Several layers of laminate could be easily lifted away – see pictures below – until there were just big holes:


It appears that while the heat exchangers were operative the heat generated accelerated some osmotic action in this area. However, the most damaging action appears to have been the standard Spanish shipyard practice of repeatedly using


Hydrochloric Acid (Agua Fuerte - readily available in supermarkets here) to clean calcified crustaceans, or concretion, off underwater metalwork; together with the high-pressure washing- off nozzle right up against the hull forcing acid under high pressure into the laminate.


This caused irreparable damage to the laminate and led to a situation where the boat was millimetres away from sinking and no-one had any idea what was going on, or even where to look for water ingress.


58 | The Report • June 2017 • Issue 80


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