Time flies like an arrow.
Fruit flies like a banana.

Again a month has gone by, again not much to report. A couple of daysails in not particularly summery weather. It's better than nothing, but not much. Least said the better. Usual culprits: work & weather.

Boat outfitting: pulpit modification should be done before the 'summer cruise' end July/early August.
Also, our in-hull echosounder had worked itself loose after 7 years. Refitted (cheap & cheerful kit), but not convinced it will hold long. Hopefully it will last the summer and we'll glass it in properly over winter.

Have been keeping an eye on second hand Aries windvanes being offered for sale on eBay or cruising websites. The ones we could afford were in need of a major overhaul, the ones in good shape we could not afford. The search continues. Have been offered a good one at a reasonable price, but at the moment funds are sadly lacking at the moment. Hope it's still available later in the year.

Not so good news: a squib has taken a chunk out of our gelcoat. About the size of a 50p coin and half an inch deep. We weren't aboard when it happened, but someone on a boat nearby had seen it happen and told me last week. Got in touch with the culprit via the marina office. Very apologetic, offered to make good and get quotes. So far, no word yet, but will get a quote from Fox's this week.

Summer cruise: once again we're very short of time. XO will only have two weeks off work - again. Not a happy bunny. So, the plan's the same as it has been for years: third week of July - get the boat as far west as possible (aiming for Portsmouth) with one of the kids as crew. Last week of July, first week of August (crew yet to be decided): explore the Channel Islands (Alderney + Guernsey), France (Dieppe and Boulogne sur Mer) and finally stopping over in Ostend before heading home. Hopefully it will be the last year of this - I've had enough.

Onwards and upwards. Hopefully the weather's more like summer next week - we need to get out of the Orwell goldfish bowl soon or risk a severe bout of cabin-fever.