XMAS AT THE BOAT YARD

Well Xmas has come and gone for us here in Alimos, Boat Yard, Santa came and dropped a few new yachts into this mess of a yard, goodness knows where he found the room to put them... but they are here... some where.... if you can spot one let me know ....


The Cataramans have been relagated to the outside wall, they provide an additional barrier against the southerly seas that break over the breakwater here... actually its a good place for them... we will see how many remain at the end of winter...LOL>>>



it became apparent that we have alot of work still to do on K3 to get her ready for the start of the season. Never mind the thousands of other yachts that are currently 'Sitting" here in the yard. Their owners will un-doubtly leave things to the last minute as always and rush the whole mess back into the water just in time to make their first charter... some time in April !

So here she is with out her masts on deck.... a very strange sight to say the least



On the good news bad news front.... good news All primer paint and fairing has been completed on both K3 masts, now its a case of sanding and painting the final color coat. Which should happen after the New Years bash....

On the Bad news front.. we had to pull Calypso's mast as she had developed a serious problem with the mast shoe at the bottom of the mast... actually it has more or less disolved, the Clever boat builders had placed the Aluminmum shoe on top of a steel backing plate that connected to the keel bolts. Over the years the electrolysis had eaten away nearly all the underlayers of the shoe... Captain Michael only noticed it about 2 weeks before Christmas when he thought that the standing rigging was a little loose and the 3 spreader rig was bending in the wind causing Calypso to rock in her cradle rather alarmingly...

We both did some basic BN poking around at the bottom of the mast and when his screw driver went right though the Mast shoe... we kind of decided that we had a little bit of a problem..

Any way just as well to find it now rather than at sea while sailing in big winds... So here is Calypso all clean now with NO shitty antifouling left on her bottom, and ready for a primer coat before anti fouling... and her massive 3 spreader 31 meter mast on the ground... god that thing is a monster...




The Crew is off for the New Year, Captain Michael is going back to Croatia to see his Mum.... Uncle Nickos is staying here with the Famaily and our resident BN Kostas is already in Albania. The boss and his lady are off to Prague for a few days to see the sights and freeze my nuts off, So I will take pictures and let you all know what the city is like..

I hope Every one has a great New Year and I will see you all soon

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERY ONE...

CAPT.CHANDLER AND CONNY KEESSEN

CALYPSO ANTI FOULING PROBLEMS

A COLECTION OF PICTURES FROM WHEN WE TOOK CLAYPSO OUT ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO... SHE HAS SERIOUS ANTI FOULING PROBLEMS WITH THE BOTTOM... NOT SURE BUT SOMEONE SOLD US SOME SHIT ANTIFOULING LAST YEAR OR PRIMER OR BOTH... ANY WAY ITS MEANS WE HAVE TO STRIP BACK TO THE PRIMER AND REDO AGAIN THIS WINTER... ANY VOLUNTEERS ?

From CALYPSO HAUL OUT ANTI FOULING

MORE IMPORTANT ANY ONE WANT TO GIVE ME THIER THOUGHTS ON WHY THIS HAPPENENED HEMPELS ANTIFOULING , NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT TILL NOW....

SAIL YACHT OR POWER BOAT

SAIL YACHT OR POWER BOAT

Spent the day taking out the masts from K3, actually its a 3 day process, starting with removing all halyards, electrical wiring and any other connections... loosing up 15 turn buckles, check that everything turns..secure the furling system...call the crane... then lift slowly and lay down on secure barrels?... well what ever you can find that is sound and in good shape.. Now the work begins... strip all gear off, inspect, service, paint masts reassemble and back in the yacht... should be all done by January... weather permitting..

K3 WINTERIZED, HAULED AND CRADLED

Friday saw an early start as we had plans to get K3 to the 'haul out dock' by 0930hrs. Like all good things in greece plans get a little delayed and despite the fact we where on time... the crane operators and haul out crew where a little delayed. So we adapted the classic hurray up and wait mode... patience is something you learn quickly in greece... it was a pleasant morning the first real sunshine we have had all week after  all the clouds and rain that we have had this week.
Stammas (the Crane operator) and the boys finally showed up and we where under way.. Crane fired up and lifting straps placed under the hull.. final check to make sure nothing was forgotten.. speed log pulled, all though hulls open.. ok lift away....
Out of the water she came, pretty clean on the hull too, a little green slime on the starboard boot striping, some fur slime starting to grow on the rudder, otherwise clean as a whistle... quick guys power clean her off and lets roll again for another season.... I think not !!
In Alimos marina they pick yachts up with a 50 ton crane, transport them to a cradle on wheels and then drive them a short diatance to the yard where they pick the yacht up again and place it in the cradle for the winter... not the most efficient way of doing things but given that there is not a travel lift area and the confined space they have to work with... it all seems to work well.
So whats next... K3 in her cradle for winter service and maintenance... we have to prepare the masts for withdrawl and inspection at the end of the month. Along with getting 'Calypso' out of the water as well, all that is scheduled for the end of the month. Meantime the skipper and crew will be taking a week or so off, well working at half speed any way...
Here is a short video of the whole event... enjoy.. more later..

SAILING SCHOOL YACHTS AVAILABLE FOR CHARTER

Many of our students have asked us to help them find a charter yacht for them to use, once they passed thier Skippers exam. With so many 'Bare Boat' charter companies available it is difficult to recommend any one company.  It is also difficult to choose any one model of yacht.
The average sized yacht is around 40 ft and offers 2-3 sleeping cabins, from there your choices are pretty much endless.
We have choosen Jeanneau Yachts as our teaching yachts becasue of thier excellent construction and modern yacht design. They have a high attention to detail on interior construction and excellent deck layouts that make sailing easy and safe.
We can offer our students a 40ft Jeanneau Sun Fizz. The yacht has a 3 cabin layout, with 2 heads. The deck layout is traditional, with wheel steering, and a fully battened mainsail.


"Eleni" was built in 1992 and was the last of her series, she has been in private use for all her life and so is well maintained. The yacht has a 55hp Perkins engine, that offers good auxillary power, especailly when the wind dies off here in the Greek islands.

The school offers 'Elenei' on a daily/weekly charter option... 300 EURO a day...The rate does not include fuel, taxes, yacht expenses.



For bookings and further details please contact the school direct at
information@athenssailingacademy.com  or call 00-30-693-716-3246