Logbook
2008 and 2009
“Plan Ireland” and “Plan Germany” were contacted and gave their support for the project.
The shipping company Hartmann in Leer Germany was contacted and generously agreed to sponser the website which would be the main tool to reach out to the sailing communities in German and English speaking countries.
The first equipment was bought:
Wind self steering gear (Atoms) used via the internet
The outboard motor for “Mumpes” (4 HP Mariner) from the Kilmacsimon Boatyard in Ireland
In August 2009 Gerhard and Rudi sailed the yacht “Karimalykka” from Kinsale (Ireland) to Emden (Germany) in 7 days and tested their compatibility and teamwork.
“Karimalykka” at her mooring in Kinsale
December 2009
The Kinsale Yacht Club got involved and ran a story on the project in the news section of their website.
PLAN Schweiz, PLAN UK, PLAN Canada and PLAN Australia were contacted and gave their support.
The Irish sailing magazine AFLOAT was contacted, a note in the forum of their website was posted.
“Mumpes” in hibernation and snow
January 2010
Andre from TRIDEM, Leer in Germany, and Rudi made up the website.
Several lists were produced for preperation – to view any list click on it:
Safety Equipment
navigation-equipment
general-equipment
worklist
No participation in the ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers)
We applied to participate in the ARC even though “Mumpes” is only 6.5 m long. We now got the decision of the organizers that a participation is not possible.
Düsseldorf Boat Show
Rudi attended the BOOT to promote this website and he also made contact with various sailing magazines.
February 2010
Weather
Unfortunately the weather in January and February was so cold, that no work on the boat could be done.
Radio Interview
Radio Ostfrieland made an interview with Rudi. To listen to it (German language) go to the media page.
Newspaper article about the project published by Ostfriesen Zeitung. To read it (German language) go to the media page.
Article in website www.segelnews.de (in German). View on media page.
March 2010
Trans Ocean (the German Blue Water Sailing Club) published an article on their website. To read go to the media page.
Working on the steering
(Left) – After drawing the rudder and dissembling the lower bearing only the skeg remains.
(Middle) – Then Gerhard & Master Boatbuilder T. Boekhoff inspect the rudder and decide that the shaft will be completely replaced.
(Right) – The new lower bearing will fit perfectly.
April 2010
Contact was made with the Marina of Lagos in Portugal and Lagos was chosen as the starting point.
May 2010
The German magazine “Segeln” publishes a small article. To read (in German)
go to the media page.
July 2010
The irish newspaper “Southern Star” ran an article about the project. To read please go to the media page.
The preparations continue:
The trailer is serviced. New
tyres and shock absorbers
are fitted. It is then tested
and approved by the road
authorities.
The keel bolts are checked.
The self steering gear is
assembeled and tested
before it is mounted.
August 2010
The boat is trailered to Borssum boatyard to continue the preparations.
It comes as an unpleasant surprise that the hull coating above the waterline has developed osmosis. This happened during the long period the boat was stored shrink wrapped with plastic foil. The ventilation was not sufficient and so the blisteres could develop. We decide to cure this disease properly.
- In days of abrasive sanding the paint is removed completely until the original gelcoat is reached.
- All imperfections and pores are closed with epoxy filler
- Then the hull is coated by 2 coats of protective coating (Interprotect) based on epoxy.
- The hull is sanded again for smoothness and good adhesion of the next coat.
- Next is an intermediate coat (Perfection undercoat) to insure compatibility between the previous epoxy based paint and the polyurethane based coats which will follow.
- 2 coats of yellow varnish (International Perfection) follow.
- To finish 2 coats of clear varnish (International Perfection) are applied to give extra protection to UV rays and damage.
Removal of all paint The original gelcoat After 2 epoxy coats Applying yellow
The final product of our sanding, filling and painting efforts hanging in the yard’s crane ready to be waterborne
Work on the rudder is also continued and completed. Below you can follow the steps:
- strengthening with additional bi-directional laminate where the biggest stresses occur
- bringing into shape by sanding and filling
- installing
Several other jobs are done: The rig is inspected and all worn parts are exchanged for new ones, the mast support is strenghtened, the windows are replaced with stronger new ones and glued instead of bolted, the equipment at the stern is fitted. At the stern you can see the solar panel for generating electricity, the wind self steering gear, the boarding ladder and the outboard motor all in their correct places.
Finally, after loading sails, equipment and gear, the boat is ready for sea trial.
September 2010
The 4th and 5th of September a sea trial was conducted. We passed the sea-lock of Emden Harbour and sailed to the island of Borkum at the German North Sea Coast. The objective was to identify weaknesses and to check if all sails and essential systems were working ok. We spent the night at Borkum and sailed the boat back to Emden the
next day.
