WEBVTT
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Today we're doing a podcast about the lovely Grey Wolf 2, FPB 78 2, with her owner Peter Watson.
00:00:42.199 --> 00:00:46.919
We're talking about the glamorous subject of MCA category zero.
00:00:47.159 --> 00:01:03.319
Grey Wolf is the only member of the FPB fleet to have this coding and it'd be really interesting, Peter, to hear why it was that you upset the designer, boatyard, and everybody else by insisting that your yacht should be Cat Zero.
00:01:03.559 --> 00:01:07.639
I think it's very simple basically that the MCA has been around for years.
00:01:07.719 --> 00:01:22.439
They are a bit of a boring organisation, but over the years of experience they've made sure that stability, which is probably one of the major issues, and a number of other things are built into boats that are cat zero.
00:01:22.519 --> 00:01:24.680
And I wanted to go anywhere in the world.
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And with a cat zero boat, I can.
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Yeah.
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And and so how important was charter?
00:01:30.280 --> 00:01:31.959
I guess that wasn't the primary thing, was it?
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It was the safety.
00:01:33.400 --> 00:01:34.840
No, charter was not.
00:01:34.919 --> 00:01:49.960
It was a sort of add-on that we thought we could do, and we have done some as a result of having a boat that's cat zero, but it was it was I wanted ultimately an extremely safe boat that was designed to go anywhere, anyway.
00:01:50.520 --> 00:01:53.159
And you did that brilliant charter in Antarctica, didn't you?
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That must have been great fun.
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Oh, it was fantastic.
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Um, it's absolutely unique.
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Um, and also uh we took the old grey wolf up north as well.
00:02:03.879 --> 00:02:04.599
Yeah, of course.
00:02:04.759 --> 00:02:05.479
Yeah, of course.
00:02:05.639 --> 00:02:06.199
So you did.
00:02:06.359 --> 00:02:07.479
Yeah, okay.
00:02:07.799 --> 00:02:16.520
So of course the MCA, in order to make things a bit more of a challenge, um, they've upgraded their code for 2027.
00:02:17.079 --> 00:02:29.879
And um I know because we have the shipyard here in Lymington, that there are a number of commercial yachts who have or commercial boats, um, as well as yachts who are finding the new regulations quite testing.
00:02:30.359 --> 00:02:37.799
Um so um it's not just structure, it's lots of form filling too, isn't it?
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Huge amount of form filling.
00:02:40.039 --> 00:02:46.599
Um but fundamentally Grey Wolf can pass or will be passing that code.
00:02:46.840 --> 00:02:48.919
Um we've done some lovely things.
00:02:49.399 --> 00:02:51.239
She's already passed the current one, hasn't she?
00:02:51.319 --> 00:02:57.879
She's already in code, but now she's now she's the new um, you know, diamond encrusted code.
00:02:58.199 --> 00:02:58.759
Yes.
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Um she's passed NGN 280.
00:03:01.879 --> 00:03:05.959
Uh we're in the final throes of her passing the new code.
00:03:06.759 --> 00:03:07.079
Okay.
00:03:07.319 --> 00:03:26.759
Okay, so she's been to Berthon with the for these wonderful new Seacocks because she had plastic seacocks, which um are absolutely fine, but the MCA now wanted metal ones, so we had to have um stainless steel ones fabricated, custom uh stainless steel um valves fabricated for Grey Wolf.
00:03:26.919 --> 00:03:29.000
Um, and uh she's just left us.
00:03:29.239 --> 00:03:48.599
But I know that uh whilst that was reassuringly expensive, it was only part of what you did, and I can see um when I was on the boat last week um that there are a huge amount of um post-it notes and and and all sorts of stuff that you're doing.
00:03:48.679 --> 00:03:52.439
So can we just walk through some of the other stuff outside the Seacocks?
00:03:52.759 --> 00:03:53.639
Yeah, sure.
00:03:53.799 --> 00:04:02.039
Um well if we start at the four peak, um we had to put an electric valve in to be able to shut off the water coming to the air conditioning.
00:04:02.199 --> 00:04:05.719
That was relatively simple but just takes some work.
00:04:05.879 --> 00:04:08.199
Um the boat needed to be lifted for that.
