POST-IRMA PROJECTS
We have been very busy stabilizing our management fleet by boarding those boats we can to drain water out of places it should never be.
Maria was nothing to Irma but there was a lot of rain. Since then we joke that when the forecast calls for showers just translate that to ‘flooding rains imminent’. It has been very wet. Our upright boats have had more attention with extensive cleaning and ‘de glassing’, boarding up and de-humidifying.
Fortunately, our clients are more than happy to say, ‘just get on with it and do what you can’. We feel sorry for those lonely boats who are stuck awaiting appraisals deep in the storage areas.
Wild Daisy - Swan 53
This beautiful Swan 53, Wild Daisy, was holed in the boatyard. We made her seaworthy with some temporary repairs to the hull so that she could be splashed and sail on her own bottom to Puerto Rico where she will be repaired to her former glory.
The owner has decided to have all the decks, joinery, and final fibreglass work done in Puerto Rico by Swan repair specialist Marty Muench from Osmotech Annapolis. Marty has been repairing Swans since 1986. Osmotech is known as a premier repair facility in the Mid-Atlantic region for Nautor’s Swan, Halberg Rassy and other high end yacht manufacturers.
Marty, who has ties to Puerto Rico and is a frequent visitor, will be sending a crew down from the US to complete the work in Puerto Rico. His close relationship with Swan, team of experts, and the relative ease (and cost) of shipping materials and spares to PR in comparison to the BVI made it an easy choice for the owner.
We love this classic Swan and have had her in our BVI yacht management fleet for many years. We look forward to welcoming her back after her full repair.
Shaima - Hylas 63
Meet the luckiest, 'unlucky' boat in Tortola.
Shaima is well on her way to launching with very little damage after falling off her stands during 'round one' of Category 6 Irma. She was bumped and bruised but has suffered very little damage compared to those around her. Somehow the mast stayed up, there is hardly a scratch on deck and she's getting a fresh bottom job before launching and heading to Grenada - that was her original plan but she was struck by lightning at anchor in great Harbour, Peter Island.
That strike took out engine, genset, bowthtusters, Davies, electronics, battery chargers, fridges...the list is long. She was towed to Nanny Cay and tied up inside the T of A-dock.
At 63 feet she was way too big to weather a hurricane at the dock. Not liking the look of Irma we managed to haul on Saturday September 2nd, ahead of the frantic rush. Once hauled, without a hurricane cradle, she looked so vulnerable!
How wrong we were...!
Fair winds Shaima!