"Let's go deeper in the bay to get more protection"came from the helm...why not ? but the cat under pilot, still with full 80m2 mainsail n without engine was reaching straight toward one of both anchored boat; no problem if the pilot is switch to "stand by" mode on time to execute a quick port turn before dropping anchor... but no security margin in case the pilot stay too long in "auto-mode"...and in fact the pilot stay in "auto mode" until the accident...
A terrible 80 degres angle choc at more than 7 knots under mainsail on the innocent kiwi monohull quietly anchored in the bay in the north of Musket Cove...What a shame !
result:
- Mostly a trauma for the monohull SIVER FOX crew, as the boat was in metal and suffered mostly esthetic -but costly- damages...
- A destroyed starboard crash box for ALCYONE , upperpart mostly as fortunatly no wrinckle deeper than 20cm above the waterline for the underpart, n no delamination behind the crashbox...thanks to Gerard DANSON, architect of this cat, so rustic n so strong with the long aluminium flange keeping very strongly the 2 moulded part of each hull together and limiting the aeea of the damage.
- And of course a deep national shame...for such a stupid accident...
The cat is repaired for very cheap with local resin n material by both of us, roughly but strongly enough to sail anyplace including to Whangarei NZ 2 month later where a local polyester artist Neville from NORSAND took the time to make a perfect refit...
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| The victim: we can see clearly the choc place...not nice, but nothing avoiding navigation after haul out expertise |
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| The agressor: bad wound but very localised on both part (up n down) of starboard crashbox |
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| From inside the top of this starboard float |
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| First step: quick cover of the wound to avoid any humidity entry |
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| Better with magic tape given by Don SALTHOUSE visiting us like Jesus on his paddle board |
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| 2nd step: find a quiet spot in the remote back of Musket Cove area |
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| 3 step: Grinding n laminating... |
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| Buying more cheap polyester n gel coat in Veloville |
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| 4th, 5th 6th...10 steps: laminating n grinding... |
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| ...The smart aluminium bar starting just behind the crash box |
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| Final result before total refit in Whangarei 3 month later: rustic n not glamour...but very strong, like the cat ! |
