Boat in build pics (Squadron 78)

[jfm]

JFM
When you sat down at the beginnining of last year and thought about building your new boat, have you now got exactly what you wanted and envisioned or is there something you're not quite happy with.
.
Most building projects seem to overun in cost and time so i was wondering if you're happy with the end cost considering what a superb vessel you have ended up with.

It definitely hasn't over run in time, though since it was launched in Dec2010 4 long months have passed kind of faffing about with boat shows and waiting for a ship, but they were winter months so it doesn't matter. It hasn't over run in cost - boats of this size seem less susceptible to that than buildings, fortunately. I have got exactly what I asked for except of course you learn things as you go and if I were to do this again I'd make a dozen mods, but they'd all be small and their absence from my boat doesn't spoil it

To give you a flavour, the mods I'd do would be things like: relocate crew cabin airco further from bed to reduce noise; slightly narrow the table legs in the inside dinette; delete the two drawers under the helm seat and have instead a massive cupboard for the dyson and stuff; put a twin-to-double conversion sliding bed in both twin cabins, not just one. None of these is a big deal. There are a few other things not specced right but they are easily retrofittable and I'm already doing these: tecma loo in crew shower room (done); better integrated smoke alarm system wired to central info panel (parts bought and job will be done soon); additional porthole in trnasom (bought the part, not fitted yet); galley extractor fan needs to vent to outside not recirculate thru a charcoal filter (I'll be cutting a big hole in the superstructure side soon to make this mod; it's a bit daft of Fairline not to have done this and I didn't notice till now, urgh)

So, sorry to sound smug, but it's all pretty perfect and the few things that aren't are mostly becuase I didn't think of them during the build, but I can retro fit them. The big mods like the internal stairs, different furniture, different mastercabin layout, 3rd fuel tank, are all working perfectly and I am totally delighted with them. Fairline and Essex Boatyards have been great at helping me with a few tweaks post delivery too, so customer relations are very nice, which makes for a nicer experience all round of course. Yes, I'm really very pleased with the whole thing!

I'm itching to get to Valencia to unload, probably Thursday. The freight ship is approaching Gibraltar Straits as I type. i plan to be on my berth in Antibes this Sunday, weather etc permitting and touching lots of wood

 

[benjenbav]

i plan to be on my berth in Antibes this Sunday, weather etc permitting

Yeehaa. Way to go, jfm. We were supposed to be in SoF next week but, "Events, dear boy. Events" have intervened. Heyho

 

[jfm]

Yeehaa. Way to go, jfm. We were supposed to be in SoF next week but, "Events, dear boy. Events" have intervened. Heyho

Ah well the season is young. Give me a shout the next time you're inspecting the estate down there, and drop by for a boating fix

 

[nyx2k]

its refreshing to see someone getting exactly what they wanted, ordered and paid for.
hope you have a great season on match.

 

[jfm]

Brief update for anyone interested in delivery trip.

The freight ship is slow. MATCH just pinged my phone and texted to say it is just west of Gibraltar at about 1500hrs UK time. There's no way it will get to Sagunto (nr Valencia) by midday Thursday. 8pm is more like. Ship has 430nm to run, @ 7.8-8.1kts

So the plan is to unload from the ship 8am this Friday then take the following route eastwards:

Starting waypoint above is Sagunto. First stop is Sant Carles marina, home of Hurricane and John 10056, for fuel. This first leg is 67miles running, and I have 150nm range approx because I'm light on fuel. I will fill up at SC, then head to the second stop which is Palamos marina, another 140nm. I spoke to them and they were very helpful about a berth Friday night. I will not get any more fuel in Palamos becuase I arrive too late/leave too early.

Saturday morning I'll leave Palamos v v v early and head for Antibes (last waypoint on chart above) in a one-er (210 mile leg). I should have plenty of range for this but if for any reason I need to hurry or have got my calcs/burn rate wrong I have the option to stop for fuel near Toulon at Le Lavendou or Porquerolles (3rd waypoint on the above chart). That would reduce the 210 mile leg to 150, and the distance since my Sant Carles fill up from 350nm to 290nm. But I don't expect to need to do that extra fuel stop

Winds for crossing Golf du Lion Saturday look very nice. No sign of a mistral on the weahter models. Woohoo!

