Did you miss us?
by John Curnow 1 Mar 2018 23:48 UTC
Abell Point Marina © Abell Point Marina
Well we missed you. Apologies for the somewhat extended hiatus in between newsletters, but it was important to get the new system correct in this new digital era, where simple things like emails can get blocked so quickly. It is also important to have the material present in an appropriate, clear, and easy to understand manner, which is not all that easy across different platforms.
So at any rate, here we are, and we bet you thought we had become that terribly famous African tribe we have written about before. We haven't, and instead bring a wealth of joyous news, counterpoints, descriptions of the work going on around the globe in so many areas, and tales from here, there, and nearly everywhere!
I was in Airlie Beach for the Clipper Carnival, which was all part of Wondrous Whitsundays. This was an area I'd flown over, but not explored, so it was good to see just part of 74 islands that make up the region off the coast of Queensland. Abell Point Marina really is a Mecca for all types of boaties, and has the most incredible facilities to help you #StayPlayExplore, as they put it.
It is true that this is not necessarily the time of year to be there, and indeed it had poured just before we got there. However, if you have time, and can sit out anything untoward that comes along, then cheaper rates are just part of the joys to be had. There are less people, and if it is humidity you seek, then short of Singapore, this could well be for you. Everything is really, really green, as well, so the highlights keep happening.
Abell Point Marina is not only back after Cyclone Debbie some 10 months ago, it is even better! They totally replaced one arm of the marina, and the parklands on their Western edge as they build new outdoor ceremonial and function spaces are really special and will continue to develop over time. It is little wonder that Paul Darrouzet's dynamic and enthusiastic team are multiple award winners.
Your boat is happy and safe, and indeed you can be so too. The Ocean Club is an on water pontoon with private entertaining facilities along with laundry and personal amenities. Their new restaurant, Hemingway's, has just been hatted, and really does bring the conviviality of the place to front and centre. As we head into the season proper soon enough, if you are intending to be nearby, then stop and take it all in, with the Whitsundays adding to the whole equation magnificently.
Also it is truly magnificent in the intervening time to receive a note from our good friend, Rosario Passos, who is the Editor of the Bluewater Cruising Association's publication, Currents. She had just undertaken her first, real offshore experience. She described it as 'a very mixed bag, and an emotional rollercoaster'.
Specifically, she commented:
- Uncomfortable upwind sailing - lots of beating
- Brief exhilarating moments of downwind sailing!
- Amazing sunsets and sunrises
- Amazing dolphin experiences
- Moments of panic
- Moments of joy and fun with the crew
- Moments of undefinable boredom
- Moments of anxiety
- Isolation
- Relaxation
So in the end she has absolutely summed it up, and far from perturbing her about doing more, she's off as soon as she can.
Completely 'on the other board', as it were, I did not get to see 'The Mercy' when it was on the silver screen. Doh! Internet flix for me... I was intrigued, for it was all about Donald Crowhurst, and I had been captivated by the subject since reading the book so long ago that I do not want to think about commenting on time.
Naturally, there are teary elements to this, and the family has said a bit in the past, too. Yet today with the stigma of mental issues much less than before, it serves as a good mark on the chart, so to speak. I remember even seeing a pic of the plywood trimaran, Teignmouth Electron, that he used in that first Golden Globe Race of '68, on the beach and looking very sad, which really just summed up the whole deal.
Of course, the incorrect log led to his own demise, but had repercussions later, for I remember the guy who would have won, but pushed his boat way to hard in order to stay in front of Crowhurst's 'track', and then subsequently fell to the dark night of the soul, much later on when back ashore.
Yes, the book was immense. Of course, it all serves to remind us that the Golden Globe Challenge will start soon enough – July 1, 2018 from Les Sables-d'Olonne, France, to be precise.
Come to think of it, one guy who could certainly raise some good comments on how to keep the space between the ears functioning correctly whilst at sea is the incredible Jon Sanders. He finished his 10th solo lap at the age of 78, and is the only one to have ever completed a triple, and that one was non-stop. I'll ask him that very question when I next speak with him.
So if that last subject matter was 'on the other board', then this next one must be 'running by the lee'. Like many, I was surprised to hear that Oyster had gone into liquidation, for not that long ago they were spruiking the news about their forward order book of over £80m, and reminded us all about just how many Oysters have done or are doing laps of the planet.
Originally touted as unable to secure funding for forward operations, it later became obvious that the real culprit was the insurance claims/payouts for when Polina Star III dropped her keel in 2015. There is some £6.8m still to be settled in the whole affair, as it turns out, with just £400,000 exchanging hands so far. The claims and counter claims, along with the cost of repairing three other vessels similarly affected have dragged on, and are still only likely to be cleared in the middle of 2018.
Still, KPMG has received 45 expressions of interest in the brand (closing 2/3/18), and I specifically use that term, for Richard Matthews sold 'Oyster' for £70million to a VC organisation, who then on sold it to the 'current' operators (HTP Investment) for just £15million, but Matthews retained the land the factory operates from. There is a good chance he, or parties related to him, is one of the 45 EOIs mentioned earlier. Wait and see. Wait and see.
As it turns out, the Administrators are flogging Oyster Marine Ltd as the primary trading company, with the brand name and trademark, technical designs and drawings and associated IT hardware, build manuals, hull and other production mouldings, shares in subsidiary companies, plant and machinery all up for grabs.
You can find some excellent commentary on the issues around Polina Star III in the material contained at oysterstory.info, compiled by her owner, Alexander Ezhkov, with information from her Skipper, Alessio Cannoni, as well as the Surveyors, Ward & McKenzie.
Quite interesting to also read how then CEO of Oyster, David Tydeman, flew to Moscow as soon as was practicable after the incident to personally see the owner and apologise, as well as try to work out a way to get a new build (885) underway for him. He has also recently commented on the information on the website by saying, "I was personally pleased to see that Mr Ezhkov was paid out by his insurers and, in my capacity as CEO of Oyster, we were waiting for those insurers to present their subrogated claim against Oyster."
"The fact that this was not presented was outside Oyster's control, but at no point did Oyster seek to avoid its liability or legal responsibilities. I again express my apology in a personal capacity to Mr Ezhkov for all that he has experienced. I am unable to comment on Oyster's behalf since the Company is now in administration," said Tydeman in concluding.
Right. Our last little section must surely be the 'tender'. Not because of lack of relevance or importance, but just merely a reference to the need to have one. I saw a note about inboard or outboard propulsion on multihulls. It was a subject I got into when reviewing a derivation of a very popular cat a couple of years ago.
There is a different noise, and obviously one needs to carry petrol, which has to be considered. But cost, ease and cost of maintenance were considerable, even if they did not quite counter the issue of range. Naturally others were torque delivery, manoeuvring, and electricity generation. At the time, it made sense if you were hopping about Asia, for outboards are prolific there. If you were going out in the big blue, then inboards seemed to be your answer. Yet I raise it all again now with the prevalence of diesel outboards now on offer. Soon they will top an incredible 300Hp. Is it a case of all bets are off, and it's time to reconsider the whole equation? Could be, so if you have something to say on the matter, please email us.
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