This blog documents the modifications necessary to get seaworthy (warts and all), then the adventures (hopefully) on board our Trailer Sailer 6.1 metre Jarcat6 Catamaran, Kismet.

Monday 27 May 2019

Kismet on Lake Victoria

We were fortunate that we were able to meet with Peter from the Trailer Sailer Place forum while in Paynesville. Peter and crew motored out to meet us and took some pictures (unbeknownst to us) while we were sailing.


That slack near the foot of the main sail, I found later to be caused by the way the main halyard cheek block (pulley at the top of the mast) had been riveted on. Two of the four rivets are within a few millimetres of the sail track preventing the bolt rope from sliding up further. To Be Fixed...

(Later edit: I am now sure it's NOT the rivets - just the bolt rope getting stuck in the mast track. I've purchased some McLube dry silicone spray. I'll clean the slot then lube it - and the main next time it's up.)
(Later, later edit: The McLube fixed the main going all the way up the slot.)

Friday 17 May 2019

Sailing Gippsland Lakes

Well just Lake Victoria actually. We took accommodation at Captains Cove where we had our own boat berth (picture above). It let us get out on the boat without the rigmarole of setting up each day. A VERY successful four days albeit only two days actually sailing.

We have trying to get out on Port Phillip but out of a nine hour day we don't even get two hours actually on the water - then arrive home exhausted from the whole process.

This way (Paynesville) we arrived and launched and were ready next day to just step out onto the boat. There were some complications this time as I had to rig a few things for the first time.

It was quite helpful to tow to 300 or so kilometres down to Paynesville as this is the longest tow we have done with the boat.
For instance:
- Insects splat against the hatch fronts and somehow find their way into the cabin - lots of dead bodies.
- Webbing straps slowly loosen for the first 100km as they tighten on the drums.
- The Tacktrack lines (ropes) along the front of the boat vibrate a lot and need some kind of restraint to stop them thrashing and compromising the ropes.
- The boat becomes more stable at speed but uses more "fuel" from the car than our small caravan that is heavier.

More pictures and details to come...