Final Video

I hope everyone had a great Xmas. Here's the link to the video for the final leg from Tonga to Auckland.

Video for Leg 3

Hawaii to Tonga - Video

Here's a link to another video, this one of footage taken on the Hawaii to Tonga leg, also including another dodgy soundtrack.

Video of Leg 2

Home At Last

We have made it back to NZ in one piece!

I did not get to make any post during our stopover in Tonga, but to summarise, we made reasonably good time to Tonga (some slow going through the doldrums), and had far less gear problems than the previous leg. The new crew members settled in well, although the first 24 hours out of Hawaii were horrendously choppy and uncomfortable, leading to some serious sea sickness from some of the guys and perhaps some wonderment as to what they had got themselves into.

While I say we had less gear problems, we did have one significant event when the engine room bilge pump failed, and in the process of  starting up the engine driven pump to clear the bilge yours truly screwed up and managed to blow the engine exhaust apart. Huge kudos go to Simon for his persistent efforts in sweltering heat and humidity to patch it all up and get us going again.

We spent 4 nights in Vava'u, Tonga, and then got under way for NZ, with a beautiful weather window opening up prior to all the nasty shit that has just descended on Fiji and Samoa, and soon to head south to NZ. We averaged over 200 nautical miles per day all the way to NZ, and arrived off Great Barrier after 6 1/2 days. There were only four crew for the final leg, but by dispensing with the mizzen sail altogether we made handling the boat quite easy. Indeed, most of the trip was made in 20-25 knots of wind with a fully reefed main, no mizzen, and some combination of reefed jib and staysail, and we still were routinely chugging along over 10 knots. If it had not been for some strong counter-currents we hit for a full day we may well have done the trip in less than 6 days.

We are now parked up in Whangaparoa, Auckland, and everyone is getting some well deserved rest (except for me - back to work...). I'd like to say thanks again to everyone who has supported us through this sometimes trying project, and especially to Jon, Wayne, Paul, Duff, Kim, Simon, Ross and Jordan for all their hard work and efforts in crewing our new baby down to NZ.

I will post some more videos etc soon, and will probably start updating the blog again in the new year when we haul out again and start phase two of the grand restoration.

Cheers,
James.

Josh Doheny

One of the highlights of our visit to Hawaii has been meeting Joss Doheny, the wife of the late Larry Doheny who had Kamalii built, and a veteran of many cruises around the world on Kamalii. Josh invited us up to her home for the evening and was an absolute pleasure. A big thanks to Josh, Bob and their staff for making us feel so welcome.

A model of the Kamalii at Joss's that is so detailed it actually answered questions we had on the rig setup!

Josh Doheny

Video

Here is a link to a quick YouTube video I threw together with some pics and video of the CA-Hawaii leg (and a dodgy soundtrack).

Video of Leg 1

Hawaii

At last I have an update for everyone - in the hurry to leave Newport Beach I did not get around to making a parting post. It was all the usual rush, but we managed to get away without any dramas. The owner of the Sea Spray boat yard, Paulette, helped out immensely by letting us use her car and even doing a lot of the food prep in her kitchen.

The trip was, on the whole, not the greatest passage ever. The first 36 hours were on the nose, most of the rest was 10-15 knots straight up the backside forcing us to lay in long tacks, and on one occasion we were completely becalmed. The passage was slow and rather frustrating, but of course there was some good sailing in there. Coming into Hawaii we had up to 40 knots and were clocking 11+ knots over the ground, all good fun until we blew out the mizzen sail.

We had a few problems on the trip, such as:

• Main engine full of sea water.
• One genset refusing to run.
• House batteries completely dying.
• Alternator not working.
• Main halyard winch failing.
• Shaft brake disintegrating.
• Blowing out the mizzen sail.
• Mizzen running backstay mount pulling out of the transom.
• Collapsed spreader on the main mast.

I guess a 2500 mile shakedown trip is going to throw things at you. I decided to head to Hawaii to repair the things we could not en route, and have been here nearly a week. We have cleared and will be heading out tomorrow for Tonga. Duff, Kim and Paul have left the boat in Hawaii and we have three new crew on board, Simon, Ross and Jordan, who are working out really well.

Assuming I can find time before we leave I will post some pictures and video of the leg shortly.

Cheers,

James,

Nice Shot

Here's a nice shot of Kamalii under sail, taken be George Hylkema from his yacht. George did much of the work on the rig.

A Trip to Catalina

We headed off to Catalina this weekend for a more serious shakedown sail. Really, totally, amazingly, utterly pleased with how Kamalii sails. She flys along, and beating out to Catalina in 16-18 knots of wind we were doing 8-9 knots, topping out at over 10. Coming back on a beam reach in about 15 knots we were doing over 8 knots.We are all blown away by how well she accelerates and holds a good speed at all points of sail.

