She Floats!
Sage was launched in the morning of the 19th of July 2022. It was a very emotional experience. Looking back to the decision to buy a catamaran, then to buy a Balance 442, it’s been a long process. To see it all come to this day, and to see Sage floating on her hulls, well I got a little emotional. It was super fun, though and now we start the process of final fit-out and commissioning. There is a lot still to do. Cudos to Mark Wehrley, Balance’s final Quality guy who is making sure that every little thing is shipshape and Bristol fashion. He sees a lot of detail that I’m missing, just because I’m so overwhelmed by the feelings of seeing her float! I really appreciate the team’s attention to detail.
Sage floating at the dock at the Royal Cape YC. For more pictures of the launch visit the Build Galleries.
After the launch we started the engines to move Sage to the Balance commissioning dock at the V&A Waterfront Marina. There was some issue with the electronic throttles that took us a few minutes to resolve, but ultimately just required an adjustment to the actuators. There was a Yanmar tech on site at the time, so we weren’t delayed too much, but there was another catamaran waiting to be hauled out at the crane, and they were stuck waiting for us. Thank you to the skipper of the Leopard 40 who circled patiently in the marina basin while we sorted the throttle issue and got underway! I owe you a beer!
The RCYC is also the place where Robertson and Caine, a major yacht builder, launches their Leopard line of catamarans. There were a lot of them lined up there in the marina, with workmen completing the final fit-out and commissioning before they are delivered to customers. I have to admit that I was a little pleased when the workmen all stopped what they were doing to watch Sage, with her unusual green hulls and striking look, putter out of the harbor on her short maiden voyage around the corner to the V & A.
Leaving the RCYC. The green color got a lot of attention. Directly astern is the Leopard commissioning dock.
Sage arrives at the V & A Marina. In order to enter the inner basin you go through two draw bridges that allow pedestrian traffic across the harbor. The first is a modern single sided swing bridge. The second one is this much older bascule bridge.
After arriving at the V & A, the team jumped to work again getting systems working, finishing the interior. The team from SparCraft worked on tuning the rig, and the team from Ullman Sails put the working sails on, starting with the self-tacking jib on its roller furler. Rather than get in the way, Liz and I decided to walk back to Mouille Point to rest up before she had to catch her flight home.
Mark W. pensively checks his Facebook page while the jib is bent on by the Ullman team.
Liz flew home via Amsterdam, leaving late Tuesday night. I’m grateful that she came down for this amazing experience. I know it would have been easier for Balance if they could have kept the boat in the factory for another week to finish much of the remaining tasks, but I’m glad that Liz got to see the boat launched before leaving. I was scheduled to move to a new AirBnB on Wednesday, so I had to pack too, but I couldn’t resist a walk back to see the boat one more time.
Mark says we are going for the first test sail on Saturday, weather permitting and subject to the availability of the Ullman and Sparcraft teams. Weather looks good right now, with the forecast calling for 10-15 kts out of the South, which should give us a chance to tune and test before taking on any really wild rides. I will of course have lots to say after that, so check back soon. Thanks for stopping by!