This year's trip really is just to finish up last year's. Last September on the way home from Greenland we were caught in a storm 350 NM SW of Iceland. 18 meter seas. I did not get windspeed but at Iceland, which was 350 NM downwind from us, the winds were 90 kts. We were fully knocked down once (masts in the water), partly knocked down numerous times, and at one point up side down - very nearly rolled. Main mast was broken 9 ft from the top - there was a major knot at the breakage - a severe defect - see photo.


The grain is all twisted. The double curve at back indicates where a knot was. This is a horrendous piece of wood. With quality wood the mast should not break. 

The main boom was broken, the A frame bowsprit torn off, plus various other lesser damage.

We turned to nearest land, Grindavik (where the volcano started erupting a month later!), and shortly after that, with Jon Karlson, I moved Teddy to Djupivogur on the east coast, the Eastfjords. More of the story is on last year's blog
Teddytoarctic2023.blogspot.com

So, this year's trip is to effect temporary but rock solid repairs here, and then sail her home to Clifden, to do permanent repairs.

I flew to Reykjavik, and the next day caught a flight on a tiny plane to Hofn. We flew right over Vatnajokull - Iceland's largest glacier/ice cap - the day clear - very spectacular. This was on the tail end of a severe N storm and the turbulence over the ice cap and coming down in its lee was pretty dizzying. Bus to Djupivogur.



                                                           Djupivogur harbour.

 
Masts out, moved to Jon's shed.



Move the masthead cap to the stump of the main mast. 

                                                 
                                                    Axe to remove material quickly.


                               
                                          Hand planing. The masthead cap is by my feet. Shin guard is to protect my shin bone which I nicked with a chain saw 2 months earlier. Wonder if I'm getting accident prone. 





                                                                    Getting there



The steel bands holding the spreaders were badly twisted and deformed. 



                                   Kalli applying a little heat to make the steel malleable. 



Much cloud, cold & rain. It even snowed one night on the fjord mountains. 






Main boom - glued, bolted, frapped.


                                Jon did the ropework. He used longline for catching cod. 


With the mast 9 feet shorter, we needed shorter shrouds for the masthead. 



                            Jon showing his grandson Rokkvi the ropes. Thimble being spliced in. 






                                                               It was like watching a dance.

They made 4 shrouds - fore, aft, two sides. The shrouds were cut too long, and when the mast is back in, the lower ends will be cut and fitted using bulldog clamps.



Jon took me to his farm, on the other side of the fjord. 1000 hectares, from the sea to the mountains 3000 feet up. A spectacular property.




                                                   

                                            Lots of caribou (reindeer) grazing on his farm



Masts back to Teddy



                                              Gummi handled the crane with finesse
~


                                       Preparing to swing the main mast onto Teddy. 



Jon Karlsson has helped me beyond measure. A retired fisherman, he lives here & knows everyone. I hit the jackpot!




Next job: Design and make a bowsprit!

Comments

  1. heatherJune 24, 2024 at 4:42 AM

    Interesting! Great to see the young lad learning wire splicing - nice neat job, too! When do you leave Iceland, Nick?

    ReplyDelete

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