There are always a million things to do on a boat but Cassiopeia is in a state where the list is long and the priorities are serious. She is sound as ever but without some work on quite a few details she is in some trouble. Her rig and sails are in fine shape but she needs the frayed halyards replaced. Her hull and frames are strong but she needs some caulk and seaming and anti-fouling paint. Possibly a plank or two will need replacing. Her water tank and main generator need refurbishing. And then there is the protective lipstick like varnish and oiling. It is indeed a long list.
The truth is that she worked hard and took hundreds of tourist for a sail as a business in Vanuatu but in the meantime she got used up as the many trials of a start up business absorbed the maintenance funds she needed. Patiently she has been waiting for years for a solution. And then the tragedy struck, as thieves came in the night while the Captain was out of the country and stripped her of her radios and TV and stereo and inverter and GPS and most of her ropes and spare anchors and generator and even her stove and cushions and bunk mattresses and pillows and towels and sheets and the cast iron skillet. In fact everything of value was taken and then they proceeded to trash her throwing charts and all of the files of records and photo albums about. It was a vicious party.
Worse the wires left dangling shorted out the batteries disabling the automatic bilge pump. Her tired seams were weeping and without her pump she slowly began to sink. When her friends were called she was thigh deep with sea water in her main cabin. The engine was swamped along with her batteries and everything stored under the bunks and in the bilges including the Captains grinders and table saw and drills and other tools.
The good news is she was saved with buckets and a big pump and then was kept afloat under a watchful eye until the Captain was able to return ten days later. Many heartfelt thanks go to those who participated in her salvation!
At that point the good ship Cassiopeia was in a dire state to say the least. The Captain was gutted. His ship could no longer be used a business. His home was near destroyed and his belongings gone. He had to come up with a plan.
Selling her cheap to someone with the funds to save her was one. This pledge project was the other.
So now the good ship Cassiopeia is liveable again. Her engine has been refurbished and she has undergone a very exciting careening which allowed seams to be caulked and worm damage to be treated. There are still many repairs to be done to get her sailing again and then a full haul out and refit is scheduled. She needs new radios and navigation equipment and a stove and batteries etc. but she is now in a minimum standards working state. Luckily her Captain began sailing in the day when all did not have to be perfect for a voyage to be undertaken!
When the funding goal is reached the budget will allow her to be back in her previous glory and even better! So far the project must be considered a success, as she is close to going on her first sail which is far from the near hopeless situation of mere months ago.
YEAH FOR US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank You, Thank You, Thank you, to all who have made this possible so far and to those of you considering joining in!