We were satisfied with the performance of “Mumpes”. But of course we came up with a list of 25 items still to be done. The main item being the renewal of all through hull fittings and seacocks as we discovered some leaks from the old equipment.
Thus the 40 year old plastic seacocks were exchanged for new bronze ones. The remaining items on the list would be dealt with by Gerhard as Rudi had to go back to Ireland.
October 2010
Plan Ireland publishes an article on their website – go to Media page to view.
Afloat Magazine publishes an article on their website – go to Media page to view.
The national Irish broadcaster RTE conducts an interview with Rudi for the program “Seascapes”
it is broadcasted on Radio 1 on the 29th of October
The Kinsale Yacht Club hosts a presentation by Rudi and Jessica Majekodunmi from Plan Ireand
about the project and the work of Plan
The stove was gimballed, an all-wave receiver installed, the bolt cutter put securely in place and the watertight canister placed and secured. Inside all equipment which will be taken into the liferaft is stowed including:
- pyrotechnics – Food rations – fishing line and hook – signalling mirror
- watertight torch etc.
Photo left:
Also the electronics were installed. They consist of a chart plotter with GPS, echosounder, VHF. But not only that – the complete electric wiring and the battery were replaced.
Photo right:
Here the port bunk is shown. You can see the leesail, preventing falling out during sleep in heavy weather. Also the fire extinguisher is fitted there, close to the galley.
Photo left: The Liferaft is stowed and secured in the cockpit close to the companionway. On top of it 3 jerrycans with drinkingwater are ready to be taken into the liferaft in case of emergency.
Photo right: Looking down onto the watermaker installation.
November 2010
6. Nov to 8th Nov.
Trailering the boat down to Portugal. Departure Riepe / Germany 6th Nov. at 1100. Arrival Lagos / Portugal 8th Nov. at 1645. Route was via Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain. Total distance was approx. 2750 km. Weight of Car, trailer and boat was approx. 4700 kg. Driving time incl. rests but not sleeping during nights 37.5 hrs. Average speed 72.8 km/h.
Monday 8.Nov. Lagos
Boat in the water by crane sponsored by Sopromar at 1800.
Shifted boat to Marina reception pier 1820
Provisions loaded on board 1930
Tuesday 9th Nov. Lagos
Rigging, checking electronics etc.
Fetching 2 friends (Malte & Klaus from Faro Airport), they will bring the trailer back to Germany.
Wednesday, 1oth Nov. Lagos
Cleaning the boat stowing the provisions, getting 150 ltrs. bottled water and stowing it.
The weather does not look good to go to Madeira, a SW is about to develop.
Thursday, 11th Nov. Lagos
Saying good bye to Malte and Klaus, they leave with car and trailer to Germany.
Further small works with stowing equipment etc. Weather still unsuitable to leave – SW now confirmed. Decide to leave on Sunday.
Friday, 11th Nov Lagos
Not much done. Except testing VHF, echosounder and GPS chart plotter
Saturday 12th Nov Lagos
Installing chainplate for 2nd forestay on the bow.
Otherwise doing the touristic round in historic Lagos and preparing mentally and physically (big meals) for the start tomorrow.
How do we move on?
Dear Friends!
2010 is history and the 2nd decade of the 21st century has commenced.
As you could follow here, we could not complete our plan to sail across the Atlantic for children in need. But we are not discouraged and will try to complete the crossing in the Winter of 2011 or Spring of 2012, starting from Tenerife. Thus this website will remain and we will report, whenever there is news. All in hope to motivate many to sponsor a child in need. We see our project as part of countless initiatives to create peaceful positive changes worldwide. We wish to thank you for your support of our project and hope you will be with us in 2011 too.
We wish you and your families a peaceful, healthy and succesfull new year.
Gerhard and Rudi
January 2011
From Rudi:
I did some research to find the reasons why we encountered the unusual conditions we did, which forced us to postpone our crossing. The main feature was the pushing of the Jet Stream to the South by a block of high pressure.
Left: As can be seen here the Jet Stream is a couple of 100 miles further South than usual. It is now flowing over the Canary islands and North Africa. The consequence is that the Low pressure systems are also guided there.
Right: The surface weather chart (26th Nov.) shows the Low pressure systems over the Canary Islands. We see a big High pressure block over Greenland anf another High East of Florida. The area where you usually find the Azores High is occupied by the Low pressure systems.
This is the 500 millibar chart (27th Nov.) Here the “Greenland Block” (which forced the Jet Stream and the Low pressure systems to the South) can be seen very clearly.