00:04:08.280 --> 00:04:17.079
Um, and then as we walk back, um obviously in the engine room, we had the new lovely shiny stainless steel valves on everything.
00:04:17.240 --> 00:04:27.079
Uh we're doing some modification to the electrics to make sure that the navigation lights can stay on for up to three hours, even if the boat loses power.
00:04:27.319 --> 00:04:27.959
Seriously?
00:04:28.199 --> 00:04:36.439
Yeah, we already had um backup batteries for the communications, um, so that that was part of it.
00:04:36.680 --> 00:05:10.460
Uh we're doing a number of other other things, small smaller things, um, but to make it compliant.
00:05:10.780 --> 00:05:24.620
Um but the main main effort, probably apart from that, um, which is actually quite a big uh shout, um, is getting all the paperwork up together to make her compliant with that.
00:05:24.860 --> 00:05:28.860
Fortunately, when we did MGN 280, we probably overdid it.
00:05:28.940 --> 00:05:35.900
Um, and so we're just pulling out a lot of paperwork that we already have, updating it and making sure.
00:05:36.060 --> 00:05:41.980
Uh the most amusing thing I feel slightly is the cyber prevention policy that we have to have.
00:05:42.060 --> 00:05:43.180
So we've been busy writing.
00:05:43.740 --> 00:05:44.780
Seriously, yeah.
00:05:45.260 --> 00:05:54.060
Um considering that most of our equipment fortunately is not connected to the internet, um, it it's not actually a difficult task.
00:05:54.380 --> 00:05:55.180
My goodness.
00:05:55.340 --> 00:06:02.140
And so, but but so all of the other are there a lot of new protocols that you now have to observe?
00:06:02.460 --> 00:06:13.340
Yes, um there's a pile of protocols that are in our ISM um which we have to observe to make sure that we comply.
00:06:13.580 --> 00:06:20.060
None of which is difficult, but it's a lot of administration to make sure that we're compliant.
00:06:20.220 --> 00:06:32.380
But I think the physic that the physical hull of the boat was built with the intention of going places, and the great thing is, with a little bit of modification, it's fine for the new code.
00:06:32.460 --> 00:06:37.340
And I can't believe there are many boats out there that would pass the new code that easily.
00:06:37.580 --> 00:06:48.460
Well, you know, I mean I think that is that is the big thing, and I think that it shows how tough it is because Grey Wolf is an astonishing go-anywhere boat, and she she's done an awful lot.
00:06:48.700 --> 00:06:57.580
And you know, these seacocks, it's not just sticking in some seacocks, it's it's a lot of re-engineering and all that kind of stuff and metalwork to do it.
00:06:57.900 --> 00:07:22.220
But um we've certainly seen boats which are no longer able to meet the code, and a lot of boats are looking forward to operating until 2027, and um I think that it takes the standard up three or four or five notches, and I have to say that I think there are a number of um explorers that are being built today that are never going to meet that code.
00:07:22.540 --> 00:07:24.940
Yeah, it's certainly challenging, I think.
00:07:25.100 --> 00:07:43.180
Um, but again, have to say uh that you know I'm really pleased that Grey Wolf is able to meet that code, and it I think it's a reflection on what was built in New Zealand with Steve Dashow in the early days, um, even though I was a bit of a pain to him.
00:07:43.420 --> 00:07:59.180
Yeah, I mean, and I uh um I've told him about uh this new 2027 code, and uh, you know, his sort of eyebrows raised heavenwards, but I think he was actually really pleased that uh Grey Wolf just I mean, uh basically she's flown through.
00:07:59.340 --> 00:07:59.500
Yeah.
00:07:59.740 --> 00:08:04.780
So now you've got her, now you've done all the form filling and everything else.
00:08:05.180 --> 00:08:12.860
She's done the Pacific, she's d been everywhere, she's done the cold places, she's done the tropics, da da da da.
00:08:13.500 --> 00:08:16.060
What next for um the lovely Grey Wolf?
00:08:16.300 --> 00:08:21.500
We are going to take her down to um the Med and go all the way to Greece.
00:08:21.820 --> 00:08:22.780
Have you done that before?
00:08:23.100 --> 00:08:28.700
No, never done that before, so that's a unique unique um trip for me.
00:08:28.940 --> 00:08:30.380
And that's going to be fantastic.