We arrived at Catalina well after sunset and had our first experience at anchoring using the "crane". Not exactly the most efficient system but it worked. Had to anchor in 90' of water, but holding was good.

Spent Sunday morning working on various jobs and then sailed back for another night time arrival back at Newport. We did manage to break a few things - the shaft brake and both topping lifts, but easily fixed. We are aiming to be on our way before the end of the week.

The Rig

Under Sail.

Catalina in the morning.

Wayne works up a sweat on the aft deck.

Some video of her under sail - 8.5 knots.

First Sail

We have been for our first sail! Woohooo!

Kamalii sailed better than any of us expected. In 8-10 knots of  breeze on a tight reach we were chugging along at 5-6+ knots boat speed. The sail went well, no dramas other than the fact that our jib sheets are too short, so new sheets will be ordered tomorrow. Some minor tweaking of the rig to do, but otherwise all good. We plan on going out for another more serious trip in the next couple of days.

Heading out. Teak transom looking nice.

A very,very happy skipper.

Actual open water. The first time Kamalii has left Newport Harbour in 12 years.

More very, very happy skipper.

Back at Newport at sunset.

Here's some video, including shots of our filthy mainsail.

Update

We have masts, we have sails, we have a transom that has it's last layer on, new life lines - almost ready for a sail!

Rick will be sealing the transom etc over the next couple of days. We have some issues with the attachment point of the forestay which we are trying to resolve, but assuming that we get that sorted we will be off for a sail on Monday, gods willing.

Bit of a Fright

Jonathan and I were out yesterday cycling to West Marine to pick up a few bits, when Jonathan got collected by a car turning at an intersection. I saw them connect and then Jonathan disappear from view as he was dragged around the corner. One of those great "Uh Oh" moments.

Fortunately Jonathan was not badly hurt (as evidenced by the forcefully issued, yet eloquent, stream of obscenities pouring from him towards the driver) and got away with scrapes, cuts and bruises.

On an unrelated matter,  both the fridge and freezer have packed up. That this coincided perfectly with us finally repairing and activating the water cooling system for the refrigeration has not been lost on us.Still, much head scratching at the moment.

Slam Dunk

The main mast is in!

While both Rick and I were well puckered up, the whole thing actually went very smoothly. She now almost looks like a real yacht. We have another day of work setting up the rigging, then Rick will be on to the transom so hopefully we can go for a sail next week. Waiting on a few things like new lifelines, pumps, sails, etc but it should all be coming together in the next few days (as should all the invoices...).

She rises.

A big stick. 

Bling!

Drilling for oil.

Four men can move the boom a few feet and one hernia at a time, it is that heavy. A crane is much more civilised.

Almost looking like a real yacht again.

One Down, One to Go

Hooray! Finally have one of the sticks in. It's only the baby one, but at least we are on the way. Starting to look like a yacht again.

Up, up....

...and away.

Vertical at last.

Rick sorts the spreaders.

Half way to being a yacht again.

Update

Mizzen is going in this morning, finally. Can't express how stressful the slow rate of progress has been. Wayne, Jonathan and I are finishing off a few systems jobs but really it's now down to the rig and finishing the last layer of the transom, then we can take her sailing. Had one unexpected fail; the three 220V water pumps that provide feed water to the watermakers and refrigeration all failed, a result of many years of just sitting with salt water in the pump housings and galvanic corrosion occuring between the bronze pump housings and the 304 stainless steel shafts; the ends of the shafts simply dissolved. Getting them rebuilt and should be back early next week. We also managed to extract the broken window in the saloon after much head scratching and experimental disassembly of woodwork. In the end it just required a suction cup and for me to nearly herniate myself pulling on it.

We have lost two crew now and have not definitively replaced them yet, but we have a few irons in the fire and hopefully we will have a full compliment come sail day.

Lofting Sails

Took the sails up to the local sailmaker to be checked over. Many of the sails have clearly never been used, and all are in very good condition, with the only work being a few frozen hanks and some bolt-rope work that needed to be done on one sail. Have a couple of jibs that are still hank-on, have yet to decide if we will convert them to furling.

Lofting the storm staysail.This is the sail that required the most work, i.e.not much.

Found A Stowaway

We found a stowaway on board - an octopus!

The little blighter had come in through the centreboard case, climbed all the way up the piping enclosing the centreboard cable, popped out the top, and then wedged himself down in the corner of a locker. Been there a while though, rather mummified.

Getting There

Been in for 72 hours now and the hull has taken up nicely, with very little water coming into the bilges now. We have continued working on systems and Rick has been focussed entirely on readying the rig. At this stage the mizzen will be going in on Monday.

Have been checking all the pumps on the engines etc. All good except the engine-driven emergency bilge pump wasn't throwing any water. Opened it up and here's why:

Won't be moving much water with that. Fortunately this is the only bit of total neglect we have found with the major systems so far.

