Time for another - long overdue - update. Some of you may be surprised that we actually did manage to get some sailing in.
First off: A small step for mankind, a giant leap for... A couple of weeks ago I had tried, in vain, with the kids to move Guapa from her temporary winter berth to her new permanent berth. The wind thought better of our efforts. Gusts of 25kts+ kept blowing us back into our berth when we reversed. And Guapa does not reverse well (monster kick to port). Only the help of two (not so) innocent bystanders prevented us from coming to any harm.
The week-end before last seemed more suitable, but with one snag -I was working nights. Other half and kids duly dispatched to 'go and move the boat'. Slight look of apprehension given the fact that none of them had done this before without me being aboard.
Anyway, long story cut short, by mid-afternoon I received a text message saying that all was well and the boat was in her new berth. Later found out that my youngest has all the makings of a future Captain Bligh.
Last week was an altogether much more pleasant affair. First sail in over two months: gentle sail up and down the Stour. Trip started out as not much fun but skipper and crew mood improved on the return leg. Once out on the river we soon found ourselves short-tacking into a spring tide. So, progress was painfully slow. Crew was rusty as a tack took forever, though the skipper could have expressed his orders much more clearly. Racers left, right and centre did not do much for the skipper's peace of mind either. Anyway, once away from the crowd and on a run serenity ruled. The sun shone, it wasn't raining, beer in hand, .... Life doesn't get much better than this (could have been a touch warmer though).
Minor blemish on an otherwise perfect day: I noticed some traces of mildew on the genoa. The long, cold and wet winter has taken its toll. Nothing major, I just might get the genoa valeted next winter. We'll see.
We are we on the refit front? Moving along apace. A couple of items got axed. The modification to the pulpit for a start. Had it quoted and much to my dismay I found that this would cost more than I had paid for the thing in the first place. Well, no way Jose. I'm not made of money and it had always been a 'nice to have' rather than an 'essential'.
Likewise, the removable bowsprit. I'm sure I will come up with a suitable way to jury-rig the jockey-pole to do the same. Since it is now surplus to requirements (we no longer have a spinnaker) it might as well serve a purpose. Will consult with our rigger at some point.
So far, this year I have bought a second-hand danbuoy. Not so that you could tell - the thing is in pristine condition. Not absolutely essential, but it's one of those things I'd rather have and not use than need and not have.
Also bought (in the US - dollars for pounds) a Furuno Fi50 basic wind system to replace our TackTick. The TackTick is brilliant when it works, it's just not that reliable (goes on a sulk from time to time). Also, the need to replace the batteries of the masthead transmitter requires the occasional trip up the mast. Just the sort of thing I was eager to avoid.
Most recent acquisition: a 7' traditional wooden clinker - complete with mast and sail. At a fraction of what one of these would cost new. Bargain. As we will need a tender when we move the boat to Brittany (she'll be on a swinging mooring there), I jumped at it when the opportunity presented itself. For a while I had toyed with the idea of getting a Nestaway tender, but these things are prohibitively expense. Nor do they ever seem to become available second hand. I'm really pleased with 'Poppet'. Once she's had a coat of varnish, she'll be as good as new and good for hours (or even years) of fun. She has all the makings of a future family heirloom.
Left to do this year: have the life raft and lifejackets serviced. Long overdue. And, in 2 weeks time, I'll be checking out a second hand Aries offered for sale. Pictures show it to be only very lightly used and in as good as new condition. Now, if we can agree on price...
Plans are to take care of the last remaining items on my refit list next winter (2014). Outstanding items are:
- Fit steps to the mast (all the way up) as well as at least one self-tailing winch on the mast. Whilst the mast is stepped, we might as well have the radar dome fitted. It's not been getting much use sitting in a cardboard box for 5 years.
- Modify the boom to take the boom-brake I bought last year. Possibly replace the goose neck and kicker.
- Fit an SSB (almost certainly an Icom M710). With an SSB installation is everything, so I'm going to have that done professionally. The required LRC course is also planned for some time next winter.
- Fit an electric windlass and a keel cooled fridge/freezer. For these two items I will go shopping at Southampton Boat Show in September. Some sort of AIS transceiver is also on the list.
Whilst it would be nice to have the Furuno Fi50 (and maybe the Aries) fitted before the start of this year's summer cruise, time and funding (mainly the latter) may well dictate otherwise. In which case they will get fitted next winter as well.
All in all, I'm in good spirits. There is light at the end of the tunnel. We're in the final stages of the project. Hopefully we can move Guapa to Brittany next summer and then we will have Biscay at our doorstep and at long last we'll be able to enjoy the fruits of our labours.