Last time I wrote, the head line was not very much happens, well I can’t say that this time, actually a lot of thing has happened.

Annapolis

The main event in Annapolis was of course the boat show, Annapolis host the largest sailing boat show in the USA. And for most boat owners such event is almost like Christmas for a child, they can often not sleep the day before Christmas, and it is almost the same for an engaged boat owner. We had of course bought tickets for the opening day, they cost a little bit extra but instead there are less people and the exhibitors are not yet tiered of all the visitors. For the one interesting in buying a new boat there is an excellent opportunity to look at a lot of sailboats, did not count them, but someone told me there were around 200 large and small sailboats on display and I do not doubt that. There were a lot of sailing boats displayed. Jeanneau, Beneteau, Hanse, Lagoon etc had up to 6-8 models each on display

There must be a big job to arrange all the jetties and boats.

The only boat that we looked at was the Amel 55.

But for us who already have a boat, we are more interested in looking at all he gears, gears that we have used the last couple of months to convince our spouse are absolutely necessary and of course must be bought at the boat show as we then can make a very good deals on absolutely necessary items such as (I have not wrote anything here as for a boat junky almost everything boat related are “absolutely” necessary hence the list would be very long).

For us the Boat show was a big disappointment. The area for equipment was not very large at all and very few exhibitors with very modest booths. Even Gothenburg boat show has more boating gears.  The other strange thing was that the sales representatives that were working in the booths were, I must say substandard, one felt more that one disturbed them when entering their booth than as a valuable potential customer, very strange, there were of course a few exceptions.  The advantage for us, we saved a lot of money, but with some more professional sales persons the turnover could easily be doubled. I hope my American friends don‘t feel offended by this criticism but I have praise a lot of other things we have encountered in the USA, and everything can’t be perfect. When talking to sailing friends they had similar thoughts.

Well needed lunch break after a few hours at the fair with some of our B 50 friends also at the fair

We were 5 boats that meet up with Jimmy Cormell who was at the show to promote his new book 200.000 miles. We took the opportunity the get a photo of him together with us.

We had a great time in Annapolis meeting many old friends, making new friends attending dinners and other activities, so do not be put off for my criticism of the fair it’s a great place to visit especially in connection with the Boat show.

Everything is not fun, such as cleaning out all the lockers, all this things come from part of the cockpit locker.

Cleaned and treated with white vinegar to keep eventual mold away, but it was much tougher for Kerstin, She did the same with all lockers inside the boat.

Georgetown

We left Annapolis and went to Georgetown, Sassafras River where Kerpa will be hauled out for the winter.

Kerpa at the Marina in Georgetown, the marina looked a bit old fashioned and run-down, but we have been recommended to keep Kerpa there for the repair, they have done some very good job on other boats, and the impression from the employee was very good.

They had some run-down boats as well with a lot of ….

Mosquitoes on.  We washed Kerpa very thoroughly, but keeping mosquitoes and bird dropping from the boat was a battle one cannot win.

Vultures, did not know they were to be seen there, I wondered what they feed on and was told they feed  on dear killed by cars! Must be a lot of dears to feed all these vultures.

Kerpa being washed, one cannot see it very well on the picture, but the area above the water line was very dirty with yellow stain, we were a little bit worried that we would not have time to clean it off before we left, but cleaning was to our surprise included in the cost to haul out. They used a magic product on a sponge as seen on the picture, waited a few minutes and all dirt just vanished as a miracle, washed it off with water, it took maybe 15 minutes to get most of the hull almost shining, we often use a day or two to get it off, so of course I asked what kind of miracle product do they use?

Well it is Myraic Acid they said, I’m a Chemical engineer so I should know that acid but I have never heard about it, I just thought they pronounced it a little bit strange so I did not asked more, I just google it when I get home I thought. Via google I later found out it is hydrochloric acid! A very strong acid and a low cost chemical, but one should be very care full with it as it is a very strong acid that must be diluted. The question, is it safe for the vessel? I need to find out because if it is, it’s certainly a miracle product that will reduce the job the get the hull look much nicer with substantially less job at less cost as well. Now I start to understand why a saw bottles of hydro chloric acid in most chandleries in France.

The bottom did not look as I had expected, the front of the keel is painted with “normal” bottom paint and that part is less fouled than the rest of the bottom that has Coper coat as anti-fouling.

When the boat was launched after the temporary repair there was no fouling anywhere as it was pressure washed so the standard paint looks more efficient. We were launched the 30 of July so we have only been in the water for 2½ month, and I did not expect so much fouling.

The fouling on the rudder

Close photo on the bottom a lot of slime and beginning of “grass” the barnacle was on the slime so very easy to get rid of.

We have been in very murky water and a rather long time in brackish water, maybe that can explain the fouling, well not too happy with the copper coat now, but I will give our final verdict after a few years in more “normal” waters such as in the Caribbean.

One important thing was to get the damage after the grounding surveyed and for that I had appointed Olivier Beaute, probably the person who know the Amel boats best in the whole world. He has worked many years on the Amel yard before he started his surveyor business. I was pleased that the insurance company agrees to use him even though he has to fly in from Europe. I offer to pay half of his travelling expenses which they agree to which I think was fair.

The keel got a big blow and the keel bolts needs to be resealed and tightened

Not the easiest area to get to, there were other damages as well, but at least I’m rather sure Olivier has found all the damages, now we only has to wait for the yard to make a cost estimate and the insurance company to pay.

It was chaos in the boat the last days as Olivier needed to get access to all hidden places aboard to inspect for eventual damages. Not easy to cook aboard in this mess.

Fortunately there was a nice restaurant in walking distance from the yard witch served good food at very reasonable prices.

And of course the fantastic hospitality that one meets in the USA. Patrick and Diane who lives a few miles from Georgetown which also have an Amel SM, helped us a lot and invited us to dinner in their lovely home

Olivier the iconic Amel surveyor to the left and Patrick and Diane to the right, the “young” man in the middle are me.

Empty battery compartment, our batteries was totally run-down. The last days we had to shut down the fridge, the batteries could only hold charge enough for the light. We kept our fingers crossed the last weeks as we did not want to buy new batteries just before we should leave and then leave them unattended over the winter.

Kerstin did not need any work out that day, 8 times 25 kg to lift from the boat. Well, as a gentleman I did most of the job….

Last night we spent at Patrick and Diane as our boat was not very comfortable any longer, we are very great full for the help we got. But I must say Americans are very friendly so just that makes it worth sailing to the USA and of course the nice scenery and sailing ground.

What now?

We are in Lagos, Portugal since less than a week back were we will spend the winter.

Lagos, the large marina is just a few 100 meters up the river. We have been aboard a Swedish boat who soon heading for Madeira and then across to the Caribbean. Strangely both Kerstin and I felt a bit envy and wanted to cross we too again!

But we have nice beaches to do our morning walks on, just a few 100 meters away from our flat.

We have already made new friends, there are many Swedes in Lagos.

I have celebrated my 60 birthday with Tapas, the tuna was excellent.

And one thing is for sure, we will enjoy wonderful food in Portugal

Plenty of very nice wines

Fantastic cheese, and of course sea food.

There will not be any sailing for a while, but cheek the Blogg now and then, I will write a little about how we managed the need for electricity, good and bad gadgets, high and low lights, and maybe some other hopefully interesting reading.

The plan for next season is to go north to Nova Scotia and perhaps to Newfoundland, there is need for some more persuasion before Kerstin agree to Newfoundland, to cold and too rough she thinks, maybe she’s right.