Welcome, Charter Oceanis 45 ‘Malabar’

Welcome, Charter Oceanis 45 ‘Malabar’

It was with much excitement and anticipation that ‘Malabar’, Perfect Sailing’s new charter Oceanis 45 arrived quietly in Bozburun.

oceanis-45-malabar-arrives
Oceanis 45 Malabar entering Bozburun harbour

The owners brought her in smoothly, as they had had six weeks practice navigating her safely from her launch in Perpignan, France.

Oceanis 45 Malabar reverses on to the Bozburun quay
Oceanis 45 Malabar reverses on to the Bozburun quay

In conversation over a celebratory drink, owner’s James & Carol remarked “She is everything we had hoped for and more. She took whatever we threw at her, and kept us comfortable and safe. We love her”

Charter Oceanis 45 champagne reception
Charter Oceanis 45 champagne reception

Naturally we are delighted to welcome another new yacht this year. She arrives in our fleet at a time when some people are anxious about visiting this delightful part of the ‘Turkish Turquoise Coast’ and Turkey in general. The owners have demonstrated their confidence and prior experience, that the area is nothing like the media seem to suggest. This is a fantastic place to sail and the people are so lovely and welcoming.

Charter Oceanis 45
Sara is welcomed on board Oceanis 45 Malabar by James for the first time.

Perfect Sailing has just under two weeks to prepare her for her first charter. There will be lots of cleaning and polishing, plus the addition of those things our charter guests love, like onboard Wi-Fi and quality linen & towels etc, plus all the little things that get taken for granted but would be missed if not onboard, like quality cockpit cushions, playing cards & board games for those quiet relaxing nights with friends or family under the clear starry sky.

oceanis 45 charter
Malabar, Oceanis 45 relaxing before her journey from Perpignan France to Orhaniye Turkey

‘Malabar’ is a rather special Oceanis 45, as she has the new 2016 light oak interior which gives her a very light, airy and modern feel. She has a high specification which includes a cockpit remote control windlass with chain counter, and very cool 7″ chart plotter repeater screens at each helm, so you can focus on making her sail fast. Her transom is of the modern drop down swim platform type, but includes the infra red remote control operation. There have been many small additions such as additional shelves in some lockers to make her even more comfortable.

Oceanis 45 Malabar arrival
Oceanis 45 Malabar arrives in Bozburun

So, welcome Charter Oceanis 45 ‘Malabar’ and perhaps a welcome to you too, be one of the first to experience this rather special addition in Perfect Sailing’s fleet for discerning yachtsman’s.

Call us today on +44 1273 906939 or email us for a special charter offer this summer, be sure to mention ‘Malabar’s arrival’ for an extra special offer.

Link to ‘Malabar’s’ webpage on the Perfect Sailing site.

If you want to see more photos of ‘Malabar’s’ arrival click here

BandG chart-plotter ‘Malabar’ Oceanis 45

BandG chart-plotter ‘Malabar’ Oceanis 45

I have long since raved about the current BandG chart-plotter. We already have one fitted to our Hanse 415 ‘Serenity’. The BandG chart-plotter on ‘Malabar’ our Oceanis 45 takes this to the next level with ‘Platinum’ cartography.

Today I received a photo of the plotter on Malabar, our soon to arrive Oceanis 45. Malabar, like most of our yachts, is way beyond vanilla. She has been specced way well above that of a normal ‘bareboat’ charter yacht. The owner’s have bought many options like windlass cockpit remote control  and chain counter, very useful when shorthanded or you cant hear the foredeck crew calling the amount of chain down! Today I wanted to show you just how capable and sexy her B&G  chart plotter is.

 

Malabar has the 12″ BandG chart-plotter centrally mounted in the cockpit plus two 7″ Zeus BandG chart-plotter repeaters at each helm. These are not just instrument repeaters, but mini chart-plotter screens. In addition she has the platinum cartography which includes the option of 3D charting, ideal when entering a bay to ‘get your bearings’. Probably the easiest way to describe this is by showing some photos.

