Sailing is as much about adventure as it is about maintenance, and for the crew of La Vagabonde, that balance has been put to the test. Months after an unexpected collision with a fishing boat in Japan, the time had come to haul their floating home out of the water and get it ready for the next season of bluewater cruising.
The challenge? A (most likely more than) US$100,000 repair bill, a complex haul-out operation in a country where yacht lifts aren’t the norm, and a ticking clock to finish before the typhoon season rolls in. But if there’s one thing La Vagabonde has proved time and again, it’s that no challenge is insurmountable.
Hauling out in Japan: A logistical puzzle
The haul-out process in Japan was unlike anything the crew had experienced before. With the country’s limited infrastructure for lifting large sailing yachts, this was no straightforward operation. The process required extensive planning, multiple contractors, and even a translator to navigate the logistics.
A team of 15 professionals, including crane operators, marina staff, and truck drivers, was assembled to handle the operation. Unlike in most Western marinas, where yacht lifts and travel hoists are commonplace, La Vagabonde had to be carefully hoisted by crane—a process that can send shivers down any sailor’s spine.
“Just picture this: trusting a metal crane to lift your entire home and then propping it up on jacks. It’s a leap of faith that certainly keeps your heart racing,” they noted.
Adding to the complexity, the slings initially positioned themselves dangerously close to the boat’s Oceanvolt electric propulsion system, requiring some quick adjustments to avoid damaging the propeller housing. But after careful maneuvering and teamwork, La Vagabonde was safely placed on land.
Assessing the damage: Structural integrity checks
Once on land, the crew wasted no time in assessing the full extent of the damage. The primary concern was the forward beam structure, which had taken the brunt of the impact. This part of the boat is critical—it ties together the hull and the float of the trimaran, and any structural compromise could mean serious trouble down the line.
After cutting away the damaged fairing, the good news was revealed:
“The beam joints were completely intact—not a single crack. Structurally, the boat was sound.”
This discovery meant that while the repairs would still be expensive and time-consuming, they remained largely cosmetic and non-structural—a huge relief for the crew.
Rudder and daggerboard overhaul
With La Vagabonde out of the water, the team also tackled essential maintenance on the daggerboard and rudder system.
- The daggerboard case was inspected for foreign debris, and they found remnants of fiberglass, resin, and sandpaper lodged inside—leftovers from either past maintenance or construction.
- The bearings, which allow the daggerboard to move up and down smoothly, were examined to ensure they were free of cracks or wear.
- The rudder was removed, allowing a close inspection of the attachment points and any hidden stress fractures from the impact.
These checks were essential to ensure the boat’s performance wasn’t compromised before they hit the open ocean again.
Hull cleaning and barnacle removal
The time on the hardstand revealed another unavoidable reality of extended anchoring—marine growth. Months in the water had left the hull coated in barnacles, mollusks, and seaweed.
“Scraping the hull on land is way better than doing it in the water—no crabs in your ears or sea lice crawling into your wetsuit!”
With high-pressure washing scheduled, the team got to work removing the thick layer of growth, a satisfying yet messy job. Once cleaned, the hull would be ready for fresh antifouling to keep future build-up at bay.
Repairs and upgrades: New fairing, main sheet system fixes, and final touches
The major repair work involved replacing the damaged forward fairing, a 3.5-metre-long structural component. A new one had arrived, and preparations were underway to install it.
Meanwhile, other essential system upgrades included:
- Fixing the main sheet system, which controls the sails. The captive winch had failed due to excessive tension, requiring a complete overhaul.
- Checking the transducer placement, ensuring the forward-facing echo sounder wasn’t obstructed when the boat was placed on its stands.
- Reactivating onboard systems after a long shutdown—solar panels, inverters, and water pumps were all checked before relaunch.
The boat would also be weighed before launching, something they had attempted in the Philippines but failed due to an inaccurate crane.
The countdown to relaunch
While awaiting final parts and repairs, the crew took a much-needed break in the mountains, trading ocean waves for snow-capped peaks. But the time away was short-lived, as the reality of pending boat jobs loomed large.
The next phase? Installing the new fairing, completing fiberglass work, and getting the boat back in the water before the Pacific hurricane season kicks off.
With plans to sail south to the Mariana Islands, the pressure is on to complete everything in time. But if there’s one thing the La Vagabonde crew has proven over the years, it’s that they know how to tackle challenges head-on.
Stay tuned as they prepare for their next adventure—this time, with a fully restored and reinforced La Vagabonde ready to take on the high seas once more.
You can follow the repairs and their visits around Japan on YouTube on the Sailing La Vagabonde channel.
