Since the sailing season in New England was becalmed by the COVID pandemic, Serena made a run down to West Palm Beach. Once there, she started her planned 10-year survey and electrical refit a couple months early.
Serena hauls out at the Rybovich yard.
Our yacht’s arrival in Florida looked poorly timed when Tropical Storm Isaias began its trajectory up from the Caribbean. Fortunately Isaias’ strongest winds stayed offshore, and all that was lost were a couple days’ time as the Rybovich yard prepared for the worst.
A sea trial and vibration study had been completed on arrival, and soon after the storm passed, the scaffolding and tenting of Serena was promptly completed. This allowed for maintenance projects to begin, such as exterior varnish work, while the major projects began in the interior.
Electrical Upgrade
Project manager Sean Hodgeson described to us the significant electrical work he is overseeing:
For shipside power, Serena has been running two generators, 16kw and 10kw, which will be replaced with a pair of new 16kw units. Also enhancing the system will be a “load shedding and load sharing” switchboard that senses load and can automatically bring the second generator online when the load requires.
For shoreside power, a new frequency converter will replace the currently undersized unit. This will help with load management when dockside (e.g. when cooking, running laundry, air-conditioning, etc.). Because she was built and run for many years in Europe, Serena is wired for 50hz (European) and has a few 60hz outlets for US use. Therefore, her system must utilize a frequency converter to shift power to 50 cycle when plugged into Stateside. It also works the other way around when Serena is in Europe. It can also act as a filter in more remote areas where the power isn’t “clean” and needs to be regularized.
Also of significance is the fact that the converter is mounted in the lazarette. The old unit was air-colled and needed an air-conditioning unit alongside it to keep the lazarette from over-heating. The new unit is water-cooled, which will allow for the removal of the AC!
Fully tented and with teak decks covered, maintenance projects can begin.
10-Year Survey and Other Upgrades
Sean pointed out several other significant tasks that will be underway over the next couple months, many as part of a 10-year Lloyd’s inspection survey.
Lloyd’s survey tasks: The yard will pull, inspect and replace as needed all propellers, shafts, stabilizer fins, and any valves and thru-hulls. Audio (ultrasound) gauge readings will be taken throughout steel hull, especially at the margins of internal tanks, the anchor locker and sea chests (cooling water intakes). Any plating that’s lost 15% of thickness will be cut out and replaced. All fuel, gray-water, and black-water tanks will also be pulled and all coatings inspected and recoated if required.
Install bow thruster: Adding a new 20kw bow thruster requires cutting a hole in the hull and installing a tunnel for the thruster.
Add waste treatment system: Currently, Serena has one black-water and two gray-water tanks. Going forward, all waste will go processed through an MSD or the waste treatment system before discharge. Interior space is at a premium on Serena and adding new machinery will likely require that new custom tanks be made. For example, the graywater tank currently under the crew galley may be replaced by new poly-tanks farther outboard, custom made to the shape of the hull, to make space for a processing unit.
Fuel-filtration system:Serena is unique in how she handles fuel, only having two tanks and no “day tank”—so the current dual Racor system may be bolstered by a centrifuge system. The centrifuge system would allow the fuel in both the 1000-gallon and 300-gallon tanks to be polished continuously. More to come on this project.
Ventilation and mold remediation: The anchor locker ventilation will be improved and, if needed, the air-conditioning system will be inspected for potential mold-remediation.
In sum, it’s going there’s a busy period ahead aboard Serena. Stay tuned for updates.
Serena arrived in the Caribbean last November as deck cargo in St. Thomas, USVI. (See “Heading South, Serena Hitches a Ride.”) Once underway, she sailed east through the British Virgin Islands and across uncharacteristically placid seas to a winter home base in St. Maarten.
Serena, en route to St. Kitts and Nevis.
Subsequent cruising took Serena south to St. Kitts and Nevis, and then to Antigua, farther east.
Ballast Bay, St. Kitts
Projects performed or supervised by Captain Eddie during the winter months in St. Maarten included a light sanding of the teak decks and an acid flush of the raw water systems aboard the vessel.
