Dudùdue

A nice september day

2007-09-10T15:56:00.000+02:00

Last week end, with my family and my friend, Sergio, spent some hours sailing around San Nicola L'Arena.

A lovely NNE wind blow and we relaxed.
In my opinion, september - october is the best period to sail in Sicily.

Some pcs you can find here

On sunday I adde a new little upgrade. Click here

Fair wind

2007-09-07T10:31:00.000+02:00

Hi folks,
I am proud to announce that you can visit the dudùdue's Site.
Please, feel free to send me any comment.
Fair wind

Bulkhead

2007-08-22T12:27:00.000+02:00

Hi folks,
during these day I sailed around - just few times indeed - and when I was in port, I did some little job. In particular, I have reduced the bulkhead between the galley and the portside berth (see pics Bulkhead). It was usefull to fit instruments or hooking stuff, but now I gained in space and brightness.

New accessory added

2007-07-30T09:42:00.000+02:00

Hi to all,

during this week, I added an important accessory; a shower.
Also in this case, I have thought over a long time span like realising it, not for difficulties to fit it, but for the spare time to dedicate to it!

Anyway, just a brief description of the operations.

As you probably know, the water tank is fitted to the bow, under the v-berth.

On my Tiger didn't exist a cut -off valve before the pedal pump; this one, is under the sink. So the first step was to fitted one; then "on line", I fitted a "T-connextion"; the first pipe goes to the pedal pump, the second to the Pressur System - completed with a water filter.

So a pipe (the type used for gardening) to the stern, through a locker. On the stern, from the cockpit side, I fitted the shower. You can see details to the "Pics Section - Shower".

All family had enjoyed after a swim this sunday!

Further you can see to "Pics Section - Fan" some new pics of the table and the oscillating cabin fan that I fitted some time ago. It is so usefull for our summer!

A little job during this week end

2007-07-23T10:57:00.000+02:00

Hi to you,
during this very hot week end, I decided to build a new table. I thought about it for a long time, but I gave priority to others little job.
On friday I decided, because of outlook weather, (no wind and a terrible temperature) to stay home; so I bought a "paper" of Okumè (a particular type of multilayer of wood glued by phoenolic), and the necessary spares (two die cast aluminium table supports, and a cone pipes - made of aluminium - for table foot, 70 cm).
Sunday morning, I painted the wood (two times for each side) and in the afternoon, I assembled it. It is possible fit it both on the cockpit and in dinette. The dimensions are cm. 52 x 70 x 1,2.
The original dinette table is very huge because it can be lowered to form the double berth.
The entire cost: less of € 50,0.
You can see some on the top page, to the Section "Dudùdue pics" - New Table.

2007-07-09T14:26:00.000+02:00

Hi folks,
finally, yesterday - sunday - with my family sailed! My crew was completed: Lidia, my wife, Ettore (6 years old) & Adele (only 21 months old), my little sons.
The weather was realy great for sailing with them; not too hot and a fair wind from WE. We anchored in a beatiful bay and we had fresh bath! Just a lunch and sail again. I had a chance to try my new main as you can see in the pics section (July 2007). There you can find my new stern ladder.
During this week end I fitted a "net" to protect from possible falls in the sea my little Adele
Fair wind

First season

2007-06-28T16:10:00.000+02:00

Waiting the summer, I subscribed the Westerly Owner Association Forum UK (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Westerly-Owners ); it was very useful and I obtained a great deal of information about Westerly's.
By this forum I knew the presumed age of my boat; in fact, they said me where find a label. So I discovered that she saw the sun most likely in 1974! The ID is C194.

Further, I had few day trip and the boat went ok, the engine as well, so I began to dream some short trip for my summer vacations.

The first purchases were a roller jib and a lazy bag. They are, in my opinion, absolutely necessary for "single-handed sailor" as I am.
In fact, when I sailed with my family, my wife was absolutely concentrated to our little child Ettore (and in that time we had only one . . . ).

Finally, my summer vacations arrived.

I had managed a short trip to San Vito Lo Capo, about 3 days far away along the west coast. The day before the scheduled trip, I went to clean the boat and, just before to go home, I tried to start the engine, but with no result
It was 13 august and it wasn't a battery problem . . . and she fitted the original Volvo Penta MD1B.
That day my nightmare began. The first problem - as you can see - was to find a skilled person available to check and repair it.

My vacation passed to call mechanical repairers and seeing the others boats sail away . . .
My report is posted to WOA Forum.

Only at the end of September the engine was ok again.

My first appointment with her

2007-06-28T15:08:00.000+02:00

Just before to book the ticket to Civitavecchia, I asked to my uncle - he lives in Rome - to have a look at the boat. He was a boat owner, so could be a good approach.
As he sent me his report, immediately, I arranged the visit for the New Eve holyday.
On 4 January 2004, my brother and I arrived to Anzio.

Because of my budget, I hadn't a Surveyor, so I assumed on myself the risks.
I was lucky.

As we glanced the boat, we had a positive impression.

The boat was in a refitting yard, up in her keel and four struts as the North-Europe manner and she looked like superb.

As we climbed on board, we checked the dock (really strong under our weight . . .), the rigging and then we got through the companionway.
The lay out matched to my ideas, well maintained and the head as well. Just a bit of the typical smell of diesel engine . . .
The engine started (about it we are going to talk deeply in the next future. . .)
The sails were no bad, the genua (jib 120%) very good, the spinnaker as well. The main, so so.
No blistering I found.

I was so happy that a simple glance to my brother was enough to talk about price and to arrange the delivery to Sicily.
The season suggested us to delivery her by ship and truck.
It wasn't cheap indeed , but we didn't know the boat enough to afford a quite long distance voyage (almost for our experience); so, as we say in Italy, pay and smile !