00:08:30.860 --> 00:08:34.060
And that's a family holiday, or series of family holidays.
00:08:34.379 --> 00:08:35.659
Series of family holidays.
00:08:35.899 --> 00:08:40.539
With grandchildren and all and lots of and and lots of uh fun and stuff happening.
00:08:40.860 --> 00:08:49.340
Absolutely, and a chance to look at some beautiful islands in in the Med um all the way up to Greece.
00:08:49.899 --> 00:09:02.299
I mean, one of the things I love about Grey Wolf is although you know she's FPB 78, she's 83 feet overall, she's got all this capability, she's still a family cruising yacht.
00:09:02.460 --> 00:09:02.779
Yeah.
00:09:03.100 --> 00:09:11.580
So you can still hop on with the family and uh go off and do amazing things, and she's easy to handle, she's easy to get in and out of places.
00:09:11.820 --> 00:09:22.700
So if you're not doing Antarctica or the Southern Ocean next year, you're still you you can use this yacht anywhere, and that's something that's quite special.
00:09:23.100 --> 00:09:29.500
It it is, I think there are very, very few yachts in the world that can go anywhere.
00:09:29.580 --> 00:09:33.500
Um, Grey Wolf is one of them, but there aren't many.
00:09:33.820 --> 00:09:35.900
Yeah, no, I think you're absolutely right.
00:09:36.220 --> 00:09:39.180
So, a few words about Grey Wolf.
00:09:39.340 --> 00:09:40.860
Peter and I both love her.
00:09:41.100 --> 00:09:49.500
She is on the market, although I'm not sure what we're gonna do about another yacht for the uh Watson family because she's a really hard act to follow.
00:09:49.660 --> 00:09:51.420
So uh thank you very much for listening.
00:09:51.660 --> 00:09:54.139
And thank you very much, Sue, for the conversation.
00:09:54.700 --> 00:09:55.820
Thanks, Peter.
00:00:33.639 --> 00:00:42.039
Today we're doing a podcast about the lovely Grey Wolf 2, FPB 78 2, with her owner Peter Watson.
00:00:42.199 --> 00:00:46.919
We're talking about the glamorous subject of MCA category zero.
00:00:47.159 --> 00:01:03.319
Grey Wolf is the only member of the FPB fleet to have this coding and it'd be really interesting, Peter, to hear why it was that you upset the designer, boatyard, and everybody else by insisting that your yacht should be Cat Zero.
00:01:03.559 --> 00:01:07.639
I think it's very simple basically that the MCA has been around for years.
00:01:07.719 --> 00:01:22.439
They are a bit of a boring organisation, but over the years of experience they've made sure that stability, which is probably one of the major issues, and a number of other things are built into boats that are cat zero.
00:01:22.519 --> 00:01:24.680
And I wanted to go anywhere in the world.
00:01:24.840 --> 00:01:27.239
And with a cat zero boat, I can.
00:01:27.479 --> 00:01:27.879
Yeah.
00:01:28.039 --> 00:01:30.199
And and so how important was charter?
00:01:30.280 --> 00:01:31.959
I guess that wasn't the primary thing, was it?
00:01:32.039 --> 00:01:33.000
It was the safety.
00:01:33.400 --> 00:01:34.840
No, charter was not.
00:01:34.919 --> 00:01:49.960
It was a sort of add-on that we thought we could do, and we have done some as a result of having a boat that's cat zero, but it was it was I wanted ultimately an extremely safe boat that was designed to go anywhere, anyway.
00:01:50.520 --> 00:01:53.159
And you did that brilliant charter in Antarctica, didn't you?
00:01:53.400 --> 00:01:54.680
That must have been great fun.
00:01:54.840 --> 00:01:56.359
Oh, it was fantastic.
00:01:56.520 --> 00:01:58.919
Um, it's absolutely unique.
00:01:59.079 --> 00:02:03.560
Um, and also uh we took the old grey wolf up north as well.
00:02:03.879 --> 00:02:04.599
Yeah, of course.
00:02:04.759 --> 00:02:05.479
Yeah, of course.
00:02:05.639 --> 00:02:06.199
So you did.
00:02:06.359 --> 00:02:07.479
Yeah, okay.
00:02:07.799 --> 00:02:16.520
So of course the MCA, in order to make things a bit more of a challenge, um, they've upgraded their code for 2027.