Helm position on our new 2016 Oceanis 45, with the 7" Zeus chart-plotter repeaters
Helm position on our new 2016 Oceanis 45, with the 7″ B&G Zeus chart-plotter repeaters

Above is the helm repeaters which replicates whatever is displayed on the main BandG chart-plotter screen.

Oceanis 45 'Malabar' BandG chart-plotter in 2D split screen mode
Oceanis 45 ‘Malabar’ BandG chart-plotter in 2D split screen mode

This is the centrally mounted BandG chart-plotter, currently in 2D mode with split screen. These are all user adjustable screens. This shot shows the normal chart screen on the port side and an electronic compass on starboard. It is set to show ‘course up’ contrasting the ‘North up’ display on the chart screen.

Oceanis-45-BandG chart-plotter with platinum cartography
Oceanis 45 ‘Malabar’ BandG chart-plotter with platinum chart

Here the chart-Plotter is in 3D mode showing her anchored position in a bay. You’ll also notice there is an underwater rock to her right, very useful when choosing where to anchor, particularly at night. You can have an autopilot control shown to control the autopilot as well as display what’s currently playing from you phone or tablet device, and of course you can change track and volume etc. or play videos too!

 

Malabar is currently approaching the Corinth Canal and is scheduled to arrive here in Orhaniye 10 July, naturally we are all very excited.

 

P.S. Sorry about the B&G spelling, it’s a Google thing!

Welcome Oceanis 45 charter yacht ‘Malabar’

Malabar, Oceanis 45 charter. She’s on her way!

oceanis 45 charter
Malabar, Oceanis 45 relaxing before her journey from Perpignan France to Orhaniye Turkey

Malabar, Perfect Sailing’s brand new Oceanis 45 (our second new yacht this year) has left Perpignan in France bound for her new home here in Orhaniye Turkey.

She will enjoy a relaxed cruise for six weeks as her new owners get to grips with this fantastic yacht. The Oceanis 45 is one of the ‘new generation’ Beneteau, along with her siblings the 41.1 and 48.

When she arrives in Orhaniye she will undergo a two week preparation for charter to add all the kit needed for an excellent charter experience, from safety equipment to Wi-Fi, even novels and boardgames.

Here are some photos of her modern light oak interior.

Oceanis 45 galley
Oceanis 45 galley
Oceanis 45 Dinette
Oceanis 45 Dinette

Malabar has the three cabin layout finished in light oak with grey trim, very modern she looks too. malabar sports a long list of factory extras, including electric drop down transom remote control and windlass chain counter. The owners have added some nice personal touches too. An increase the internal storage is just one example.

Customised cupboard storage
Customised cupboard storage

We know they have worked hard to make much more than the vanilla yacht, for example the very expensive but oh so lovely helm chart plotter repeaters. Now you can focus on making her sail fast with all the information customisable at the helm.

Helm position on our new 2016 Oceanis 45, with the 7" B&G Zeus repeaters
Helm position on our new 2016 Oceanis 45, with the 7″ B&G Zeus repeaters

 

If you fancy chartering Malabar but you’re a bit concerned whether you could handle her or not, this could put your mind to rest. Just look at the photo of the owner’s mum (I’m too polite to mention here age) with a big smile on her face. I’m not surprised, Malabar sailing on her first trial sail at over 10 knots, and it could be you too.

Owner's mum on the maiden sail at over 10 knots.
Owner’s mum on the maiden sail at over 10 knots!

If you would like more information, and her availability, our website is the place to start, or just send an email

Malabar – Oceanis 45 charter, here in Orhaniye Turkey, be amongst the first!

 

Aquadrive CV joint repair!

Aquadrive CV joint repair

Sometimes you just know you’re lucky!

Perhaps some companies don’t fully appreciate their employees or their skills. Perfect Sailing are very proud to have a great engineer on our staff, and so are our clients too.

