SV Kered

After a few delays due to issues with the thrusters, we got the phone call to tell us that Kered was on her way from Saxon Wharf to Hythe Marina about midday. We had based ourselves in Hythe as it is the closest marina to the Discovery Yard at Marchwood, and the commissioning phase would take place in the marina where Discovery have a reserved berth. Kered had to wait for a few lock cycles, but at about 13:00 she was making her approach to the lock. Little and Large! Kered doesn't seem so big in this photo. Safely tied up in the lock. Kered is now tied up in her commissioning berth for about two weeks, where the finishing touches will be made, prior to us taking formal delivery.

The delay caused by the crane problems yesterday meant that the stepping of the mast could not take place until an enormous Oyster 82 had been launched at about 13:00. This was the first Oyster launched since the business was rescued from administration, and was quite a big deal locally. All the staff were on the dockside to cheer in the boat, accompanied by local media interest. We were amused in the evening to see Kered in the background as the Oyster launch was reported on local TV. First job of the afternoon was to pander to tradition as we placed a silver sixpenny piece on the step for good luck. George V Silver Sixpenny piece glued into the mast step The Mast assembly fully dressed and ready to go. The mast stepping crane at Saxon Wharf sits on top of the travel hoist, which meant pulling Kered back to the launching pit so that the mast could be lowered on to the mast step on deck. Once the big Oyster was out of the way, the team pulled Kered back to the pit, and...

Finally, we get to the day we have been looking forward to since last October - launch day! We had an inauspicious start when the crane which had been hired to lift Kered onto the transport developed a fault and simply refused to lift ( we were told later that a load sensor had failed ). Anyway, a second ( and much larger ) crane was despatched to the Discovery yard, and Kered was loaded on to the low loader just after lunch. Kered being lifted off her trolley.............. ............and lowered gently on to the low loader bed. The journey from Marchwood to Saxon Wharfe starts. Launch was due to take place at Saxon Wharfe on the River Itchen, about an hour away for the low loader. We had a slow drive following the truck and Kered was unloaded very efficiently by the Saxon Wharfe staff. Unloaded by Saxon Wharfe's giant ( 200T ) travel hoist. There were a few jobs to do before the launch itself and it was about 15:00 before Kered was put in to her natura...