Gaeta - February 2020

Gaeta - February 2020

Tuesday 4^th February…  

LINDA - Another week of Thesee’s Adventures has flown by in an instant.  This week started off with Cindy & I using our Christmas vouchers from Robin & Bob on Windarra. The vouchers were for a ‘massagio’ at a local hair salon, so we went along not really knowing what would be included. Well quite shocked to say the least, turns out the ‘massagio’ was from tip to toe! Yikes. Enough said about that, albeit it was very relaxing.  

Whilst I was out getting pampered, Dean took the opportunity to carry out his regular checks around the boat. Good to do it whilst I’m not around as the floorboards have to come up and I get in the way a bit. One extra job for him was to disassemble the fan heater and give it a good clean up and service. It gets so dusty on the boat.  The weather this week has been pretty warm. Highs of 18 degrees, so things are looking up.

A view inside the aforementioned Fan Heater

In our spare time we’ve been getting hooked on a game called Rummikub which Robin & Bob lent to us. We decided to buy our own and after some research found the version we wanted (there’s so many to choose from). Dean ordered it online and it arrived this week. Poor Dean, seems his luck has changed since we’ve been playing the new edition and I keep winning.  Still, he’s got some mince pies which Ant & Cid gave to him, so that should keep him smiling. 

It's here, lets play

All playing pieces present and correct

Mince pies.... 

a late Christmas treat worth waiting for

The four of us went out for a pizza at the weekend, trying out the pizzeria right opposite the marina. The décor was very Italiano, food and prices were good, but strangely there was no-one else in there. Can’t really understand why, perhaps they’re all having a ‘dry January’. Not us though.

Looking into the stone fired pizza machine

Chip topping.... unusual

Nice chips though, a real treat

My culinary efforts are coming along. This week I made Apple Pie, Apple Sauce, and Cookies.  My new non-stick crinkly pie tin is amazing. It really is non-stick! No more scraping the pastry off the bottom for me.

Apple Pie...straight from the oven

Note: Not stuck to the sides 😂 

Apricot cookies

So Dean has had an adventurous week too. I’ll get him to write the ins and outs as I know you like to ‘read all about it’.

DEAN- Well a busy week again. I heard from the sailmaker the other day. I was about to chase him but he dropped me a line to say the sails would be ready next week. So up the mast again to check the sail track, lube it with some silicone spray and tidy up a couple of frayed tape areas on the bottle screws. There is some bad wind forecast again soon so I thought I should get the job done and out of the way.

At the top

Second spreader

First spreader

Port side

Unwrapping the tape

I took some video while I was up the mast by sticking the go pro camera to my helmet, can you believe that as soon as I got back in the cockpit area it fell off!

Back down at last

 The sails being cleaned

Cleaned and drying ready for repair

After all the storms that we had before Christmas and hearing about some boats that have been struck by lightning I read up on the subject, and while there’s not a lot that can be done to avoid a strike there are a couple of things that can limit the damage. I made up some heavy gauge grounding cables to divert any magnetic or electric power down to the keel hopefully if the worst happens some of the electrical equipment on board might survive. 

While I was doing this I wanted to check that the mast post was grounded securely to the mast so I removed the small inspection cover at the base of the mast. Low and behold the mast bottom was full of rain water. Another job to do. I managed to clean out all the water and dirt with the new wet and dry vacuum we bought the other day and then drilled a small drain hole near the base. Another job found while sorting out the first job.

And so it goes on... While I was connecting the grounding cables to the keel bolts I had to move the automatic bilge pump. That was when I noticed it was cracked and wasn’t working. I’ll order another tomorrow and write about that next week!

Mast inspection hole

Extended vacuum pipe

Work in progress

Working by the faulty bilge pump

Bonding wires complete and waiting for the new bilge pump

Yes that is the bilge. Lets hope it stays dry. It just needs a bit of a clean before the new pump goes in.