00:02:17.079 --> 00:02:29.879
And um I know because we have the shipyard here in Lymington, that there are a number of commercial yachts who have or commercial boats, um, as well as yachts who are finding the new regulations quite testing.
00:02:30.359 --> 00:02:37.799
Um so um it's not just structure, it's lots of form filling too, isn't it?
00:02:38.120 --> 00:02:39.799
Huge amount of form filling.
00:02:40.039 --> 00:02:46.599
Um but fundamentally Grey Wolf can pass or will be passing that code.
00:02:46.840 --> 00:02:48.919
Um we've done some lovely things.
00:02:49.399 --> 00:02:51.239
She's already passed the current one, hasn't she?
00:02:51.319 --> 00:02:57.879
She's already in code, but now she's now she's the new um, you know, diamond encrusted code.
00:02:58.199 --> 00:02:58.759
Yes.
00:02:59.000 --> 00:03:01.560
Um she's passed NGN 280.
00:03:01.879 --> 00:03:05.959
Uh we're in the final throes of her passing the new code.
00:03:06.759 --> 00:03:07.079
Okay.
00:03:07.319 --> 00:03:26.759
Okay, so she's been to Berthon with the for these wonderful new Seacocks because she had plastic seacocks, which um are absolutely fine, but the MCA now wanted metal ones, so we had to have um stainless steel ones fabricated, custom uh stainless steel um valves fabricated for Grey Wolf.
00:03:26.919 --> 00:03:29.000
Um, and uh she's just left us.
00:03:29.239 --> 00:03:48.599
But I know that uh whilst that was reassuringly expensive, it was only part of what you did, and I can see um when I was on the boat last week um that there are a huge amount of um post-it notes and and and all sorts of stuff that you're doing.
00:03:48.679 --> 00:03:52.439
So can we just walk through some of the other stuff outside the Seacocks?
00:03:52.759 --> 00:03:53.639
Yeah, sure.
00:03:53.799 --> 00:04:02.039
Um well if we start at the four peak, um we had to put an electric valve in to be able to shut off the water coming to the air conditioning.
00:04:02.199 --> 00:04:05.719
That was relatively simple but just takes some work.
00:04:05.879 --> 00:04:08.199
Um the boat needed to be lifted for that.
00:04:08.280 --> 00:04:17.079
Um, and then as we walk back, um obviously in the engine room, we had the new lovely shiny stainless steel valves on everything.
00:04:17.240 --> 00:04:27.079
Uh we're doing some modification to the electrics to make sure that the navigation lights can stay on for up to three hours, even if the boat loses power.
00:04:27.319 --> 00:04:27.959
Seriously?
00:04:28.199 --> 00:04:36.439
Yeah, we already had um backup batteries for the communications, um, so that that was part of it.
00:04:36.680 --> 00:05:10.460
Uh we're doing a number of other other things, small smaller things, um, but to make it compliant.
00:05:10.780 --> 00:05:24.620
Um but the main main effort, probably apart from that, um, which is actually quite a big uh shout, um, is getting all the paperwork up together to make her compliant with that.
00:05:24.860 --> 00:05:28.860
Fortunately, when we did MGN 280, we probably overdid it.
00:05:28.940 --> 00:05:35.900
Um, and so we're just pulling out a lot of paperwork that we already have, updating it and making sure.
00:05:36.060 --> 00:05:41.980
Uh the most amusing thing I feel slightly is the cyber prevention policy that we have to have.
00:05:42.060 --> 00:05:43.180
So we've been busy writing.
00:05:43.740 --> 00:05:44.780
Seriously, yeah.
00:05:45.260 --> 00:05:54.060
Um considering that most of our equipment fortunately is not connected to the internet, um, it it's not actually a difficult task.
00:05:54.380 --> 00:05:55.180
My goodness.
00:05:55.340 --> 00:06:02.140
And so, but but so all of the other are there a lot of new protocols that you now have to observe?
00:06:02.460 --> 00:06:13.340
Yes, um there's a pile of protocols that are in our ISM um which we have to observe to make sure that we comply.
00:06:13.580 --> 00:06:20.060
None of which is difficult, but it's a lot of administration to make sure that we're compliant.
