PiZZA π Launch

It's official!  After over two years in the making, PiZZA π's grand opening is Saturday, November 15, 2014! 

Where did we go?

We bought a 37' aluminum sail boat that had been abandoned in Antigua.  The interior was gone but the hull was sound. We decided to quit our charter jobs and focus all our time and energy on creating a home for ourselves.  

Keep tabs on us as we start this new chapter.   

Our new blog is :  aluminuts.blogspot.com

Soterion Haulout and Summer Work

As summer rolls around again, it is time to haul Soterion out of the water for her annual stay on dry land.

She sits on special "hurricane cradles" as well as wooden blocks under the keels.  Nylon ratchet straps connect the boat to 6-foot long steel screws that have been driven into the ground.

Here we share a screw with a custom 40' carbon fiber catamaran named Soma.   With any luck our boats will stay where they are for the summer.

Soma is quite possibly the fastest charter boat in the world.  We'll have to see about that.

It's not all fun and games and rest and relaxation this summer.  Soterion will get a new set of chainplates - these beautiful pieces of custom-machined stainless steel are what will allow the cables that hold up the mast to connect to the boat.  The current ones are showing signs of age, so we had a new set made.

We have the new chainplates polished up, ready to install.  Just have to take out the 10 bolts that hold them to the boat.  If you look closely in the photo below, you can see a couple of them peeking out at the back of the galley cabinet.  The rest are conveniently located behind that bulkhead, and in the space on the other side, behind where the oven usually is.

We'll let you know how it goes.

New Equipment

Today, Soterion got a couple of new pieces of essential gear.  

First, as required by BVI Shipping Registry law, two new 24" commercial life rings with SOLAS-grade reflective tape, and the name SOTERION in 4" high letters.  I can't think of anything I'd rather have thrown to me if I were to fall off the boat (besides a cold beer).  Only thing it is missing is the beer holder.

Also upgraded the trolling gear, this appropriately named "Charter Special" made by Shimano boasts 4 ball bearings and a lever that allows you to set the drag to the precise level required for the fish you are fighting.

New Bilge Pump System

Bilge pumps are important.  So when the bilge pump float switch failed in the engine room, I decided to replace the switch and the old pump (which was getting squeaky anyway).  I went with a new pump with an integrated solid-state (capacitance-based) water sensor.  In case that failed, I installed a secondary float switch located higher in the bilge.  At that same level, there is another float switch which activates a high-pitched alarm in the crew cabin which is also audible at the helm.   Here is a picture of the new system.

Clean Gear

Guests always look at me when I hand them a mask and snorkel.  They usually don't say anything, but I can see the look in their eyes, which betrays the question that I know they are afraid to ask: "How many people have sucked on this before me?"  

Well folks, rest assured, we replace the gear regularly.  Furthermer, I personally soak the masks and snorkels in a solution of degreaser and bleach after every charter, and then rinse them off well and let them dry in the sun.

So snorkel on, and don't forget to use defog on the inside of your mask!

Sunset St John

Soterion at anchor in Waterlemon Bay, St John,
with the lights of St Thomas in the background.

My Winnings from Good Moon Farms

Please excuse the hot pink shirt and the sheen of sweat across my brow...  we were on a 24 hour turn from Christmas to New Years charters.  A prize from winning the appetizer division in the culinary competition at the BVI Charter Yacht Show was a gift certificate from Good Moon Farms here on Tortola.  I used the gift certificate to help put a dent in my provisioning bill for the NYE charter who were instant that they wanted a large green salad for every lunch and dinner all week.  My fridge was packed with the freshest produce I could get me hands on-- thank you Aragron and the crew a Good Moon Farms!

 

Stow Away!

This little guy was not at all happy about being escorted off Soterion.


We found him on New Years Day-- he snuck on while we spent the nigh on the dock at Scrub Island.  

Soterion on Soggy Dollar Webcam

Another beautiful day in paradise!!

Back on Charter!

Soterion's 2012-2013 season is off to a great start!  We had four couples from RI on board for a quick 5 day get away that inclued one entire day at the spa on Scrub Island.  

The diet was Vegan so Tara spent most of her time in the galley this week.  This was one breakfast - Cinnamon Tahini & Apple Bread Braide served with Cool Blueberry Soup.

The final evening was spent waterskiing with this as our back drop.  

Not too shabby at all. 

