Welcome onboard the Royal Albatross!

We went up the slip last Monday. It was quite interesting. Captain Ulf is on leave, enjoying spring in Sweden, so our project manager, Richard Lamble, was going to take care of the operation. A little while before we started moving, he informed me that he would be leading from the shore, and that I was to be in charge on the ship. Windy is like ten or twenty times heavier than anything I have ever handled before. Luckily, to assist me I had Kenneth who is an experienced sailor and who speaks English, plus six Malaysian welders who didn't. No experience of any boats at all, and not a single word to communicate with. It was great fun!

Other things that happened this week include the taking down of the masts. Quite an easy job with a large crane. Feels good to have that crap down. Next time they come up, they will be shiny and ship shape. And it is not going to be a suicide mission any longer to climb them. Things that didn't happen this week was ordering of material. It is weird how lousy many suppliers are at actually selling the stuff they provide. I told one company over a week ago, that we had decided to order from them, and asked for a final quote including shipment. They still haven't been able to produce that, although I have been in touch with them a couple of times. Another place has had their email account too full to receive anything for over a week. It is a real hassle to find all the material for a genuine traditional rigging in this part of the world.

We have now officially changed name by the way. Windy is no longer Windy, she is now known as Royal Albatross. Yeah, I know it sounds a bit tacky, but it is actually the name of a species of albatross. Google it. It is just a big bird that flies a lot over big waters. Not such a bad name really*.


There she is, 200 tons of steel resting peacefully on the slip.


Looking forward from under the ship, facing the winch house. Note the wing keel. Makes her underwater body look like a retarded seal from outer space, but it is probably good for both stability and for reducing leeway. Plus you can slip up without any side stanchions or other supports.


Main saloon under the poop deck. Unusual layout with a little touch of the Pirates of the Caribbean. Haven't the welders done a marvelous work? Imagine this with lit chandeliers, classical music and cocktails!


And they have done absolute magic to the beautiful windows, too!