 

[mjf]

yep - thats one slow ship at 8knots not weather reduced.

Its a 5 day trip normally surely so ETA ought to have been yesterday - has she been elsewhere or stopped even en route?

I find this a bit odd 'cos steaming at such a slow speed and what with the port time too I simply cannot see how the owner can be competitive on the bulk side - sure fuel money is reduced but hey ho someone has to fund the ship (capital and op costs - crew, insurance, spares etc)

 

[jfm]

I don't get it either mjf

AIS coverage on Portugal coast is poor, and that explains lack of info. There was AIS data as she passed Lisbon, but nothing on the Algarve coast till now, at Gibraltar. Believe it or not she is approaching Gib at 4.8kts. She is going into a headwind F6 and the only explanation I can guess is that the captain seemed very cautious when I spoke to him about damaging/carrying my boat (he said it was his first time with a big boat on deck (despite fact he was about 50yo) and told me he would be taking it very carefully!

She has not been anywhere else; she has sailed directly from Soton to where she is now, but at 6-7-8 knots only. Quite a lot at 6 knots.

His AIS is now saying eta Sagunto 8am this Friday 15th April. I guess there is no point arriving before then as he cannot make Thursday evening now anyway. Provided I unload fairly quickly that morning my trip plan as per above still works. I can amend it lots of ways if the timings slip. Ultimately all i ever wanted was to have the boat in Antibes for Easter holidays and to be fair that deadline looks like it will be hit, so PSP are doing what I asked of them; full marks to them. (I have guests on board over Easter, and am meeting up with NickH, Hurricane and the s'seeker predator Warlock as featured in Hurricane's posts)

But I agree with you that I don't see the economics here - this ship left Soton 3pm last tuesday and will have taken nearly 10 days to do a 4-5 day trip.

 

[rafiki_]

Brief update for anyone interested in delivery trip.

The freight ship is slow. MATCH just pinged my phone and texted to say it is just west of Gibraltar at about 1500hrs UK time. There's no way it will get to Sagunto (nr Valencia) by midday Thursday. 8pm is more like. Ship has 430nm to run, @ 7.8-8.1kts

So the plan is to unload from the ship 8am this Friday then take the following route eastwards:

Starting waypoint above is Sagunto. First stop is Sant Carles marina, home of Hurricane and John 10056, for fuel. This first leg is 67miles running, and I have 150nm range approx because I'm light on fuel. I will fill up at SC, then head to the second stop which is Palamos marina, another 140nm. I spoke to them and they were very helpful about a berth Friday night. I will not get any more fuel in Palamos becuase I arrive too late/leave too early.

Saturday morning I'll leave Palamos v v v early and head for Antibes (last waypoint on chart above) in a one-er (210 mile leg). I should have plenty of range for this but if for any reason I need to hurry or have got my calcs/burn rate wrong I have the option to stop for fuel near Toulon at Le Lavendou or Porquerolles (3rd waypoint on the above chart). That would reduce the 210 mile leg to 150, and the distance since my Sant Carles fill up from 350nm to 290nm. But I don't expect to need to do that extra fuel stop

Winds for crossing Golf du Lion Saturday look very nice. No sign of a mistral on the weahter models. Woohoo!

John, I assume that you will be buying fuel in bulk from a specialist supplier rather than a marina? I know of one in the SofF region (I have some shares) that spcialises in custom boat supply.

 

[MapisM]

the captain seemed very cautious when I spoke to him about damaging/carrying my boat (he said it was his first time with a big boat on deck (despite fact he was about 50yo) and told me he would be taking it very carefully!

Well, you wouldn't expect him to tell you about the sex, drug and rock & roll party going on in your master cabin during shipment, would you...?

All the very best for your Med cruises. With my boat on the hard till the end of may, I'm very envious at the moment!

 

[jfm]

John, I assume that you will be buying fuel in bulk from a specialist supplier rather than a marina? I know of one in the SofF region (I have some shares) that spcialises in custom boat supply.

