Progress: Are We Ever Going To Be Done?

It feels like the “Year of Boat Building”. The big YouTube Channel people are having catamarans built or trimarans, or building their own boat or doing a big re-fit requiring significant changes to their vessels. We had no idea we were going to be part of this movement (nor did we really want to be) – but here we are.

What started more than one year ago, in a land far far away began the fulfillment of a long awaited dream. AND as with most things in real life, the reality is different than we had envisioned. Some bad, some sad, some better, some just plain different. We have signed off on design plans, discussed details at length, planned battery systems, energy usage, solar charging, interior design, water makers, air conditioning, insurance plans, the list goes on and on.

While the progress toward a completed boat continues, the waiting gets more difficult. Part of what makes the wait more difficult is the stress related to our 90-day Visa - which has expired! There has been no news on the extensions we painstakingly applied for. South Africa seems to have a backlog of visa applications beyond what the Department of Home Affairs can process, so a blanket extension was issued from the Department until March 31, 2023. This does not allow the additional 90 days we requested, but it appears the only way to stay in South Africa for additional time unless we want to risk leaving and returning with the goal of starting the visa clock over. However, we read that this has potential for success, as well as the potential for complete failure. The results could be everything from denial of re-entry entirely or short term extensions: a week, 30 days, 90 days or anything in-between.

VISA Extension Dilemma:

A quick shout-out to Chris and Kim from Vancouver, Canada. They are the authors of a blog called, “The Unconventional Route” and wrote an article that provides a step-by-step breakdown of the Visa Extension Process for South Africa: How to Extend your South African Tourist Visa in 13 Steps.

Notice they don’t call it ’13 Easy Steps’, because nothing could be further from the truth. The article continues to be updated, and other people’s experiences have been added at the end. VERY illuminating as evidence of the challenges people are experiencing including the inconsistency around how requests are decided. See this example of a married couples whose extension applications have the same information but were not decided the same way:

So we opt for what we feel is the path with the least risk. We decided to stay until the end of March under the blanket extension and push to get the boat completed including sea trial, final “snag list” (or punch list), and provisioning sufficient to allow for at least 8 weeks at sea. The alternative is to develop a backup plan and no one is really sure what that could be since it would largely depend on WHEN the vessel would actually be completed.

Build Status:

The good news is that (again) progress is being made. The windlass was tested and anchor chain was loaded into the chain locker:

Woodworking and cabinetry continues to be built and installed. The countertop is ready for the stove top.

Mattresses have been completed.

Plumbing installation is underway and about 70% complete.

Electronics, batteries, engines and engine controls are in place.

Lots and lots of work still has to be completed in the Celtic Yachts plant, but they are not alone in the work to be done. Key vendors are hard at work as well.

Sparcraft Masts is manufacturing the mast, boom, standing and running rigging. More details to come on our visit to the Sparcraft plant and a big thanks to Ian for taking the time to discuss the manufacturing process.

North Sails is producing the main and genoa sails and sail pack, which we are told is complete. Work continues on the dodger and enclosure for the cockpit. The enclosure seems to be significantly behind schedule.

Upholstery is also still underway. Mattresses are complete as well as the helm seat; however, only the mattresses are on site and there is LOTS of work to do done to complete the main seating area in the Salon (the U-shaped seating area).

While the details are really beginning to come together, we are pressing to answer the question – when will we launch?

The date has been a moving target for sure. Each time the answer comes with a lot of hemming and hawing. . . and vague targets. The time has come to commit and Celtic Yachts finally does . . . and then the warning for Tropical Storm Freddy is announced.

More to come as it all comes at once.