Engine room piping maintenance aboard Serena
In late March, Serena reversed course and spent time in the BVIs and the USVIs, generally avoiding people while awaiting transport to Newport, R.I. scheduled for the end of April. Shown in the photo below is Serena in Newfound Bay, St. John, which is outside of the National Park and Coral Reef National Monument on St. John. It is one of only a handful of places where boats are permitted to take a mooring ball on St. John.
Serena moored in Newfound Bay, St. John, USVI
The Bay is protected from the north ground swell that rolls through the Eastern Caribbean in the winter and provides good shelter as well when the wind is east and south of east. The reef at the mouth of the bay knocks down most of the swell, although it can get rolly when the wind goes northeast. The mouth of the bay is narrow but carries 20 feet of water. Once inside the bay, it gradually shallows to the shore but carries 8-10 feet through most of the bay.
As we posted this story, Serena had moved to St. Thomas for some maintenance and to give the generators a rest after a month spent at anchor. She should be in Newport, R.I. in early May.
Serenaarrived in St. Thomas by ship and soon motored east and south through the islands towards Antigua. The first stop was in Virgin Gorda’s North Sound in the British Virgin Islands and a quiet anchorage in front of Prickly Pear island.
Serena anchors in North Sound, Virgin Gorda.
Captain Eddie reported, “This puts us at a better angle for the wind and seas for the 80-mile leg to St. Maarten.”
The crossing was beautifully smooth, and Serena soon arrived in St. Maarten. Here are some of the views from the helm station.
Smooth seas en route to St. Maarten.A view that never gets old
This year’s NYYC Commodore’s Rally was scheduled for the Exumas, a district of the Bahamas consisting of more than 365 islands also know cays. The water is breathtakingly beautiful here, but also very shallow and filled with reefs.
When the destination for the Rally was first announced, I looked at the charts and sadly concluded that Aphrodite, our newly acquired Swan, had too deep a draft to be on the Rally. So Shaun and I were delighted when Matt and Pam invited us to join them and NYYC Commodore Bill Ketcham aboard Serena, their 74-foot Riva Caravelle Feadship, just out of a winter refit in Fort Lauderdale.
Anchored out, Serena shines on a bright day.
As we approached the North Eleuthera airfield (a combination of grass and asphalt) we were happy to see the weather was good, with the usual puffy Caribbean clouds and crystal clear water below. Once through immigration and customs, we got into a taxi van and headed to the government dock where Justin and Colin met us in the tender to take us to Harbour Island, where Serena was docked.
While we had seen Serena in August at the 2018 Annual Cruise, we really had not had an opportunity to understand what an amazing and historic vessel it is and to comprehend the tremendous work that had gone into her in the Feadship yard in Holland about 8 years prior, something like 43,000 man hours! And it showed. Every aspect of Serena is like viewing a historic masterpiece of sorts. Everything perfect, everything historically correct, and everything functional for 6 guests plus crew.
Bill Ketcham enjoys a morning swim.
That first night was part of the Final Four tournament and the University of Virginia, Commodore Ketcham’s alma mater, was playing Auburn. Virginia won, sending it to the championship game against Texas Tech two days later. This was a great start to the Rally for Bill!
Sunday April 7- Highbourne Cay
Sunday was a travel day of about 6 hours that started with navigating a tricky reef section. We actually had two pilot boats, one switching off to the other. It was a little unnerving doing lots of zig zagging around the dark reef forms visible just below the surface. Serena draws about 5 feet but some of the coral heads are close to the surface and navigation is very dicey. I’m not sure how any boat could navigate these waters without GPS. There were times when we were just a stone’s throw from breakers on the beach, where more than a few hulls were visible, victims of the coral heads.
When we arrived at Highbourne Cay we anchored and Matt hoisted the Union Jack flag on the bow. The Union Jack was the first style of the U.S. Naval flag, displayed only in port and only on Sundays and Holidays. Most private yachts do not have a Union Jack flag, including ours, but it was gratifying to see the attention Matt pays to traditions like this.