Tuesday 11th February.... BIRTHDAYS & BILGES are the topic of the past week onboard your favourite sailboat. Yes it was indeed Happy Birthday to ME. I reckon it must have been about my 25th, or thereabouts 😉. To mark my special day, the three sailors took a bus trip to a coastal town just north of here called Sperlonga. The weather was perfect, warm & sunny all day long. I'm so used to having cold snowy birthdays so this was a real treat for me. 

The Italian bus drivers all seem to think they are on a Formula One track, making the journey quite noisy and bumpy, but we made it without any casualties.... Saffy wearing her muzzle too. She is so good, and doesn't seem to mind. After alighting at Sperlonga's Old Town we strolled down through very narrow streets and walkways. We passed a lady with a two month old delightful labrador puppy that wanted to make friends with Saffy but was obviously unsure of how to go about it, and kept inching closer and closer. After a short while we ending up at the esplanade where we stopped for coffee and cake.

First of many narrow streets in the Old Town

Looking across to the mountain backdrop

Was (or is !) the local Church

Down near the beach we find a lovely hotel

Elevenses

Girls on tour

Pretty trees

Yet another Cristoforo Colombo road

So after a little walk we did an about turn and headed back towards the small marina. Well of course we wanted to have a look about.

Wonderful beachside restaurant here

Looking back at where we've just been

Nearly there.... marina in the background

Yes, marina-side

What a view

Selfie time

Now a little walk by the beachside bars, greenery, and pondlife

So beautiful

The marina is quite small and not very deep. Thesee would definately not be able to get in here which is a shame really as it's so lovely. It wasn't too long before we decided it was Wine 'o' Clock and stopped off at the fabulous bar next to the marina where we passed an hour or so before heading back to the bus stop. 

Filling up Saffy's water bottle

 

Celebrations

Cincin

Back in the Old Town

So we ended up missing the bus.... No, not because we got drunk, but because we stood in the wrong place! Then we had to wait an hour and half for the next one to come along. Anyway let's not talk about who was to blame. We eventually got back safe and sound by about 6pm. 

I guess i'll have to talk about boaty stuff now for the men out there. Well Dean's just about managing to keep himself busy. On one of the mornings the water was very clear so he took the chance to get the GoPro camera out and check under the boat to see if the anode is still on the prop. That sounds like he went in himself, but actually he attaches the camera to a long pole, lies along the stern of the boat and sticks the pole in the water, wiggling it around in the right direction. Sometimes it takes a few attempts to get a decent shot, but this time he was spot on first try.

Getting ready with the pole

There it goes

Here's the great view of the anode and prop

The anode normally lasts about 9 months before it either disintegrates or we change it. This one has been on since last April. There's a lot of growth on the propeller so we will either have to lift the boat out soon or Dean will have to get in and get scrubbing.  

He ordered the new bilge pump and that arrived....just in time to be classed as my birthday present apparantly. Dean cleaned up the rustiness from the old bracket and painted the area a nice matching grey colour. He's such a perfectionist. Here's a look at the before and after installation.

 The old bilge pump removed

The housing was cracked inside allowing water to get in

 & seize up the motor

The new updated pump (with tester button too)

Midway through the clean-up

Painted and nearly ready

Watching paint dry

New pump fitted and working... Ta Da

A couple more photos to finish off this week's Adventures of Thésée.... USS Mount Whitney leaving port for the first time this year. 

There she goes

See you soon

Snow on the mountains

Wednesday 19th February...

DEAN... OK, so Saffy and myself are home (boat) alone this week and fending for ourselves, Linda is back in the UK visiting the grandchildren and of course bringing boat bits back with her. 

For the last few months we have been using a plank to get on and off the boat as the lines here stretch quite a bit and when the wind blows we hit the wall a few months back. I looked at making an extension for the passarelle. I needed this to be removable for stowage. I tried several ideas on paper and finally came up with the job. Which although not perfect I think will do the job when needed. 

