How It All Started

The adventure began late in the summer of 2019, when work on Compadre, our Cascade 42 sloop in Portland, Oregon ground to a halt after a tree fell on two of it's newly remanufactured (and fully powder coated) toe rails during a freak windstorm. It was during this woefully sad period that we saw Elysian, a Hinckley 64 for sale in the British Virgin Islands.

The BVI, as Don described it, was a mythical land of wonder with pastel sunsets. His previous sailing experience there on a bareboat charter with old friends in 2004 left a lasting impression on him, and it ever-beckoned as a premier sailing destination in his long-held vision to travel the world as a sailor.

She was priced way under her prospective value, her hull being quite rare - one of only four 64 foot Hinckleys ever built, so we called the broker immediately for details. That is when we learned why she was so underpriced - she was a survivor of the 2017 hurricanes Irma and Maria, (known locally as "Irmaria") where, while riding it out on the hard in the boatyard, she had both masts brought down by the boat next to her falling over into her rigging. Basically she was a project boat without masts, but with virtually no hull damage. Elysian just needed some TLC, new masts, and a lot of varnish and she would be good as new, right? We of course bit that lure.

How Its Currently Going

The first of two masts has been replaced! After nearly six months of grueling work in a dusty yard, the boat was brought out of the water and the main mast was stepped on February 27th of 2021, almost one year after we originally splashed her. This was one incredibly happy day for us!

Unfortunately, the new rig has caused it's own share of issues. First the new boom blocks the previously installed solar panels, so they needed to be re-arranged to avoid the shadow and get us the power needed to make RO water regularly. They are not as efficient rearranged and reconnected in parallel but at least we can produce fresh water from the sun again, yay for clean people, dishes, and laundry!

We also found out that the big genoa furling drum as it was originally placed actually blocks the anchor from being raised properly, so we are stuck in a situation where we can deploy it (once) but will have a difficult time retrieving it. Link plate extensions will need to be fabricated to lift the furler drum off the anchors and set the rig dimensions straight. (see graphic below)

On top of all that, the "new" AC generator set (that we got with only 177 hours on it) clanked to a stop the other morning, so no more AC power to run refrigeration, air-conditioning, or any electric appliances, including all our new kitchen appliances, and his razor. I guess scruffy it is!