Les Saints to Antigua - Classic Regatta

We so enjoy Les Saintes – there is always something going on in this beautiful spot. While messing about on the boat this afternoon, we had a rather unusual visit! 

Please excuse the quality of the video - I haven't learned to edit yet! 

They arrived with an invitation to take in their show tonight in the town square. This group of folks on three sailboats from Bretagne, France are a travelling sea circus called … Seacus

Well it is not the Cirque de Soleil by any means, but they did entertain us with magic shows, music and a number of video presentation. Turned out to be a fun evening! 

I had learned from another Hylas owner who has a similar vintage boat to Ambition, that he had experienced failure in one of his deck cleats due to crevice corrosion. This occurs when salt water is allowed to remain in contact with stainless steel for extended amounts of time without oxygen. All the deck fittings on our boats are attached using a caulking compound. As the caulking ages, it looses it adherence to the stainless steel letting salt water creep in under the fitting. Since the gap is so slight, air has no chance to get in the crack as well. End result corrosion of the stainless.  

I decided that I would start pulling off the deck cleats to check for crevice corrosion. I started with the first two that were the easiest to access in the anchor locker. They are through bolted so getting to the underside was a piece of cake.  Using a pry bar, pulled the cleats up and out. Used a Dremel to clean all the bits up and then reinstalled them. On one of the cleats while tightening the first turn using a socket, I snapped off one of the two threaded studs!!! This falls into the "NOT GOOD" category!

completely corroded 

It is amazing how “brand new” the stud looks and yet it failed with so little effort! Ok now I have a new project, pull out ALL the remaining cleats to see if more will fail. 

Broken stud

Glad to report that after removing all 10 cleats, no others failed during reinstallation and I really put as much torque on the studs as I could. This is reassuring! Just one cleat to order from Taiwan. 

Cleat with studs

Reinstallation almost complete

We have made our way from les Saintes to Deshaies and then on to Jolly Harbour, Antigua where we cleared in and hung out for a few days before moving Ambition to Falmouth in advance of the start of Antigua Classic Regatta. 

There were far fewer classic yachts in the harbour for this years racing compared to last year, but they are still so very spectacular.  The boats are covered with folks sanding, varnishing and getting the yachts all buffed and ready .

The 4 race days provided a lot of excitement as the winds were strong and the seas were 8 to 10 feet. We took Ambition out to the race course and got more than a few pictures of the action. I also include some pictures taken by the pros who were MUCH closer to the action than I dared get! 

J Class Yacht - they did not race however

Chillin' between races....

Chronos

Same yacht out on the course with her sistership - 157 feet long 

Ashanti  V

Rhea and Chronos

Columbia

This boat was being towed back into harbour after running into one of the 157 foot yachts ???? The mast in more than 2 pieces, hanging off the stern.

How can this happen???

Ruth

Columbia

Doesn't this just look like the best job on board??? 

After Classic Regatta wound down, there are a few days before the Antigua Race Week starts – this is the exact opposite of Classic Regatta. The classics are all older (pre world war 2 designs) and the Race week is all about the very latest in designs and materials. We are looking forward to seeing the action. 

In the meantime here is a picture out our front door – we are anchored in Green Island behind a reef that protects us from the ocean swells and waves -  nothing but sea in front! 

We will return in a day or two to Falmouth for Race Week then we will be on the final stretch of our winter. Then back to Jolly Harbour to prepare Ambition for her summer out of the water.