Starting to take shape

I needed some 24mm marine ply wood and of course there is none in the whole of Italy, in the end I used a two pack epoxy to glue two sheets of 12mm together. I managed to form a slight bow in the wood by adding some weights, clamps etc. One of the local yachties here was curious to what was going on and when I explained in my fluent Italian ...obviously! He took me to his workshop and we sorted out some stainless steel for a bracket, bonus! Eventually the epoxy dried. It was then just a matter of cutting, sanding and varnishing. 

 Sanding in progress

Bracket fitted

The new extension piece slots in between the wheels and under the stainless steel bracket. Magnifico.

 Back breaking work bending down

 Borrowed trestles for the varnish work

Ready for Linda to try out

One of our friends Dave from a boat called Eternité is here for a few days doing work to his boat, we all went out for Pizza to a local restaurant one night.

 Dave in the blue top

Always a challenge when there are no pictures

Never a dull moment in Gaeta. The carnival is in town. There has been LOTS of noise and everything lit up again. I took a couple of photo's during Saffy's walk but to be honest the music and noise is just ridiculous. Good job Saffy is mostly deaf.

 No idea

Some idea but I wont say!

I'll try for more photos this week if I can find my earplugs, yes it's on for two weekends!

While Dave is here he has a car so our neighbours and him went off to one of the large DIY stores about an hour and half away near to Naples. Don't tell Linda but I've managed to find her Christmas present already. How good am I?

She will be so pleased

Wednesday 26th February 2020...

DEAN... Well it's me again. Linda arrived back in Gaeta very late after a delayed flight but luckily managed to catch the last bus from the train station. I had spent most of the day cleaning the boat, at least she noticed this time.

I was invited out for a meal from the crew of Windarra on the Saturday night, quite a nice local restaurant. 

You had to be there

I took the opportunity to take some photo's of the buildings all lit up for the Carnival. Similar but different to the Christmas lights, it looks quite spectacular but the noise (music) is horrendous. Or is that just my age?

 Laser lighting on the buildings

 and some more

 Same

Very party atmosphere

It's a big thing here with the believers as it marks the first day of Lent. Although it's over two weeks. It's a pity they don't look after the place a bit better as the mess left over from confetti, streamers and spray string is a real problem.

Linda sent me a few photos of the kids enjoying some Nanny time.

Summer and Issac at the Pen Museum

 Nanny whats this?

 Celebrating with Charlie after mug painting

I mostly spent the rest of my time polishing the top sides and cleaning the boat ready for our departure, the cockpit table was a mess as this tends to get quite scratched as people rub past the side on their way to and from the companion way. I sanded the scratches out with 800 first, then 1200 and then cutting compound and wax polish. It's like new again now. 

Nice table

Luckily the newly modified passarelle functioned well when Linda tested it so that has the seal of approval now. The sails should arrive back next week so that will be a big job for us to look forward to. 

...mmmm I just found my lost passarelle photos showing the construction, I'll put them here for now and move them later. 

 Gluing two thinner sheets together

 Clamping together and trying to induce a bend

 More clamping

Hoping it stays bent while it dries

LINDA ... A BIG THANKYOU to Dean and Saffy dog for looking after Thésée and the blog in my absence. The journey seems very tiring and it takes a couple of days to start feeling normal again. It was lovely to spend time with all the kiddies doing lots of fun stuff. 

I brought back some of Dean's goodies that he had ordered, including the replacement lights for the lifejackets. You'll remember that when we did our safety equipment checks after Christmas we found the lights weren't working. Here he is fitting the new ones...

Yes that is really Dean in the photo, not an imposter onboard Thésée. Whilst i've been away seems he has turned into Captain Birdseye. 

This morning we got up to find a galleon had arrived in the marina. They must be coming to take my pirate away??

Flying a Russian ensign

I've done a bit of homework and believe the ship is called Shtandart. Click on the link for more info https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shtandart_(frigate,_1999)

The next blog post will be called Gaeta - March 2020