While we were trying to edit your next video,we got interrupted. the solo skipper of the boat anchored behind us came over in his dinghy asking for help. He had been trying for two days to raise his anchor. It was stuck on something big and heavy.
So of course I went off to help. After a while of driving back and forth and straining the winch we got it off the bottom. Heaving it to the surface we discovered it was an old pylon. The anchor chain was still wrapped around the pylon and in knots. It was fun keeping out of the way of the ferries going by as the current was dragging us down river and we had to somehow untangle the chain from the pylon. A couple of hours later and a lot of colourfull words we broke free.
So maybe I can get back to your video tomorrow.
The Snitch
We haven’t done a lot in the past few days, just putting more coats of varnish on the timberwork. We ventured out to get a little exercise. Brisbane is set up well catering for walkers and cyclists with bike tracks everywhere. There are miles of walkways and cycle tracks running along the riverbank where we are. They have exercise equipment along the walkways for fitness freaks (not in use with COVID19). They even cater for dogs, with water bowls at every drinking fountain and doggy signage.
Someone must have dobbed us in. The past few days every time we go on deck there has been a man standing on shore watching us. We have tried waving out to him but he just stands there in his yellow coat with his fist in the air. He has no expression on his face. I’m sure he’s just waiting for us to go ashore again so he can snitch on us. As soon as I find my glasses I will go ashore and give him a piece of my mind (what’s left of it).
Catastrophe!
Sue went to make a coffee for morning tea. Turned the gas on, filled the kettle, lit the stove and put the kettle on to boil, then went back to doing her crossword while Andrew pottered around on deck. Five minutes later it was apparent we were in big trouble.
The kettle hadn’t boiled! The gas had gone out. After trying to relight the stove several times Sue called for Andrew to check the gas. Sure enough we were out of gas. NO COFFEE. How are we going to survive the day?
Being used to our big 19kg gas bottle that lasts us over six months we had forgot to keep checking the smaller 8kg swap bottle. Jumping on the internet we located a service station less than 2km away.
We lowered the dinghy into the water. Andrew disconnected the gas bottle and retrieved the fold up hand cart from the Lazarette (the black hole). With Andrew in the dinghy Sue used a rope to one at a time lower them over the side of Imagine and into the dinghy.
Andrew then set off across the river to an old floating jetty at Mowbray Park. Problem! There are no cleats to tie the dinghy to. Andrew had to tie the dinghy to the gangway of the floating jetty using rope as the chain used to lock up the dinghy was not long enough to reach.
With the gas bottle strapped onto the cart Andrew headed off through the park to the main road. The park seemed eerie as there was no-one around. Empty BBQs, Picnic areas and playground. Andrew made his way up the road pulling the cart behind him. Upon reaching the pedestrian crossing had to press the crossing button. COVID19 stays on stainless steel for days. Placing his hand up the inside of his T-Shirt Andrew was able to press the button and keep safe. Across the road and up the road a little way was the service station.
With the cart still behind him Andrew walked up to the counter and asked for a swap gas bottle. “That will be $29 thank you” as she pointed to the EFTPOS machine. (Having a NZ bank account, we are charged a fee everytime we use the card internationally.) Andrew placed a $20 note on the counter. “We are not supposed to handle cash”. The girl eventually accepted the note but didn’t give change.
With the bottle swapped for a full one Andrew made his way back to dinghy. Andrew arrived back at the jetty to find the dinghy was still there. He loaded the cart and bottle into the dinghy and headed back to Imagine. Using the rope Sue hauled the bottle and cart back on deck. Leaving the dinghy tied off the back of Imagine Andrew reconnected the gas.
The catastrophe sorted, Sue put the kettle on for a coffee to go with the lunch she had prepared while Andrew was away. As a dutiful wife should.
Hopefully this killed 10 minutes of your boredom!!
The breakout….
Being cooped up onboard Imagine, not being able to go for a swim, exercise is 10 steps from the bow to the stern and back. We’ve had enough. We’re escaping. Making a run for it.
We lowered the dinghy over the side and into the water. Grabbed our backpacks and headed downstream. Passing the houses on the riverbank we made our way to the New Farm Jetty. Without raising any attention we chained the dinghy to the jetty (thieving buggers don’t know what self isolation is) and set off.
Not to raise suspicion we kept our social distancing as we made our way through the park. Reaching the other side of the park we made our way along the quiet streets as if we belonged there. Always wary that the police may come around the corner at any minute to question us about our travels.
Finally we were there! We had made it! We were at Coles supermarket. Bread, Milk, Toilet rolls and it was time to head back.
Yes … I’m bored !
