Damage, but not too much
The readers of Bateaux remember, I was hoisted off Belle Ile when my Mini had been demated after being turned over twice in the storm ( find the story of this shipwreck here ). It is already excellent news that the boat has been recovered and brought back to Lorient in one piece. Few damages are to be noted. In addition to missing a mast, #880 was boarded by a fishing vessel while it was adrift. Having left my AIS MOB beacon (Man Overboard Personal AIS Beacon) on board so that the boat could be spotted by other vessels and facilitate the spotting during the rescue, I assume the fishermen came to make sure that no one was on board. The intention is commendable, but their docking has left its mark on the port side plating. I also note that the solar panel was ripped off by the storm.
Organization of work
As soon as I hear that the boat is arriving in Lorient, I get in the car with my trailer. That same afternoon, he was craned, placed on his formers and tied up.
However, I can't drive down to Les Sables-d'Olonne with my car too light.
Then begins a long administrative work: organize the repatriation of the boat by road, find the service provider and make an estimate for repairs, order a mast, manage exchanges and all the documents to be sent to the insurance...
Hand in hand with the dough
Repair work does not begin until mid-November 2018. The Eole Performance site is responsible for the composite repairs of the shell plating and painting. I take advantage of this dry period to carry out some optimization and maintenance work.
When you do Mini, you have to have all the hats. I'm switching from administrative management to preparation: coating, sanding, padding, electrician, rigger, I'll go through all the stations.
First of all, I have to restore the keel bulb scratched by the heel in Lorient (at the start of the Chrono 6.50). A light stroke of the grinder to remove the bumps and I fill the hollows with epoxy plaster. Then it is necessary to sand by hand, patiently until the original shape of the bulb is restored.
Optimization of electricity
Winter workcamp also rhymes with optimization. A partnership with Marineled and Epsilor will allow me to migrate to Electric Fuel lithium batteries. I will lighten the #880 by almost 60 kilos by unloading the lead batteries. In addition to the fact that lithium batteries are lighter in nature, the gauge of the 6.50 Mini Class only allows them on production boats provided that the energy production does not use fuel. So there is no more fuel cells and methanol at the same time. All that remains is to equip myself with new solar panels.
Finally, I check the status of all security and spare equipment. I make sure that nothing is missing and that everything works. I re-inventory each mattress bag and check the expiry dates of the pyrotechnic equipment. My survival experience has shown me the importance of being well prepared for the worst..
Launch!
Mid-January 2019, it's the great jour?! It's time to get the boat back in the water. In 30 minutes, the boat is cranked and lowered into the water thanks to the huge oversized travel-lift for my small boat. In the afternoon, I prepare the mast to "plant" it that very evening, helped by friends. To save a few pennies and also because it is much easier, the mast is mounted between two other Mini. We tie up the three boats in pairs, attach the spinnaker halyards to a tie that will carry the spar under the spreaders.
The crew members on the assistance boats mill to hoist the mast. On my boat I guide the foot of the mast. On a Mini, the mast is traversed and placed on the keel
Finally, the mast is secured with the shrouds before climbing to free the halyards and tie. A well-run operation that will only cost me a round of beer.
There is still a lot of work to do in terms of seamanship and mast adjustment before we can get back to sea. For the seamanship, it will be with a lot of Youtube tutos. As for the mast setting, the Mini community is there to help me and give me the setting they use.