A couple of weeks ago a fellow cruising friend called and asked if we could trace a noise in the engine compartment and a line of oil all around the compartment.

As ever we despatched our highly regarded engineer Huseyin to look at the problem.

A short while later Huseyin returned with a diagnosis. The CV joint had a big split in the rubber boot (which protects the joint from dirt and corrosion and also houses the grease) which had caused a line of grease to be ejected around the engine bay. The noise was caused by the loss of grease.

When the owners engine was recently replaced, including new prop, shaft and plumbing, it was decided not to replace the Aquadrive CV joint or driveshaft constant velocity joint. If you don’t know (and why should you), the Aquadrive CV joint is similar to the drive shafts in front wheel drive cars that change the angle of drive of a prop shaft, i.e. allows the front wheels to turn whilst maintaining drive. Think of how your wrist can adopt any angle, except this one rotates simultaneously as well.

car CV joint

The arrangement of the Aquadrive CV joint is shown in the picture below, our installation is exactly like this.

 

Aquadrive arrangement
Aquadrive arrangement

We contacted the suppliers, who also fitted the new engine. They explained the CV joint was very old and the boot was no longer available, a newer design CV joint would be required.

Aquadrive CV joint
Photo of the original CV joint in new condition with a complete rubber boot retained by jubilee clips, shown in the centre.

Naturally the owner was disappointed having spent a lot of money on a new engine and ancillaries, the company would accept no responsibility for their advice, not even offering to fit the replacement part as a gesture of goodwill.

So Perfect Sailing were given the job of replacement, and that’s when it all started to get tricky. First the joint had to be removed and then a replacement sought. Despite hours of pushing and heaving, a drenched (did I tell you its really hot here) Huseyin just couldn’t persuade the bits to divorce! By this time the owner had returned to England which left us several months to sort the problem. Never give up, never surrender, as they say on Galaxy Quest, the Star Trek spoof film. Undefeated Huseyn had another attempt, and this time succeeded. So far we are all happy, we have avoided a lift out, removal of the engine and propellor, and a trip to the workshop to separate the CV joint from the shaft. At least €1000 saved.

Next we confirmed that the ‘boot’ was no longer available, and the owner faced the cost of a new joint at around €1500. On close examination Huseyin said there was nothing wrong with the joint itself, just the torn boot (well it was 30 years old).

This is when Huseyin’s ingenuity sets in. A trip to town, a hunt round the various engine and engineering suppliers, revealed a boot from a Volvo marine drive shaft. It  was the right diameter but more than twice as long as needed. He bought it anyway.

Smart engineer Huseyn's Aquadrive CV joint repair
Smart engineer Huseyn, a man with a plan!

The problem now is the new boot has to be cut shorter, consequently removing the flange at one end which the jubilee clip should sit on. The boot (a tubular rubber bellows), needs a flat flange on both ends. One end has just been cut of to get the correct length required. Huseyin very cleverly slipped the jubilee clip over two of the high points of the new bellows, allowing him to clamp the boot at the cut end.

 

Aquadrive CV joint

Aquadrive CV Joint just final reassembly
CV Joint just final reassembly

Lots of grease and a small fight with the joint to go back together, and we have a perfectly serviceable CV joint. In addition the redundant end of the new boot will make an excellent spare when needed in another 30 years.

Completed Aquadrive Cv joint repair, ready for re installation.
Completed Cv joint repair, ready for re installation.

 

So we now have a very happy customer whom we have saved more than €2500, and we are proud (again) to have Huseyn on our team.

Thanks Huseyin.

Engineer Huseyn, the Aquadrive CV joint master!
The best marine engineer is southern Turkey

 

Follow up.

This morning the Aquadrive CV joint was re installed, tested and all seems well.

