FIAS - Frog in a Sock

Bollard Starfire 30' sloop.

Previously known as "Morvah" the steel 30' Bollard Starfire sloop, launched in 1976, is the start of a dream.

For many years Kav had said that he would own a boat, call it "Frog in a Sock" and then become an aquatic nomad for a while and do at least on lap of Australia.

He met Justine and she was convinced to share the dream, if initially hesitant, but Kav drooled over many yachts and both he and Justine were regular visitors to the local brokers, that faraway glaze in the eye as they looked at the boats moored for sale.

Then, as Kav's discharge from Defence approached, knowing the budget limitations, a chance encounter at Vicsail Western Port, set in motion a train of events that would see the fruition of a dream.

Thanks to Bruce Dart of Maritek Marine surveyors & engineers, she was given a reasonably clean bill of health given her age and the way was open to finalise the purchase.

The day finally arrived as Kav handed over the cheque to the broker, signed the paperwork and accepted the keys to the yacht.
With the assistance of Simon from Vicsail, Frog in a Sock was relocated to its new home in Westernport Marina. The only problem being that due to a silt build up on the row, the yacht stopped, dead in the water, just feet from the finger. A little bit of extra power to the engine and the yacht came alongside and the lines were secured.

The adventures will soon begin, once the correct ceremonies are conducted and the new name plastered across the transom.

In the mean time, there many little jobs that need doing, from revamping the storage spaces in the cabin, to replacing halyards, sheets and various fittings. Some of the bigger jobs will have to be handled by the folks at Sealand Marine, as Kav just doesn't have all the skills and knowledge required for some things. Longer term the sails will be replaced as well as the usual maintenance activities that are part and parcel of owning an aquatic toy.

Well, after chatting with Chris from Boat Names Australia, the new name and graphics stickers should arrive soon, then comes the easy task of sticking them to the boat.

Warwick and his team at Sealand Marine have done a good job and are proceeding a pace to get FIAS back in the water as soon as possible.
Things they have done:

• Sand back old antifoul, re-prime bare metal and re antifoul,
• Strengthen cockpit floor under binnacle,
• Build a bowsprit with bow roller to hold anchor off the foredeck,
• Fit new, combined throttle/gear assembly,
• Other assorted minor repairs.

09 Feb 08:
With Justine in tow, a couple of glasses and a couple of bottles of champers, it was off to the boat to perform the de-naming and the renaming ceremonies.
Intoning the words to Neptune, dropping an ingot with the old name in the oggin and then adding half a bottle of champers to the mix meant that the old name had been erased from Neptune's ledger and memory. (with half a bottle of champers in me, I would certainly have trouble remembering anything :-p)
The re-naming ceremony also went without a hitch, asking Neptune to write in his ledger and remember the name "FIAS - Frog in a Sock" pour in the champers and then it was time to ask the Four Brothers of the Winds to spare us their fury and assist us in our endeavours, asking each in turn while dispersing the champers in the direction applicable to the god of the wind being appeased.
The gods appeased, we sat in the cockpit of FIAS as Skipper and Mate (don't ask me which of us is which...) and toasted the new name and bade FIAS fair winds and following seas with the glasses of champers put aside for the occasion.

10 Feb 08:
Spent the day on FIAS, tinkering, but mainly to put the name and graphics on the bow and the transom. With the instructions included from Chris at Boatnames Australia, the job didn't take too long and it gave us a chance to test out the tadpole (Silver Marine 230D inflatable tender). Finished a few of the little tasks, with the final one (the fitting of a strainer to the sea water engine cooling intake line) to be completed tomorrow morning before we take FIAS on her maiden voyage on Westernport.

11 Feb 08:
The day dawned calm and bright, the windsor's contemplated taking FIAS out for her maiden voyage. However, before that could happen, the new sea cock and strainer had to be fitted to the sea water cooling. So Kav trundled off to the chandlery to get the few remaining supplies (and a couple of bits that "might" come in handy!). You see, a chandlery is to a yachtie as Bunnings is to a DIY nut, only more expensive :)
After lunch, the yard had been tidied up and we were off for our first adventure.

29 Feb 08:
4 legged crew passes away.
This morning, after being diagnosed with an inoperable bone marrow disease, the third member of the FIAS crew quietly slipped into feline heaven with the assistance of the local veterinarian. for more details and photo's of our much loved companion see Jaffa.

5 Mar 08:
The new speed log/transducer has been fitted, and FIAS returned to her pen, all ready to go sailing over the long weekend here in Melbourne. All that remains to be done for the new instruments to be fully functional is the fitting of the wind vane/speed transducer at the top of the mast. Not a job to be done while underway or in high breezes. It also requires a relatively strong person on the halyard/winch to ensure that the crew member (that would be Kav!) does not descend at a speed equal to the acceleration due to gravity before a sudden stop on the deck. So Kav will have to rope in a strong offsider to assist with the reward of going for a sail :)

May 08:
Kav has a busy month, RYA Coastal skipper course and Prep for RYA Yachtmaster and then a decision on pursuing an RYA instructor ticket if successful. The unfortunate thing is that he may have to travel to sunny Brisvegas to do the Yachtmaster exam :( (good thing he has been offered a job with the folks that have the contract for instructing Electronics to the technical trainees at HMAS Cerberus starting in June!) The downside of having a full time job is that the 'lap around Australia' will have to wait a while.