Culinary Competition

Another way to be involved during the Boat Show is to compete in the culinary competition.  This year this year there were three categories - Starter, Entree, Dessert - and about twenty chefs from boats ranging from 112ft. motor yachts & 76 ft sailing yachts with dedicated chefs to 45ft charter boats with chefs like myself who play hostess, chef, deck, mate, etc.  The fun of the competition is to have the top restaurant chefs in the area tasting and grading your work against their own very high standards.

The last few minutes of prep.  You can't tell in the picture how badly my hands are shaking. 

Mini Hibiscus Mofongo & Saltfish Croquette
(First Place)

Braised Oxtail + Wahoo Parcel w. Local Spinach & Harvest Risotto Cake
(Second Place)

Banana Colada Ebelskivers w. Vanilla Bean Whipped Cream
(Second Place)

The judges & professional photographers.

CYS Boat Show 2012

Yes we did!
 This was the 31st annual CYS boat show and after 30 years of hosting the event at Village Cay Marina we made a move to Nanny Cay Marina and the show was a raging success!  Sasha climbed a hill during the show to snap a few pictures of all the boats in the marina.  Do you see Soterion??


Recognise this motley crew?  One of the nights of the show boats host a "Broker Hop" where they have snacks and drinks on board.  We decided to take the party to the docks this year because we were picking up charter the next day.  The idea was very well received-- along with our shots of home infused rum :)

Down the hatch without a scratch!  Mango Rum & Banana Spice Rum.

Upgrades & Improvements

Just when you thought it couldn't get any better...

We hired E&S to sand down and refinish the shelf at the front of the salon.  Through years of sun and saltwater spray the varnish had begun to discolor so a light sanding and new coat of varnish has her shiny and new again.  

The AirCon unit in the salon has been trying to die for about a year.  The heat of last June and July was too much and the compressor finaly bit the dust.  We had Marine Maintinance instal a a slightly bigger/ stronger unit and they even diverted a bit of the cool air down to the galley!  Chef is happy!

Upon inspecting the old windlass there were significant cracks in the main drive shaft, so we installed a new windlass.  Again, this one is larger and we are sure it will do a better job of pulling up our anchor.

Last but certainly not least, we added extra sound proofing around the front of the generator.  Sasha is on a mission to make the bow area a relaxing, quiet, after dinner conversational spot.  Last summer we had a seperator installed on the generator exhaust to bring down the noise at the water level, now we are working at the deck level.

Honeymoon Part 2

Well, the first part of the honeymoon went just as most married couples would expect.  We rented a car and drove from one B&B to anothe as we explored the Carolinas.  Too bad that was just a pit stop on the way back to de islands, mon!

We already have a full season booked and there were a few spare projects we've been meaning to get around to, so we hit Tortola a little early this year.  First up was organizing the Soterion storage unit.  

Most charter boats own more stuff than they can carry on board.  We have, for example all our holiday decor, bits and pieces we've taken out of the crew cabin to make it feel larger, all 27 jerry jugs used to carry fuel when the boat was delivered from France, tupperware full of Soterion swag, etc. 

I'm tired of looking at a heap of stuff in our storage unit... so it's time to install shelves and see what we can do to bring a little organization to this place.  Here you see Sasha squatting on a layer of cinder blocks -- what's with those blocks you might ask?  Flood protection!  We are on the ground level and in the summer this area is known for flooding.  

We bought some heavy duty brackets and installed three large shelves.  

Top shelf is for all the jerry jugs, they will come in handy for the next big adventure!
Second shelf is for extra "tools".  Captains and chefs rarely throw things out because none of these things are actually their personal property, and you never know what the next crew on a yacht will find useful.
Third shelf is for decor and other stuff that is not taking up perminent residence.
Ground level is for tuppers full of Soterion swag.  

Sorting what little swag we had leftover from last year.  

Husband and Wife

Click on the photo to see more pictures from the wedding!

Hauled out!

Soterion is safe and sound in the boatyard at Nanny Cay! 

Have a great summer and see you in the fall!!!

Underwater Lights

Soterion has had underwater lighting for a while now (technically they are on-water lights as they are not mounted below the waterline but have the same effect without putting holes in the boat under water).  The lights make the yacht more visible at night as well as attract sea creatures such as minnows, tarpon, sea-rays, and squid.


We recently installed color-changing LED lights in the bow area.

That got me thinking that our tender needed lights as well.

These are also color-changing LEDs.

TOO COOL!!