We had a super sunny week off with which to potter where we may
We had some key places but decided to go to wherever the wind and tide might be best. In the end, this was Cowes and then down the Medina and then up to Ealing – we covered about 100km, 54nm and a couple of overnight stay plus a bit of evening sailing to beat the heat
Sort a new tiller xtn!
Sort curtains!
We can use the cuddy as a Bimini!
Fuel is 0.75l per hour
Winter this year saw the boat home and back under it big green tent – working off a lovely block floor rather than slabs and wet earth this year.
The mast suffered some damage this year. Some self-inflicted with the peak halyard shackle the wrong way round, which, during a deep reef, rubbed hard against the mast, and the shroud band started to slip down the mast, indicating there was some issue either with the fixing or perhaps rot underneath.
It was dropped off with https://www.drascombe.uk/, who looked after it, stripped it clean, and refurbished it. Seems it was just a weedy snapped screw and no manky wood!
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The bowsprit was stripped along with the gunwales and inner combing of all varnish, and Deks D1 was applied instead. Nancy valiantly battled the leaky lockers under the seats with new sealant, sealing strips and padding foam. The lockers are recessed and flat, so any standing water seeps in.
The spars were stripped, varnished, the wood floor oiled, and the covers reproofed. The trailer was cleaned and wheels painted, and the antifouling reapplied.
Some items that are now firmly boat fixtures, like the paddles, emergency box and a boat hook, are finding forever homes with straps to hold them in place. The new item for this year is a sapele crutch for the boom to enable the mid boom lazy jacks to be swept back and a tarp cast over the full boom.
Fab weekend of strong winds on Friday and no wind on Saturday. A blast around the Solent and Soton water was followed by a intentional but unplanned stop over in the Hamble next to With Alacrity and dinner at the RAF YC. A sucessful first night in the boat with the support of WA next door and a superbe cup of tea and bacon sandwich in the monring before a drift down to Warsash to join the DCA South rally to Ashlett (in our case back to base)
It was fun playing frogger and an engine was really welcome compared to the hardcore that rowed across. An hour or two at the Jolly Sailor and we bid them farewell as they headed back with a small sea breeze to help this time.
We chilled and then Sunday went just out of the creek in a mill pond to wash off the mud before recovering the boat and a washdown!
Teak restoration and more varnishing
Leather work on the gaff jaws
And a big big tent to store her in. As you can see it is very green!
