Making progress after the 100 day challenge

Our 100 day launch challenge finished last week, as we expected we did not launch (and given the wind would not have been able to do so on the actual day).

However, we have reached a few milestones.

• Solar
• Windlass
• Main Mast
• Forward Heads

Solar

After many naysayers we have our unique aft solar fully deployed and it has been up without any issues for 10 days. Here is the raising the solar video:

Some more pictures

We have realised that we can use the boards from the saloon settee backrest as the "ramp slides" when bringing the solar full in-board, over the aft cabin, for sailing. That means we will be able to slide the frame fully under control without any lifting or wobbling.

Before we sail there are a few adjustments that I'll make (mainly to further support the outside corners when it is fully extended). The bolts to finish the step and fit the boarding ladder should arrive today.

Windlass

We have been able to start the next big job, fitting the windlass. This requires a significant support structure as the windlass goes above the old anchor locker which just had a lift out lid. There is significant weight and loads on this.

Here you can see the the beams we have fitted that the windlass will bolt to. At the sides the white circles are where the holes for the chainplate loops for the inner forestay bridle will go. The beams have FR4 backing plates.

We have also fitted backing plates for the new stainless steel mooring cleats at the sides (bolts arriving today).

Under the deck at the bottom of the picture we have epoxied in more timber that connects to the new beam that we fitted in the forecabin. We will have beams coming forward from this that will connect to the cross beans to take the loads when pulling up the anchor. You can also see the hole for the pipe for the chain.

As a reminder here is the beam we fitted in the forecabin (as we were fitting it)

And after insulating it (covered in the silver insulation)

We have been working on the old anchor locker lid. The core had got very wet in some places. We have turned the back section into three parts. They are now ready for sanding and painting

The middle will be fixed in permanently with the windlass bolted to it (one hole for the wiring and one for the chain). The one on the left has been taken apart and we have fitted a new core. All the uncovered core at the edges has been routed out and filled with thickened epoxy as have all the old holes.

We will be fitting a flat FR4 plate on the middle section for the windlass to sit on (it will keep it further out of water on the deck).

The side pieces will be removable to give access to bolts etc. We still have to adjust the final part of the old locker lid to fit the forward section.

Main Mast

Good news, the final parts needed for us to prepare the main mast should arrive today. That will be next weeks project.

Forward Heads

A little more progress. We have created a better plinth for the toilet in the forward heads.

You now sit facing aft and it can be angled at 45° when at sea for more comfort when heeling. Facing aft gives us a little more space for our feet when on the toilet and when showering. The downside it it is a bit of a higher step onto it.

To fit this new direction we have swapped the laundry and washbasin (basin now aft, spin dryer forward).

The layout is working well and the new wider doorway has been a game changer, it makes access so much easier as well as making it infinitely easier to get either the spin dryer or toilet in and out. The door is a temporary transformation using the old sliding door, now on hinges with a width extension.

Next steps

Today, with record breaking temperatures forecast, we are taking it easy.

Hopefully in a week or so we can be ready to book a crane for the main mast. Then there will "just" be all the 1,000 small jobs to prepare for launching.

It's getting exciting and close, thanks for your support 😄