Aquadrive reinstalled
Aquadrive reinstalled

Welcome ‘Serendip’ new charter Jeanneau 419

‘Serendip’ our new Jeanneau 419 for charter was launched last week in Perpignan France. Kevin was able to join the delivery crew just before they left for Perfect Sailing’s base in Orhaniye.

Weather conditions for departure are quite strong (which is common here) but will settle down the further south they travel.  The crew will have their work cut out the first few days with the forecast showing up to 50 knots of wind. Hopefully they will get far enough south before the strong weather arrives as they sail towards Cagliari in the south west of Sardinia. This picture was taken just outside Perpignan harbour the day before departure, you can see it is building already.

Perpignan shore
Perpignan shore

‘Serendip’ is 41′ and very similar to the popular Jeanneau 379 ‘Salsa’ part of last year’s fleet, just bigger overall with an extra head. The new 419 model also now sports a full width drop down transom, very popular with our clients.

Specification, like all our yachts is extensive including classic slab reef mainsail for better sailing performance and bow thruster. Her chart plotter, autopilot and instrument electronics are the latest B&G, by far the best kit available today. The chartplotter even calculates your tacking points to windward, if only it made tea too!

Serendip our new Jeanneau 419
Serendip our new Jeanneau 419

Her first charter is a week or so after her arrival in Turkey, so it’ll be all hands on deck (excuse the pun). We have a few introductory discount weeks available, call us today.

 

Follow Serendip’s delivery from Perpignan to Marmaris

‘Serendip’ a 2016 Jeanneau 419 is the first of two new yachts joining Perfect Sailing in 2016. She will be followed by Malabar a brand new Oceanis 45 in July.

2016-Jeanneau-new-transom-design

There will be slightly varying crew through the delivery, starting with the owner, his friend John and Martin a friend of Charlie who takes over from Ted as skipper in Sardinia following the first leg of the journey.

Below is a Google map of her berth in Perpignan before she departed. The onboard satellite phone will send position information regularly so we can check her progress for crew safety. There are in fact two sat phones onboard so we will see differing pictures depending on which is used. First is from the Iridium system.

Final_Screenshot 2016-04-15 16.27.57

The crew experienced very strong winds and big seas as they escaped south from the Golf de Lion. Serendip proved strong and fortunately nothing broke, quite a shakedown!

Position 2 (from Delorme system)

Final_Screenshot 2016-04-07 13.17.24

Position 3

Final_Screenshot 2016-04-07 18.21.12

Yacht & crew arrived safely at Cagliari at the southern end of Sardinia, ready for the scheduled crew change. After two days of checking, cleaning and first engine service, the new crew arrived and they set sail this Wednesday, we think bound for Palermo or possibly as far as Corfu as the engine service is complete. It all depends on the weather which is forecast as light winds, unfortunately from the East.

serendip position 13:46 14th April 2016

Position we received at 13.46 GMT on the 14th put ‘Serendip’ here.

Serendip position 15 April 2016

‘Serendip”s position 14:05 15th April 2016

Serendip 18-04-2016

Great progress is being made. Here is Serendip’s position at 13.30 UTC today 18th April 2016. She is just approaching the Rion Andirrion suspension bridge.

Rion Andirrion suspension bridge near Patras Greece
Rion Andirrion suspension bridge near Patras Greece

Rios Andirrion suspension bridge

Serendip approaching the bridge, shown on the right.

Corinth & Athens
Corinth & Athens

Well Serendip has had a busy few days. She passed through Corinth Canal then stopped of in Athens for 24 hours. Next stop was an overnight hide out from the strong 30+ knots winds in Nisos Antipaxos (where do they get these names?)

Cyclades & Dodecanese
Cyclades & Dodecanese

An early morning phone conversation about weather strategy decided there was a 24 hour window to move east before even more wind arrived from the Peloponnese in the south west.

Landfall Turkey now in view
Landfall Turkey now in view

Serendip is scheduled to arrive in Turkey this evening (Saturday) and probably arrive in Orhaniye Sunday morning. Once she is here we will get lots more pictures and perhaps a video interview with the crew as John, whilst very experienced, has not done such a long trip before, and deliveries are quite different to cruising as there is a clock attached!

