Timoneer in Palma
Timoneer has been in Palma for 2 weeks now . During this time we have taken all the sails off and sent them to the sail loft for an annual service. Next we had to prep the masts to be lifted off. This requires all the hydraulics and electronics up the mast to be disconnected from the boat and preparing all the pins, that hold the rigging to the boat, ready for removal. Then padding has to be attached to the rigs to prevent damage from the stays hanging down. This took us four days and then it was time to move the boat to where the crane would pull the rigs. They started with craning the booms off making way to take out the mizzen.
The mizzen is more difficult due to the huge amount of electronic cables for the 2 satellite dishes, 2 radars and numerous telecom and VHF antennas, as well as hydraulics for the mizzen sail.
Then we had to turn the yacht around and come in bow first to remove the main mast. With the main mast being 170’ (52m) tall, it requires a very big crane to pull it plus a small crane to help lay it down.
Once on the ground we need to strip all the rod rigging and it all gets trucked to the UK where some will be replaced and the rest of the rods and fittings will be tested to make sure there are no cracks.
Once all the radars, domes, lights and other fittings are removed from the masts then they are hung and ready for the painters. Next week the painters will build a tent over them .
While all this has been going on we removed the swim platform from the stern of the yacht so that the hydraulic rams can be serviced and the platform and transom painted.
Timoneer then got lifted out of the water where we will remain for the next 5 weeks. So far we have lowered the rudder to replace bearings and we have removed the prop and shaft for servicing.
