A fortuitous meeting one day aboard a beautiful old Sydney
Harbour Launch called “Kanungra” brought Mike
together with Des Kearns, now the project manager for the Gaff Ketch Yacht Cariad.
Sadly we just received the news that Kanungra has been
trashed after being holed on a reef and then dragged off
and ripped apart. She was a treasure now gone!
The Gaff Ketch Yacht Cariad has provided a once in a lifetime opportunity for
Mike to use his skills on a unique piece of wooden boat
history, along with the obvious boost to our cruising
kitty.
The
Cariad website provides a complete and comprehensive
coverage of the project. This page is about our personal
experience here.
Cariad was brought into PSS Shipyard for restoration and
it was hoped that much of the original boat could be retained
however like many projects of this age, on closer inspection
it was found that she needed much more.
The steel frames have taken 9 months to be completely
replaced and besides ongoing work on the rudder, masts
and booms, only now can they begin planking.
The old planking has not been wasted as Mike has set them
aside and begun to build unique pieces of furniture including
a seat out of the old stern piece still bearing Cariads
name.
Everything that could be saved has been, including beautiful
brass fittings that are polished up and waiting to return
to her!
The search for suitable and available timber to replace
these planks has been both an experience and a nightmare.
The first journey into Laos was to be a standard search
for mills providing quality boat building timber, whereby
Mike was to inspect the logs to ensure their quality then
arrange for appropriate milling and shipment to the yard.
It was not to be and even now they do not have the full
amount needed although Martin, a New Zealand saw miller
with 5 years experience in Laos, is on the hunt and hopefully
this saga will soon come to an end.
Martin found beautiful teak for her decks and coach houses
and this work has begun.
Language barriers are another
hurdle that adds to the difficulty of the job. The staff
are a mix of four races, some of which speak two languages,
enough to get messages and instructions through most of
the time.
The carpenters are very skilled in their own style of
boat building but of course this differs from Cariads
construction so new ways need to be learnt.
Purchasing anything requires both local knowledge and
mastery of the language so once again extra effort plus
patience and tolerance is needed until the desired product
is found.
Mike wanted to write this piece on the Gaff Ketch Yacht Cariad, but I have written
this for the time being because he simply does not have
either the time or the energy left at the end of the day
at present!
• ASTA Internship Opportunity for Summer 2010
SUMMER INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS AND RECENT GRADUATES
The American Sail Training Association (ASTA) is seeking summer interns who are interested in working in a unique nonprofit environment. Interns support the staff in various components of the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Race Series.
Responsibilities include:
? assisting with merchandise/information booth, marketing surveys, maintaining online social networks (blogging, videos, [...]
• Critical Changes to Licensing for Mariners
To all current and future license holders and vessel operators from the ASTA Ship Operations and Safety Committee regarding Critical changes to licensing.
It is important that you take the time to comment on this ruling!
The USCG has solicited comments on the proposed rulemaking to fully implement the STCW Code (International Convention on Standards of Training, [...]
• It?s good to be back!
It?s a bright new year here at the American Sail Training Association. After a brief hiatus off to recharge and refocus, we are ready to plunge headlong into all of the exciting new projects we have planned for 2010.
But first, a brief look at the accomplishments of 2009. It was a pretty banner year so read on [...]
• Greenwich, CT to host HARBORFEST in April
In an exciting and unique approach to fundraising for public education, the P.T.A of the Hamilton Avenue Elementary School of Greenwich, CT is producing HARBORFEST, April 23rd – 25th, 2010 in Greenwich Harbor. All net proceeds will go to support the school.
ASTA is proud to support this event. Our TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® team has met [...]