donderdag, 20 januari 2000 16.59

The end of an era.

Today was a special today. Not only because I spent most of the day with my arms, up to my elbows in oil, diesel and 50 year old dirt, but it marks the end of the destructive phase.

With the lifting out of the engine (with manpower, no lifts or cranes involved this time), the last part of the boat has been taken out/off. The complete hull has revealed all of her planking, ribbing and timbers. Every inch is cleaned, paint stripped off, hatches removed, cleats, water- and diesel-tanks, winches, steering column, etc.,etc.. The only thing still in place is the stanchions and the railing, mostly because it (still) is a four meter drop down on the concrete, if one falls over board. The deck is unrecognizable, leaving big holes, where once portholes and gracious wooden hatches were. To make it worse, the engine is standing in the middle of the deck. The interior looks worse. Nothing remained in there. It is one big hole, when you look down the main hatch. One actualy gets the feeling that it is a big boat, but wait till the interior is being put back, and the claustrofobic times will be back.

With the passing of the month of Ramadan, X-mas, Y2k, and Bayram (moslim easter days) life has turned back to normal here in Turkey. One can buy alcohol again, and you are allowed to eat during daytime. During my Mom’s visit, I saw the Topkapi palace, Aya Sofia and the Grand Bazar (again). I wonder with all the visitors still ahead, how many times I will visit those places. By the end, I might just as well apply for a job as guide in one of those. It has turned bitterly cold here, like in the rest of Europe, the flu is geting around (I had my share during Bayram), and all that we are waiting for is the hull of Sylphe to dry a little bit. To help nature a little: We have put some heaters in the boat as of today. The moisture level of the wood has to drop significantly, before we can really start the serious work. It will take some two/three weeks, during which time I will visit Holland.

The deepest part of the bilge, right under the engine was finally cleaned and inspected today. In a layer of 40 centimeters of (freezing) water, oil and diesel, I dredged out some 40 years of dust, old paint, screwdrivers, bolts and nuts, the cap of the engine coolant (andre, finally!!!!!) With the use of Tampax, hygienic napkins, I got the last fluids out of the difficult corners (Jochem, thanks for the tip). This is the deepest and most wet part of the boat. To give you an idea, if you drive the screwdriver into the wood (although still sound and healthy) water comes out.!!! How much is that in humidity-percentage??

With the end of the destruction, the good times are now to come. Time for the Turkish carpenters to show some Grolsch-craftmanship (for the non-Dutch-people, there once was a commercial on TV, promoting Grolsch beer, whilst showing craftsmen making violins by hand, and other stuff….. really emotional and oldfashioned).

The inspection revealed that most work will go in restauring or repairing the stringers (timbers or in Dutch: spanten). The total of them is 136 (68 on each side of the hull and they are 20 centimeters apart from each other.) As this is the shape of the hull: and thus made of two stringers.In the old days these were formed into shape over a fire. But both water and the powers on them, resulted in some 25 that are broken or rotted away. Nowadays replacing them is easier, with layers of laminated wood, stronger than before and easier done. Thanks to modern technology, this will not be a major nightmare. If we were to put the old-style ones (solid chunks of wood) back into place, we would have to remove the complete deck, because of access. Since the laminate system is more flexible, they can be placed, without removing the deck. We will focus on this in the next coming weeks.

Sylphe is no longer the rarity in Tuzla, and the number of interested people that drop in once a while is encouraging. All giving “good” advice, some of them do it in Turkish, which is assuring, as I can at least ignore that one. All the other “good” advice keeps playing around in my head. The fight, whether yes or no, to put an epoxy coating on her outside hull is raging on. One part says, it gives stiffness and protection, another part says that it prevents the wood from breathing and thus rot in the longer run. I will have some more sleepless nights over it, I guess. The amount of stress that Sylpe has produced is unbelievable. I am glad I don’t have a job or kids to worry about at the same time, I would have gone insain. Waking up in the middle in the night with a sudden idea, is now more habit than exception. Pen and paper are standard next to my pillow, these days.

Meanwhile,

Turkey is getting a better and nicer place, by the week. Visits to friends, restaurant, bar or chandler are regular.

The elevator in my building is developping an attitude. Most nights when I come home it is on the fourth floor, and refuses to come down. So I got used to climbing four flights of stairs, just to keep me fit (and than take the elevator for the fifth floor.)

I have had my fourth (!!) flat tyre in 5 weeks, not to mention, all four in the same pothole around the corner form my apartment. I guess it is the one-brain cell handicap again.

Still no answer from Andre Mauric, the designer of Sylphe.

And last but not least, I unpacked the spinnaker in my appartment. Mostly these are very colourfull sails. Sylphe’s one is completely virgin-like white……with a 6 meter big, blue dolhin/whale on it. (The dolphin /whale-symbol is sylphe’s bowenscription and trademark. Really impressive.).

Love Roland

PS. Marit is almost on her way to the Caribean. She is reachable via her own e-mail, which is marit@sail-in-style.com. She is (physically) sick of this horrible cold weather and longs for the tropics and the sun. Go for it, love, Curacao and scuba-diving is awaiting you. Take the sailing course in England in the spring, weather-wise a bette idea, if you ask me.