One door closes….farewell ‘Salsa’

Salsa our Jeanneau 379 left for pastures new this week.

Salsa-Jeanneau-379

Owners Jason & Sara brought Salsa to us in 2013 for two years, and stayed three. Their innovative idea was to buy a yacht for charter in the Med and move her around so they could experience different areas and cultures.

We wish you well in pastures new.

 

The season approaches

It’s that time of year again. All the major winter work has been completed, and we are now left with polishing & antifouling. The first yachts leave for our summer home in Orhaniye in a few short weeks.

This has been a particularly interesting winter as we got to organise some (for us) unusual works. One of our gardienage fleet (not for charter, we just maintain her) was planned to be wrapped. Self adhesive vinyl is stretched over the hull providing a new finish for much less than re painting. It turned out the previous paint system was barely holding on to the hull and wouldn’t have been an secure substrate, so she was repainted instead. This took two weeks, nine coats and a lot of sanding. At the same time, the owner decided a new teak deck was long overdue, so that was replaced as well.

We are very fortunate here in Marmaris to have skilled people to complete these works.

I will cover each of these jobs with photos in a later post, for now its back to the polishing!

Kevin

Is Turkey a safe sailing destination?

That was a popular question we were asked at the 2016 London Boat Show.

There is doubt that the public’s perception is of an area over run with fanatical Muslim terrorists. The Syrian exodus of last summer had people commenting to us they didn’t want to sail in waters with dead bodies floating by, and who can blame them. The reality is almost all the Turkish people are Muslim, and lead their lives much as we do in Europe. They are family people, warm and welcoming, as horrified as you may be about the problems. In Orhaniye where we are based there is a new Syrian family who have been welcomed with open arms and supported in their new life by the villagers. To realistically believe it’s a country at war is nonsensical, but it does fuel western politicians & media needs for a bad guy. It used to be the communists of the McCarthy era in the middle of the last century, Then we had the two gulf wars and the ‘weapons of mass destruction’ which they are probably still searching for! Now its the Muslim threat.

There are issues to resolve in Turkey, some are political, some relate to the huge numbers of Syrians attempting to get to specific areas of Europe.

The key questions was is it safe to travel here. Like any country there are areas best avoided, and the Foreign Office talks of an area within 10kms of the Turkish/Syrian border based around Diyarbakir. This area is nearly 618 miles (1070km) east of the tourism areas of SW Turkey, equivalent of London to Belfast and back. Last year not one of our clients witnessed anything related to this migration, most of it occurring well North of us near Kos. Feedback from one of our clients last year was “I am more in fear of Muslim fundamentalism in the UK, than Turkey. This probably makes a lot of sense, because of UK July 11 bombings and ‘je suis Charlie’ the fundamentalists are going to wage war in your country, not theirs.

In summary, Yes it’s perfectly safe to travel and sail here. Its as beautiful as ever. This year it will also be much cheaper because of the fear created by the media.

There is another tragedy here. The locals whose livelihoods depend on tourism are already losing their jobs and suffering. We have seen bases closed, people let go, and flights reduced. We predict a reduction of 50% this year. Figures for the Russian visitors over the winter have reduced by 99%!

As we were told as children “Don’t believe everything you read in the newspapers” is as true today as it was then.

Kevin 18/03/2016

 

It’s a new day!

Perfect Sailing base staff
The dream team

So we have finally decided its time to create a Perfect Sailing blog to keep all you nice people updated on what we do, where we do it and why!

We’ll cover the political situations which may or not be affecting yacht charter throughout the world. We’ll post news and photos of anything we feel you’ll find interesting or pertinent, as well as direct news of our new yachts, facilities and toys as they become available

We really hope you enjoy this, and feel free to send us your contributions.

Kevin & Sara, Perfect Sailing.