For the delivery trip I have to use marinas becuase I cannt gurantee meeting any appoointment times for tanker deliveries. In fact my whole trip plan above has been torn up 5 mins ago becuase due to congestion in the prot I'm now being told I will unload 1400 on Friday not 0800. Bludy shipping!

In France on my home berth I always do tanker refills. My berth allows a tanker to drive right up to the transom. Hitherto i have used www.fioul83.fr and found them very good, and occasionally I have used Onyx, but I'd be pleased to hear of alternatives

 

[MYAG]

Brief update for anyone interested in delivery trip.

The freight ship is slow. MATCH just pinged my phone and texted to say it is just west of Gibraltar at about 1500hrs UK time. There's no way it will get to Sagunto (nr Valencia) by midday Thursday. 8pm is more like. Ship has 430nm to run, @ 7.8-8.1kts..............

Blinkin Ek, just checked on MT and she is down to 4.9kts, now that is bizzarely slow.

It could be cos of the weather, the skipper wanting to keep water off the bow/decks. The seas through the straits can get quite nasty when the winds get up, particularly from the east.

 

[rafiki_]

For the delivery trip I have to use marinas becuase I cannt gurantee meeting any appoointment times for tanker deliveries. In fact my whole trip plan above has been torn up 5 mins ago becuase due to congestion in the prot I'm now being told I will unload 1400 on Friday not 0800. Bludy shipping!

In France on my home berth I always do tanker refills. My berth allows a tanker to drive right up to the transom. Hitherto i have used www.fioul83.fr and found them very good, and occasionally I have used Onyx, but I'd be pleased to hear of alternatives

I can't recall the name at the moment, but will check when at home, and will fwd it. I'm pretty sure it is none of the above.

 

[oceanfroggie]

Great thread, great story, enjoyed following it.

Best wishes for many happy care free years cruising.

Ps. Glad you didn't see this incident in Ireland last week http://www.afloat.ie/port-news/ferry-news/item/15299-ferry-falls-from-crane-in-galway-docks/

Nor this report http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0408/1224294223305.html

Or this one http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0407/galway.html

 

[Lozzer]

Hi John

Dont fuel at Porquerolles, it is an arm and a leg!!!

We went in there last year for shelter, only way to get a berth was to put fuel in. If I recall it was about 1.7 euro per litre. Even a splash and dash is expensive.

I would throttle back for first few hours to make sure you have range (I think you are good for it anyway), then open taps.

Currently here in Marbella we have Easterly 6-7's with a good 2 - 2.5m sea running. If you have wind over tide in the straits then that will not be pretty (talking from experience). Could be why your captn is so slow.

Alas my telephoto lens will not get a pic of Match going past but I will give her a wave, mind you at 4 knots that could be some hours away..

All the best.

 

[jfm]

Hi John

Dont fuel at Porquerolles, it is an arm and a leg!!!

We went in there last year for shelter, only way to get a berth was to put fuel in. If I recall it was about 1.7 euro per litre. Even a splash and dash is expensive.

I would throttle back for first few hours to make sure you have range (I think you are good for it anyway), then open taps.

Currently here in Marbella we have Easterly 6-7's with a good 2 - 2.5m sea running. If you have wind over tide in the straits then that will not be pretty (talking from experience). Could be why your captn is so slow.

Alas my telephoto lens will not get a pic of Match going past but I will give her a wave, mind you at 4 knots that could be some hours away..

All the best.

Thanks Lawrie for the real time sea info. Yup, those seas combined with the captain's super-cautious nature (as mentioned above) must explain the 5kt running. Add a bit of wind-against-tide to the mix and i can image it is a bit nasty there. I'm not too worried, because my boat is well lashed to take that sort of motion, and it is midships

Yes all noted re Porquerolles. Le Lavendou would be better or at least cheaper. I'm not expecting to have to make that fuel stop anyway, though I will have to work out a new schedule now that the unload of my boat is estimated at 1400 on friday

 

[jfm]

Ps. Glad you didn't see this incident in Ireland last week

Yup I saw it on the net OceanFroggie. I read there were 3 people on board during the lift, injured a bit. Hope they're ok. It will be interesting to see the official report in due course. Off the cuff, the sling at the aft (heavy) end of the boat, the one that snapped, just didn't seem big enough for the job

