Latest from PERU

November 2007

By the end of November, we had undertaken five sailings into and around the Lake, Taquile Island and Lachon on the Capachica peninsular; in the Engine Room, making small adjustments each time and, on Deck, entertaining 

representatives from the leading companies within Peru's tourist industry and a tv film team headed up by Rafo Leon ("Peru's Michael Palin".).

12.11.07

Our volunteer Bolinder expert, Per Fonser, arrived last night from Sweden. He is already hard at work in the engine room as I write, straightening out the copper fuel pipes and fitting bleed valves with the intention of improving the fuel injection system.

The Victorian capstan is, for the enth time, in the workshop being modified to fit the heavy anchor chain we inherited.  Currently it jumps back a link every four which is disconcerting when six heavyweights are putting their might and mane on the six spars and are manually turning the gypsy! 

We've also been having problems with equipment sent up from Lima.  This is a palaver as anything more complicated than a spanner is either 3 hours away or 3 days away. Our new generator was a case in point. We were in despair when, suddenly, a very stout mechanic appeared as from nowhere. He was so stout we feared he would get jammed in the hatch, but, no, he managed to wiggle down, stuck his spanner in the works, twiddled, and Hey Presto we had light!

Now the Yavari is swarming with engineers as we prepare to "speed trials" tomorrow.

 3.11.07  Having ballasted the Yavari with 45 tons of builders' sand (1500 filled and manhandled bags weighing 30kgs. each!), shipped the dinghy and warmed up the Bolinder by its blow torches, we headed out of Puno port where we'd been for a week (thanks to PeruRail) and set off towards the channel linking Puno Bay with Lake Titicaca for the first of a series of engine trials.

We had borrowed from the Navy, their helmsman and a senior rating and we had taken on three young deckhands bringing our crew up to 10.

We put the Bolinder thru its paces and to everyone's delight. thanks to the t.l.c. lavished on it by our chief engineer, Maximo Flores, its performance had improved far beyond the expectations of Adrian Chapman, our Project Manager, who last saw it in operation in 2005.

We motored home to our moorings to be warmly welcomed by the Andean coot flotilla who enjoy perching on our mooring ropes to carry out the morning preen.

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The Prize Draw took place at the Peruvian Embassy on June 21st  

  and the lucky winner of a Trip-for-Two to Peru is Peter Reupke  

                                  from London W9.

     Nonetheless, we should like to thank everyone who so generously took part in the Draw. As a result of it we are now able to move ahead with the next stage of engine diagnostics and trials of the 1914 Bolinder 4-cylinder hot bulb crude oil  

                                  engine.

Great News   H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh, already a Benefactor, made a further donation to launch The YAVARI Appeal for £350,000.  When His Royal Highness visited South America in 1962 he crossed Lake Titicaca in a passenger ship and saw the YAVARI. “She has an unique history and I very much hope that this project will attract the necessary support to make it a resounding success.”

More Great News! a London based charitable trust, wishing to remain anonymous, has donated £50,000. 

Inspite of all this good news, we still need your help if the Yavari is to sail again.

DONATIONS

Every penny counts and for this project to be "a resounding success" we want you to be involved. For a donation up to £100 (US$190) we will add your name to our mailing list so that you can follow progress..

For a donation of:-

• £100 - £250 (US$190 - US$480) You will also receive a copy of The Yavari History.
• £250 - £500 (US$480 - US$950) You will also receive a copy of The Yavari History + a colour photograph of the ship.
• £500 - £1000 (US$950 - US$2000) Your name will be inscribed on board the historic YAVARI and you will receive a copy of The Yavari History.
• £1000 - £5000 (US$2000 - US$10,000) Your name will be inscribed in Silver on board the historic YAVARI and you are entitled to a day cruise for two persons on the YAVARI (transferable) + a photograph of the ship and a copy of The Yavari History.
• £5000 - £10,000 (US$10,000 - US$20,000) Your name will be inscribed in Gold on board and you are entitled to a day cruise for four persons on the YAVARI (transferable) + a scale model of the ship and a copy of The Yavari History.
• £10,000+  (US$20,000+) You will be offered a bespoke package.

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COPIES OF

THE YAVARI HISTORY

for £10 (which includes p&p + a small donation to the Project)

are available from

The Yavari Project

61 Mexfield Road

London SW15 2RG