The Union Jack, flown only in port and on Sundays and holidays.
Highbourne Cay was the first official gathering point for the Rally, with a cocktail party on the beach where Dani Burton handed out sailcloth totes filled with swag. The buffet had a sumptuous selection of conch fritters, prawns, chicken and meatballs. Some swimming was also in order and the photos taken of Shawn, Pam and Bill in the water show off the magical colors of the Bahamian waters. Truly fantastic.
Monday April 8 – Warderick Wells
The next stop on the Rally was Warderick Wells. The morning announcements and the familiar “on this day in history” were made at 0900 to give us any needed information for the day. The plan at Warderick Wells included a Bahamian BBQ lunch ashore. Again the weather was wonderful and the dining on the beach is always a welcome treat, with many party-goers cooling their heels in the shallows.
We had most dinners aboard Serena and Colin did a magnificent job, worthy of the Guide de Michelin. The presentations were awesome and equally impressive was his command of describing each repast. We dined primarily on seafood and greens of all kinds with fruit and some delicious desserts. The handmade sushi and sashimi was especially fabulous. It is hard to overstate how wonderful dining aboard Serena was.
A sushi feast aboard Serena with Colin and Shaun
In the evening, we had a nice cocktail party aboard Serena, and Matt talked a little bit about the NYYC Foundation of which he is chair and president, and I am secretary. The Foundation has really kicked into high gear with a very active Board, and Matt and I spent considerable time during transits fine-tuning some of the Foundation’s publications including the 2018 Annual Report.
Later that night the crew made a herculean effort to get the NCAA Championship game streaming on the TV… and it worked. We got to see Virginia become national champions! And of course the Commodore was very happy with that to say the least!
Outside Staniel Cay Yacht Club
Tuesday April 9 – Staniel Cay
The next day we headed to Staniel Cay, one of the main stopovers of the Cruise. Again great weather. The Staniel Cay Yacht Club was there, and we had a nice round of cocktails there, followed by another cocktail party aboard Serena. Many NYYC Foundation pins were handed out as part of the Foundation’s efforts this year to build broader participation with the 175th Anniversary Society.
Wednesday April 10 – Staniel Cay
Today was play-with-the-pigs day on the beach. These domesticated pigs appear to depend completely on the tourists who go to the beach with food. The pigs swim out to the launches and are sometimes overly friendly, trying to climb up onto the boats.
Swimming pig at Staniel Cay
In the evening, we had a nice visit with Commodore Bob James and his wife Anne aboard Misty, their 94-foot power yacht. Commodore James and Anne are so warm and outgoing and love to share their floating home with others and are frequently at the Annual Cruise hosting friends.
And then it was off to the Staniel Cay Yacht Club for an all-cruise dinner, white linens all around. A really excellent meal for everyone. As we left the skies opened up and gave us all a good drenching, and we gave Nick and Diane Brown a very wet ride back to their boat on our way back to Serena.
Thursday April 11 – Shroud Cay
The Commodore left to represent NYYC at the American Yacht Club commissioning ceremonies, while we continued on with the cruise, including an afternoon of snorkeling and swimming with sharks, followed by cocktails aboard Lady Victoria, a 120- foot Feadship with Dierdre and Chris Culver as our hosts. A wonderful party!
Sharks feeding at Shroud Cay
We were invited that night by Howard Meyers to dine aboard Ingot, a beautiful 153-foot Burger. A special time. Surrounded by beautiful paintings, sculptures and impeccable woodwork, it was a night to remember. We also learned we had a few friends in common. Thank you Howard!
Friday April 12- Highbourn Cay
There was a farewell cocktail party aboard M4 with Mark and Valerie Mashburn as our hosts. M4 is a truly spectacular 132-foot Trident. A beautiful place to enjoy the sunset and watch sharks feeding off the dock. Then back to Serena for another great feast.
