Saltimbanque,
a Brise de Mer 28, joined us in 2008, right back from a 3 year journey
around the Atlantic with his former owners. Together we have already
sailed over 20 000 milles, close to 40 000 km, including a trip around
the Northern Atlantic in 2011-2012, which you can discover - again - here.
With
it we rode various seas and an ocean, touched 3 continents and
20 countries, discovered dream anchorages (and other less sheltered),
got anxious in gales and surfed pushed by the trade winds in our
spinnaker, sweated in 40°C and spent winters under the snow.
Saltimbanque in Sine Saloum, Senegal, November 2011
Saltimbanque in the middle of the Atlantic, May 2012
We know it
by heart, and the reverse is probably true ! It's part of the family
and naturally we keep on travelling together, always the extra mile.
Years after years, Saltimbanque hasn't become longer, it's still
showing off its 8m50 (28 feet). It has actually little changed since
the description we wrote in 2011 here, and is still
maintained with a lot of love, a spaner size 12 and some WD40.
Back from our long trip,
Saltimbanque is doing very well for a 40 year old boat whose hull has
sailed the equivalent of 2 round-the-world journeys. A bit of
maintenance and some checks are necessary, even though everything is
globally all right.
We sandpaper the hull in 2014, down to the Zinc layer locally (the boat
is painted with Zinc silicate "inversalu" which works as an anode on
the whole surface). Everything looks totally healthy, not a single spot
of corrosion. Relieved, we apply our usual painting treatment: 3 layers
of epoxy primer then antifouling Trilux from International.
Papersanding the hull, Newhaven in Enland, winter 2014
Our home made stern anchor, compulsory for the Baltic sea.
The damaged parts are replaced as the milage
increases:
- The solar panel and its regulator in 2012, as the previous one had died in Ireland (too
much sun maybe) - The engine throttle in 2013 -
The main sail in 2014: we loved the old one, but its 4 Atlantic
crossings had made it as round as a gennaker... Sanders sailmaker in
Lymington (England) made the same for us, but brand new, and we are
perfectly happy!
- The engine itself in 2015: we had to get rid of our beloved Nestor,
which was still working but was showing advanced signs of
corrosion. After a mourning period we had to welcome Junior
onboard ! It is very nice and shiny and already had it first break
down, how cute :o) - The silent blocks and a part of the engine structure in aluminium
which was corroding, at the same time in 2015. - The rudder bearing in 2015 also - The
winch for the main sail halyard in 2015 also - We sandpapered and painted the fresh water
tanks also in 2015 (what a year....) - The spreader bars, a shroud and the forestay in 2016
following an accident when taking the mast down for wintering....
Plus of course a few layers of paint on the deck and some
maintenance of the furniture inside, which is still very cosy and
welcoming!
Sailing and its
associated odd jargon can sound quite mysterious to the beginners
onshore. Nothing really complicated actually, here are a few
explanations with pictures of the most frequents maneuvres.
Sailing is piece of cake ! In the middle of the equatorial
Atlantic ocean..., December 2011
Hop, hands off ! North of Holland, summer 2010
Saltimbanque is a rather
simple boat that can be hanlded without problem alone or with two
people. Or even by itself when we leave Bob at the driving seat. Bob is
our wind vane.
When the wind pushes us, blowing moderately, we
set the large spinneaker :o)
Jumping the symmetrical spinneaker
Jumping the asymmetrical spinneaker
We also have an asymetrical spinneaker, slightly
smaller, that we can easily fly when the wind is between abeam and reaching.
Everything is ready ? It's time to pick up the
mooring lines and leave the harbour.
Leaving Fjällbacka, summer 2017
Simple, isn't it ? Then follow us northwards to hear about our new adventures...
Quite a while since Saint-Martin and its lagoon (April 2012)