00:06:20.220 --> 00:06:32.380
But I think the physic that the physical hull of the boat was built with the intention of going places, and the great thing is, with a little bit of modification, it's fine for the new code.
00:06:32.460 --> 00:06:37.340
And I can't believe there are many boats out there that would pass the new code that easily.
00:06:37.580 --> 00:06:48.460
Well, you know, I mean I think that is that is the big thing, and I think that it shows how tough it is because Grey Wolf is an astonishing go-anywhere boat, and she she's done an awful lot.
00:06:48.700 --> 00:06:57.580
And you know, these seacocks, it's not just sticking in some seacocks, it's it's a lot of re-engineering and all that kind of stuff and metalwork to do it.
00:06:57.900 --> 00:07:22.220
But um we've certainly seen boats which are no longer able to meet the code, and a lot of boats are looking forward to operating until 2027, and um I think that it takes the standard up three or four or five notches, and I have to say that I think there are a number of um explorers that are being built today that are never going to meet that code.
00:07:22.540 --> 00:07:24.940
Yeah, it's certainly challenging, I think.
00:07:25.100 --> 00:07:43.180
Um, but again, have to say uh that you know I'm really pleased that Grey Wolf is able to meet that code, and it I think it's a reflection on what was built in New Zealand with Steve Dashow in the early days, um, even though I was a bit of a pain to him.
00:07:43.420 --> 00:07:59.180
Yeah, I mean, and I uh um I've told him about uh this new 2027 code, and uh, you know, his sort of eyebrows raised heavenwards, but I think he was actually really pleased that uh Grey Wolf just I mean, uh basically she's flown through.
00:07:59.340 --> 00:07:59.500
Yeah.
00:07:59.740 --> 00:08:04.780
So now you've got her, now you've done all the form filling and everything else.
00:08:05.180 --> 00:08:12.860
She's done the Pacific, she's d been everywhere, she's done the cold places, she's done the tropics, da da da da.
00:08:13.500 --> 00:08:16.060
What next for um the lovely Grey Wolf?
00:08:16.300 --> 00:08:21.500
We are going to take her down to um the Med and go all the way to Greece.
00:08:21.820 --> 00:08:22.780
Have you done that before?
00:08:23.100 --> 00:08:28.700
No, never done that before, so that's a unique unique um trip for me.
00:08:28.940 --> 00:08:30.380
And that's going to be fantastic.
00:08:30.860 --> 00:08:34.060
And that's a family holiday, or series of family holidays.
00:08:34.379 --> 00:08:35.659
Series of family holidays.
00:08:35.899 --> 00:08:40.539
With grandchildren and all and lots of and and lots of uh fun and stuff happening.
00:08:40.860 --> 00:08:49.340
Absolutely, and a chance to look at some beautiful islands in in the Med um all the way up to Greece.
00:08:49.899 --> 00:09:02.299
I mean, one of the things I love about Grey Wolf is although you know she's FPB 78, she's 83 feet overall, she's got all this capability, she's still a family cruising yacht.
00:09:02.460 --> 00:09:02.779
Yeah.
00:09:03.100 --> 00:09:11.580
So you can still hop on with the family and uh go off and do amazing things, and she's easy to handle, she's easy to get in and out of places.
00:09:11.820 --> 00:09:22.700
So if you're not doing Antarctica or the Southern Ocean next year, you're still you you can use this yacht anywhere, and that's something that's quite special.
00:09:23.100 --> 00:09:29.500
It it is, I think there are very, very few yachts in the world that can go anywhere.
00:09:29.580 --> 00:09:33.500
Um, Grey Wolf is one of them, but there aren't many.
00:09:33.820 --> 00:09:35.900
Yeah, no, I think you're absolutely right.
00:09:36.220 --> 00:09:39.180
So, a few words about Grey Wolf.
00:09:39.340 --> 00:09:40.860
Peter and I both love her.
00:09:41.100 --> 00:09:49.500
She is on the market, although I'm not sure what we're gonna do about another yacht for the uh Watson family because she's a really hard act to follow.
00:09:49.660 --> 00:09:51.420
So uh thank you very much for listening.
00:09:51.660 --> 00:09:54.139
And thank you very much, Sue, for the conversation.
00:09:54.700 --> 00:09:55.820
Thanks, Peter.