Nothing Beats Quality

So, we had these two old life rafts that were made in 1978, and were last serviced in 1994. Thought we would pull the pin on one and see what happened. Still works! Amazing really, but won't be relying on the other one - have a brand new unit for the trip.

Would you go to sea with these men?

Hallelujah!!!

We finally have a wet bottom! Lots of water pissing in, as expected, but quickly settling down as the boards swell and take up. We are now parked over at the Sea Spray yard on the other side of the harbour, readying to drop in the rig. Will be some seriously hard work for the next week or two, but at least we now see the light at the end of the tunnel. Jonathan and Wayne have been absolute troopers, working their butts off, I feel very privileged to have such awesome crew.

A fine arse.

Rick and Richard work to free the centreboard. Unfortunately an old section of cable is hanging it up, and the next time we haul we will have to pull the pin and drop the whole board out to free it properly.

In the sling. Below the waterline is sexy, above...not so much. A full topsides repaint required in NZ. 

On the move. Jimmy the operator is a top bloke.

And down she goes...

Bottom Paint Going On

Finally...

California's Not So Bad

Grinding It Out

Feels like wading through treacle, but we have some more yard labour on the job now and they are ripping through the stripping work. There is a public holiday coming up on Monday, so don't expect to be in the water until Wednesday now.

Decided that the existing bilge pump setup was less than acceptable so we are in the process of installing new pumps and plumbing. Everything else has come together well. Richard and Rick started pulling the prop off today and found that the cutless bearing is shot, so good thing we decided to pull it. Richard has installed the transducer for the new sailing instruments, and we will start wiring things up over the weekend.

So close...!

This is what a teak and cast bronze rudder looks like. Look closely kids, chances are you won't see another.

Wayne caresses the rudder. A man has needs...

Contrast of the new planks with the old planks. The old planking is in phenomenally good condition.

The keel deadwood and garboards.

A Fair Bottom

It's sll sweat and pain as the guys fair the hull. Jon, Wayne and I have been going hard on systems stuff and are almost to the point of running out of important jobs until we hit the water. Still lots of pieces of joinery to try and find homes for though...

Rudder

Further to the shot in the last post of the stripped rudder, have found out that's it's teak. Nice touch.

Turns out that Doheny used to have a separate "racing rudder" that he would have fitted before big races. Nuts.

Hull is Stripped

The hull has been stripped, will be blasted in the morning. Couple of days required for fairing, then painting. So realistically not hitting the water until later next week. Now 2 weeks behind schedule...

Scraping

The yard workers have started scraping the hull. The outer planking that is being revealed is A1.

Jon, Wayne and I have had a productive couple of days, assembling more joinery, getting to grips with the plumbing, and generally getting everything together. Systems wise we have got all important things functional, and are now waiting to go back in the water before servicing the engines and transmission.

Almost There (really)

Started stripping the bottom paint off the hull today. Thru-hulls are in, and Rick has started caulking. Timeline is really now down to the yard staff and how fast they can strip the hull. Once stripped there is a full days work for everyone fairing the hull, then paint and then straight back in the water to go get the spars back in.

The Last Plank

The last plank went on today! Wohoo! The team have already started plugging and fairing, and caulking, thruhulls, etc will be under way tomorrow. The yard should have antifouling under way before end of week, so looks good for going back in the water early next week.

Jon and I have had a very productive couple of days proving systems, and after tomorrow will be down to the things we can only do in the water e.g water makers. Beyond that we are focusing on trying to screw the interior back together!

Update

Finally at the boat! Spent the day going through systems, most things are sound and functional. Spending a lot of time screwing panels back together, so much of the boat has been disassembled.

The starboard side of the hull has all planking on and port will be finished tomorrow. Realistically we are 4 or 5 days further behind than I thought, probably not going in the water until Monday.

Bloody hot!

Panoramic

A couple more panoramic shots from Jonathan.

Update

Rick is calling the 16th of August for splash-down. All planking should be complete by the end of the week, then it's up to the yard to soda-blast the hull, prep,seal and anti-foul.

Jonathan is working like a trooper, and now that the weather no longer blows through the boat he is working on making her liveable again i.e. cleaning the filth out.

As soon as she is back in the water we will be putting the spars straight back in, and Rick and Richard will be finishing off the last layer of the transom - Kamalii was positioned in the yard such that they could not set up scaffolding to get to it. It will be all hands on deck as we do all the systems proving, finish sorting the sails, deal with a number of final jobs, and of course provision for the trip. James is flying in on the weekend of the 11th/12th, and the rest of the crew will be arriving for splash-down. Almost there!

Almost There

The inner planking has all gone on, then all come off again for final finishing, and then gone back on again, and the outer planking is now well under way.

Preparing planks off pattern.

Finished plank. You can see the radius in the cut.

Inner planks being fitted. Note the bedding compound where the strapping is to avoid a repeat of the delignification problem in the future.

Good thing Richard is so tall.

And now the outer planking starts going on.

Outer planks being fitted on the port waterline.