JON WILLIAMS AND HIS STAYINPHASE CREW RELOCATED TO VALENCIA TO CARRY OUT URGENT WORK ON A 52 SUPER SERIES YACHT FOR TEAM INTERLODGE.

‘We made an extension to the yachts winch system by making an incision into the existing transmission and sliding new equipment into a very tight space. We have increased it’s capability by directing pedestal power to the runner winches.’ We were there to capture the process…

‘IT’S SORT OF LIKE OPEN HEART SURGERY FOR THE YACHT.’

‘The biggest challenge is the timeline, and the working conditions. It’s not a clean environment. You don’t have all of the equipment or facilities that you might prefer to have. There’s a lot of just having to work with whatever is around you.’

‘Most people in the industry won’t go near these kind of projects. They’re just not able to cope with the circumstances, the environment and the diversity of challenges.’

‘YOU’RE WORKING IN A VERY, VERY TIGHT SPACE. YOU’RE CRAWLING – IMAGINE GOING UNDER THE FLOORBOARDS IN YOUR HOUSE, OR HAVING TO WORK IN A REALLY SMALL CUPBOARD. IT’S THAT LEVEL.’

‘There are always curveballs that come up during a job like that. There is a lot of figuring things out as you go, because there are unknowns – especially where we’re cutting into a system where none of the equipment in there was designed or created by us. We have to cut and make space for our gear to fit in there and then graft the connections between our equipment and the existing equipment together. That’s what makes it so challenging.’

‘THESE KIND OF PROJECTS MEAN FULLY IMMERSING IN THE LOCAL AREA FOR AS LONG AS WE’RE NEEDED – WHICH COMES WITH A FEW BENEFITS, AT LEAST…’

‘It’s the sheer intensity of work required. Sometimes you’re having to get something remade that required machining, or a new mould, or a new carbon fibre component. Where normally it might be two or three weeks of work but we had one or two days available.’

‘The knowledge and experience I’ve gained in the industry has given me the ability to work at speed. When there’s an issue with a boat, we respond quickly, and precisely. Those are the moments that I’m focused and I’m looking for those problems to see what’s not how it should be. What have we made a mistake on? Do I have everything that I need to do the job? Have I got room? Has everything we need arrived? Is everything that is part of our design going to translate… there are plenty of those moments along the way’

‘Faced with those tough decisions when they have come along, I’ve learned to make the decision relatively quickly. Even if it’s at the expense of more work being required. But that’s why you have those levels of preparation and you ask yourself those questions: what to look out for?; What didn’t we think about early enough?; What are the things that will make our life easier – and the job go smoother?’

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