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Thursday, March 28, 2024
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HomeAntigua and BarbudaAntiguaBattered Grounded Swan 82 Repaired and Restored on Antigua

Battered Grounded Swan 82 Repaired and Restored on Antigua

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Run aground off the Spithead Channel, Nonsuch bay, Antigua in February this year, a Swan 82, new in 2008, was re-launched October 19 after extensive repairs.

After more than 12 hours aground battered by a south easterly swell, the Swan was pulled off by a team under the supervision of Dr. Nick Fuller.  The yacht was towed to Bailey’s Boatyard, the only yard in the Caribbean between Florida and Trinidad with enough depth to handle a yacht of this draft and the ability remove a keel of this depth.  On arrival at Bailey’s Boatyard the rig was removed and the yacht lifted ashore by the yard’s travel hoist.

The damaged suffered by this nearly new Swan included hull delamination, keel damage and a destroyed rudder.  While the initial damage looked very bad on the outside, the repairs, though extensive, were relatively straightforward with the skills available on the island; it was determined that repairs could be carried out in Antigua which included the removal of the keel, no easy task at 14 feet.  The fact that the yacht was repairable is a testament to the strength and integrity that Nautor build into their Swan range of yachts.

After eight months of work, the yacht was re-launched as good as new with a fresh coat of paint and ready in time for the owner’s planned winter cruising.

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The repairs were carried out under the direction of Antigua Rigging, Nautor’s representatives in the Caribbean, and included the services of Jerry Bardoe of Chippy Fine Yacht Wordworks,  Ken Malone of DEM Marine for the hull, keel repairs and painting. The electronics were done by Arougo Adams of Marionics, while Carl Mitchell of A1 Marine out of Jolly Harbour made sure that the engine gearbox which had to be replaced was in full working order. Vernon Crump from Parham took care of the sandblasting and Marlon Hunte of Zero Degrees removed and replaced air conditioning units to facilitate repairs.

The joint effort to repair this yacht also included contributions from Marine Power Services, Total Fabrication, Antigua Sails, carpet Care and Seagull Inflatables.

Sir Hugh Bailey, owner of Bailey’s Boatyard said that he was happy that the investment he has put into the yard “has paid off in providing a facility to take full advantage of the skills available in Antigua to undertake a repair like this.  I am very optimistic about the upcoming season.  It seems as though Antigua’s yachting sector escaped the worst of the recession.” 

Outside of Trinidad & Tobago and Florida, the Swan could not have been repaired anywhere in the Caribbean except at Bailey’s Boat Yard.

In addition to managing the project, Stan Pearson’s Antigua Rigging did all the work necessary to refurbish the rig and systems on the yacht which included all the hydraulics, plumbing and keel and rudder installation.  Stan also echoes Sir Hugh Bailey’s words, and praises the facilities available at Bailey’s Boatyard. “I must say that Hugh has done a fantastic job in upgrading this facility to accommodate this level of repairs.”  Stan is equally enthusiastic about the season due to start next month with some companies having full order books well into next year.

The new skipper of the yacht said, “They did a fantastic job, I am extremely pleased with the work done here and would recommend this boat yard to anyone who needed repairs done to their yacht.”

Report submitted by John J. Duffy

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