Saturday April 13- Harbour Island
It was time to make tracks back to Harbour Island and then fly out on Sunday. At this point, the fleet began to split up; many were returning to Nassau and some, staying on for more cruising.
We had been listening all week to Matt’s plan for getting a small Riva runabout to hang off the davits of Serena. The problem is that of the 40 small runabouts built, only one is known to still exist. After some research and assessing the weight issues, Matt and Pam are looking at other alternatives but the plan is to have a historically correct dinghy hanging from the davits. We will see how all that turns out.
We went on Facebook to a Riva fan group to get some feedback which came immediately. There is a lot of passion out there for all things Riva! As we discussed the options, we came to understand a bit more about Carlo Riva and his company, which actually dates back to 1842. It is worth taking a look on the web to read about the amazing story of the Riva yachts. It helps put the magic of Serena in perspective.
Serena at Sunset
Sunday April 14 – Time to head home.
This will be a hard trip to top so thank goodness we have some photos and video to refresh our memory banks when we are in our Adirondack chairs, thinking back on the NYYC Commodore’s Rally 2019. Farewell for now and fair winds to Serena, her crew Colin, Justin, Hannah and her loving owners, Matt and Pam.
Serena spent most of the winter at the Fort Lauderdale Marine Center, undergoing various systems and cosmetic upgrades in advance of a busy season of cruising, race support and committee boat duties.
If you happen to be cruising the Exumas in early spring this year, be sure to keep an eye out for this distinctive 74-foot Feadship as she joins the New York Yacht Club’s 2019 Commodore’s Rally, making stops including Highbourne Cay, Compass Cay, and Big Majors Spot. From there, Serena heads north to Newport, R.I., in time to fly the colors in the annual parade of member boats at the NYYC’s annual commissioning ceremony on May 11, kicking off a season in her primary role as tender to Dorade, the iconic 1930 Sparkman & Stephens ocean-racing yawl. The two boats will be berthed side-by-side at the docks of the International Yacht Restoration School in Newport, RI., where Serena will provide crew and race support.
A classic couple, Serena and Dorade, rafted in Maine during the 2018 season. Team Dorade photo
The high point of the season for both Serena and Dorade will be the New York Yacht Club’s 175th Anniversary Regatta, held in Newport in July. Designed by Olin Stephens, a longtime member of the club and a legendary figure in the yachting community, Dorade is a sentimental favorite for many club members, and will take the spotlight in this event as she has in countless regattas over the last 89 years. Not to be left on the sidelines, Serena has been asked to help run the event under the command of Clare Harrington, chair of the NYYC race committee.
Over the course of the summer, Serena will also cruise in company with Dorade to other regattas throughout the northeast, including the Opera House Cup on Nantucket and several classic yacht races between Connecticut and Maine. Moored nearby or rafted alongside in each port, members of the Dorade racing crew will enjoy the chance to relax, dine, and sleep aboard the larger vessel. Fans of mid-century modern boat design are welcome to come by for a closer look. If you do happen to catch Serena out and about this season, please send us photos to post on Serena’s Facebook page.
The celebrants included several representatives from Feadship who traveled from The Netherlands to participate in the commissioning ceremony.
H.J. de Vries shared his memories of the boat being launched at the legendary De Vries boatyard back in 1964. Other representatives of Feadship announced that Serena will serve as the first official flagship for the Feadship Heritage Fleet in the United States. Reverend Mary Johnstone gave a benediction followed by a formal declaration of commissioning by New York Yacht Club Commodore Phil Lotz. Members of the de Vries family traveled to Newport from The Netherlands to join in the celebration.
From left: NYYC Commodore Phil Lotz, Reverend Mary Johnstone, H.J. de Vries, Ted McCumber from Feadship America, Arthur van Bergen Henegouwen from Feadship Heritage, Ico Vergouwen from De Vries Makkum where Serena was refitted, Pieter de Vries (kneeling), Pam Rorke Levy, Matt Brooks
This most recent commissioning of Serena was the latest chapter in her history as a product of the Feadship consortium.