Interruptions, interruptions
Yesterday whilst sitting in the cockpit having lunch and watching small birds try to get into the mizzen boom to make a nest, we were rudely interrupted. A few kids had been playing with a ball on the river bank and it had ended up in the river. The first we knew was when two women (kid’s mums) were yelling from the shore “excuse me, you on the boat. Can you get our ball”.
Seeing the soccer ball slowly float past Imagine, Andrew jumped into action (after putting some shorts on). He jumped into the dinghy and rowed after the ball. Just like Bondi Rescue he scooped up the ball and into the rib it went. He continued to shore where he passed the ball to the kids.
The mums thanked Andrew and explained how the ball had escaped and made a run for it. They also where curious as to why we were here and about boat life. Keeping social distancing, Andrew explained what we have been doing before returning to Imagine to his cold coffee and dried up sandwich.
Another successful rescue by the Imagine crew.
Hope you all had a good Easter
Andrew’s been busy (he never stops!) .. he’s Inserted a piece of timber in the rub rail where there was rot and sanded all the rub rail inbetween the ferries going past that are creating wake and rocking the boat somewhat. He is now trying to varnish as Imagine swings around in the breeze. He’s already varnished 2 of the 4 storage boxes on the deck.
Yesterday we went ashore to fill our water containers as we can’t make water here in the river (river too dirty). Whilst ashore and to stretch our legs we went for a walk along the river bank for some exercise. It’s a lovely but very busy walkway through the park. It’s hard sometimes to see where the social distancing is happening!
Hauled Imagine out of the water
What have we been up to?
Not a great deal. We are still in the Brisbane river (easy access to shops). We have been doing bits and pieces to the boat. Touching up the paint, running new sheets on the sails. Nothing too exciting.
We hauled Imagine out of the water at Rivergate boatyard, to get the leaking propshaft seal replaced. While it was out we gave her a couple of coats of antifoul , removed portholes and resealed them, replaced the roller on the bow, painted 10m markings on the anchor chain and painted the hull above the waterline. All that in 6 days, while the seal was being done. We also got a rigger to replace the forestay and inner stay because I found 1 strand of the wire broken.
Back in the water and we discovered some rot in the rub rail while sanding it back to varnish. So we have now cut it out and have to go to the hardware shop to get some timber (this will be essential travel as we need to urgently fix this before it spreads).
COVID19
Well it’s stuffed our plans, along with everyone else’s. All the Pacific Islands have closed their borders and we don’t blame them. They would be very vulnerable. Just like you, we are in lock down. Only being able to go shopping or exercise. Yay we just found a shop that currently has plenty of toilet paper.
Australian’s are to stay at home with no non-essential travel, including no boating. If we self isolate and stay at home and our home moves up the coast are we breaking the law? Is it non-essential travel and boating? It’s a $1300 fine each for non-essential travel We have enough food to stay onboard for more than 14days and could make our own water up the coast. We now have to go ashore every few days to fill jerry-cans with water as the river is too dirty to make water. This increases our chances of catching COVID19.
For the moment we are staying put. A shop across the river has advertised for workers so Sue has applied. If she gets it we would then have some income. Like you we will just have to sit tight and see what happens next.
It’s good to hear that in New Zealand the number of cases are reducing due to their total lockdown. Still a ways to go but good to hear some positive news.
Stay safe and be healthy everyone
Potential crew
Back in Brisbane after taking potential crew to Moreton Island for a few days.
Amelia and Tim, originally from Canada and now living in Brisbane, may look at meeting up with us later in the year. They have had their own boat and did coastal cruising. Esther is from Germany and has taken some time off to travel and would like to do some sailing. She has had no experience crewing but is keen to learn and wants to do a blue water crossing. She is now travelling to NZ – where she may be able to get some more experience and is possibly looking at joining us in Vanuatu.
The steering…
The bearing seemed to have collapsed making the steering wheel very loose. To get us back to Brisbane I cut up a nylon chopping board to make a couple of bushes which seemed to hold the steering in place better.
When we got back to Brisbane I started disassembling the helm. With several calls to a friend in Sydney (thanks Gordon) I discovered the only way to fix the problem was to remove the entire helm. With Ben and Greg’s help we disassembled and replaced the bearings.
I remounted the helm on the boat, connected the rudder up and it seems to work.
In removing the helm, had to cut out all of the fibreglass housing which meant now I had to build a new helm station. Instead of using fibreglass I built this one out of timber so the back could be removed if anything ever needed repairing again. All this has taken approx 3 weeks to do.
Everything on the boat takes longer to do in this heat and humidity – a trip to the hardware store for bolts takes all day. This week we hope to take it for a test sail.