The crane that is lifting my boat off in Spain is rated 250t so I'm not expecting a "Galway job"

 

[Richard Shead]

I am sure

Yup I saw it on the net OceanFroggie. I read there were 3 people on board during the lift, injured a bit. Hope they're ok. It will be interesting to see the official report in due course. Off the cuff, the sling at the aft (heavy) end of the boat, the one that snapped, just didn't seem big enough for the job

The crane that is lifting my boat off in Spain is rated 250t so I'm not expecting a "Galway job"

That more than one person on here has had (secret) visions of a "crane incident" and so far the post has been free of it, I think we should keep it that way until she hits (slowly) the water...just in case!

 

[Hurricane]

Brief update for anyone interested in delivery trip.

The freight ship is slow. MATCH just pinged my phone and texted to say it is just west of Gibraltar at about 1500hrs UK time. There's no way it will get to Sagunto (nr Valencia) by midday Thursday. 8pm is more like. Ship has 430nm to run, @ 7.8-8.1kts

So the plan is to unload from the ship 8am this Friday then take the following route eastwards:

Starting waypoint above is Sagunto. First stop is Sant Carles marina, home of Hurricane and John 10056, for fuel. This first leg is 67miles running, and I have 150nm range approx because I'm light on fuel. I will fill up at SC, then head to the second stop which is Palamos marina, another 140nm. I spoke to them and they were very helpful about a berth Friday night. I will not get any more fuel in Palamos becuase I arrive too late/leave too early.

Saturday morning I'll leave Palamos v v v early and head for Antibes (last waypoint on chart above) in a one-er (210 mile leg). I should have plenty of range for this but if for any reason I need to hurry or have got my calcs/burn rate wrong I have the option to stop for fuel near Toulon at Le Lavendou or Porquerolles (3rd waypoint on the above chart). That would reduce the 210 mile leg to 150, and the distance since my Sant Carles fill up from 350nm to 290nm. But I don't expect to need to do that extra fuel stop

Winds for crossing Golf du Lion Saturday look very nice. No sign of a mistral on the weahter models. Woohoo!

Yup
Warm that passage up for us - we will be following in your tracks on Sunday/Monday
Different fuel strategy though.
JW has full tanks at the moment and a range of 300 miles.
So, I figured that a gentle run to Palamos and refuel.
That should leave me with just over 200 miles to go to Antibes
A guy from our marina brought a Predator from SoF to Sant Carles about 3 weeks ago - they got ripped off for fuel in Toulon as well.
Maybe your fuel supplied in Antibes will be more gentle with us
We will overnight in Palamos and if the weather is good we will probably anchor in some of the following places - maybe some folks on here can advise any good anchorages for this time of the year.

We hope to arrive in Antibes late Thursday.



Click chartlet to link to a larger image

I believe that Warlock is leaving ahead of us (tomorrow) - they want to pop into to see some friends in Port Leucat - their aim is to cross the Gulf of Lions on Monday at the same time as us - we both TX AIS so we should be able to meet up on the French side.

I wonder what will go wrong!!!

 

[Lozzer]

Hurricane

The Porquerolles are absolutely stunning and at this time of year you should find space to tuck into anchorages. Some are restricted so do check chart.

Just outside main harbour on the right as you go in is nice and also around the headland, in fact it is all nice.

If wind is blowing in wrong direction then go across to mainland.

Try L'Estagnol or Cap Benat.

On route to Antibes I would suggest anchoring off Cannes between the Islands Honorat and Margaurette, they are wonderful.

Of course the man to tell you is the king of the thread as this is his stomping ground.

Suffice to say it is lovely there and I for one cant wait to go back.

 

[jfm]

Hurricane. Porquerolles Island is lovely. It's far enough west that it is exposed to Mistral winds, but if you get a day without thse it is stunning. The nicest anchorage is the red blob. Stunning. The green blob is quite nice too, but not as nice as red blob. The blue blob is a nice beach but little - you'd have to go round in the tender. The port is ok, nothing wildly special

This is the port

This is the red blob beach - stunning. Camera looking SW direction. you can go ashore

That's it for Porquerolles island.