenge - the idea that you can zip open the front to let the breeze flow through sounds like a good one, however it does mean a reduction in visibility and the potential for leaks. The consensus appears to be keep it simple and just drop the sprayhood when you need to feel the breeze - but then which one looks better (even though all sprayhoods are ugly)???

Maybe see the options next to each other on the blog will help.....  Ours will be graphite grey though.

Update: We are getting a window......

Sea Sickness

We can't help but feel a bit sick when it's a gorgeous weekend, our boat's being built on the other side of the world and then Karen post's this picture of our favourite spot on Rottnest Island on Facebook - just think one day we'll be there with Askari.....

Stark Bay, Rottnest Island by K Jackson SV Aquavitae

Surprise - anyone for dinner??

Quite early on in our build process we decided we would like to change the table on our boat. The standard 475 table probably suits most as it's huge and opens our right over the saloon so we starting talking to Oyster about something that would better suit our needs. 

When we eat inside, which is rare as we like sailing in the warm, there is generally only the two of us. We also liked the idea of something that didn't take over the saloon, which we use more for lounging than eating..... So having an opening table that takes up less space, looked chunky and stylish was the solution we came up with. It has a folder out leaf in the middle and drinks storage underneath.

Oyster provided designs and a plan to show how it could fit and we took the plunge to make the change a few months ago. However, when you make a big change like that there's always a thought in your mind that says have we done the right thing....

But look we are delighted with how it looks and our project manager says he thinks it fits neatly and allows a good amount of room for people while being able to open the steps.

It's just been put in place so they can cut the floor boards today so we were not expecting to see it just yet - what a nice surprise and a perfect treat for Andrew after he just completed a 16 hour working day when he got in to see it.

The process of making the change......

The standard

Oh wow - we liked this but no drinks storage.....

Not for us...

Ah this is what we like
Andrew and John making plans on a 575
at the Southampton Boat Show 2014

The plans

Our New Crew Member

Our last boat had both a wind vane and an electric autopilot, this contingency gave us a lot of comfort given we usually sail with just the two of us. The self steering system acts as our extra crew (they were named Arthur and Malcolm on ReVision II).

As this boat is bigger and we really wanted to have dinghy davits we will have to rely on just one self steering system, which will be a Raymarine Evolution autopilot with linear drive and a spare arm ready for a quick switch over should a failure occur.

We just approved the following installation of the spare arm, which is underneath the bed in the aft cabin and tucks neatly alongside the ducting for the air-conditioning. Now we just need to think of a name for this new member of the crew with his spare arm.....

Cockpit Pedestal

We have just approved the final layout for our pedestal - we have opted to move the Autopilot control to the panel that sits in the companion way and under the spray hood. Given we can control that from the chart plotter at the helm we thought the idea of being able to take control from behind the spray hood made sense..... 

Transom Design

We have just approved the design for the transom vinyl - this is how it will look, complete with the Askari swirl!

A special anniversary

Today is special day as 9 years ago we pulled into Bundaberg on our previous yacht and started making plans for a land life in Australia. We came to Australia with just enough money to make it back to the UK if we couldn't manage to get jobs and a visa, looking back what a great choice we made as the last nine years have been one amazing adventure. We have been to every state, lived in Sydney and Perth had some incredible experiences and met some fabulous people, whilst managing to keep in touch with a lot of special friends from back home plus some we have met along the way.

I shared this memory of the day before we arrived in Queensland (coming from Vanuatu) on my FB page yesterday and got the most likes ever.....

We had planned to go our for an evening sail with friends at Fremantle Sailing Club tonight - however despite being an electrician the batteries were flat (see I am not naming you Mike!) but we had a lovely toast to the last nine years in the cockpit of AV.

Then we got home and yes a video had arrived from Oyster of progress with Askari  - here are some screen grabs.....

You can see they have made amazing progress with the joinery and we are very exciting to see the Washer Drier and Freezer installed - these two items were something we dreamed of having on our last boat and two of Carolyn's three conditions on buying a new boat - the other being the walk around bed. I just don't want to do launderettes of the world again and I have a bit of an obsession with fluffy towels; especially after diving.

The joinery get's put in place and then much of it gets removed for varnishing - probably late January.

Chart Table Coming Together

It's essential on a boat!

Side window in place and water maker control

Galley taking shape - complete with freezer

This is the desk in the aft cabin