Archive for March, 2007
Working In St Lucia
We have spent three months working on a contract on the island of St Lucia out in the Caribbean.
We were initially asked to deliver the 39 foot yacht Innuendo from St Lucia to Norway, but unfortunately on arrival in St Lucia, we found the yacht was in no fit state to make an Atlantic crossing.
We were asked by the owner to make the necessary repairs to the yacht so that it would be able to make the crossing.
This included:
Inspecting the keel bolts
Replacing the entire electrical system
Replacing all the running rigging
Repairs to the engine gearbox
Replacing the fresh water system with new pipework
Repairing the companion way steps
Installing a new SSB radio and autopilot system
Unfortunately, after all our hard work, we only managed to sail a couple of test sail trips down the coast and back.
The repairs had taken up all the time we had planned for making the crossing and other work commitments meant we were unable to make the delivery once the yacht was ready.
Working out in St Lucia was often hard work and unpleasant. Working upside down in the bilge of a yacht in forty degrees centigrade is not pleasant. It was however an interesting and rewarding experience.
Nick Scullion
Technical Director - Scullion Enterprise Ltd