Once again, we managed to do some sailing. Just a day, but we enjoyed it very much none the less. These days, we have to be grateful for small mercies. Mixed bag really - at times we were just drifting with sails up. Stress oozed away as we proceeded up the River Stour at a stately 2kts. A couple of hours later we were beating down the Orwell towards open sea. All in glorious sunshine. Truly balm for the soul.

Coming weekend we usually take the boat on our annual pilgrimage to Ostend (Oostende voor Anker festival). The weather gods however, have decreed otherwise. Even though the forecasts keep changing, none of them are predicting a leisurely cruise. And as always, we find ourselves short of time – meaning we don’t have the luxury of being able to sit out the bad weather. Work is indeed the curse of the sailing class.

Instead of a Channel crossing we’ll have to confine ourselves to some pottering about in local waters. A night away somewhere would be nice. As this will (hopefully) be our final year in the land of brown and shallow water we might as well take the time to explore some local hideouts which we have neglected these last few years.
Yet again, our season’s off to a false start.

Earlier this week I held my dream in my hands. Alas, it was not to be. The one thing the boat’s missing to really set her free is wind vane self steering. I’ve been researching this for nearly as long as we’ve had this boat. A Hydrovane had for a long time been at the top of our lists. Then some brutally honest feedback from some owners did put me off (it started with one, and all of a sudden there were lots more – too many to be just a fluke). A Monitor came highly recommended, but these things only become available this side of the Atlantic very rarely. And since these things are mostly semi-customised for a boat chances are it wouldn’t suit Guapa.

So, I had my mind set on an Aries. These come up for sale from time to time, but the problem is finding a good one. Then, I found one. Only lightly used, complete with all the bits and it would require only minor modifications to suit us. As always, funds are finite, and the seller’s asking price (little/no room for negotiation) was outside of our budget. A shame really, as we were only a couple of hundred apart. Our offer is still out there, and hopefully he will reconsider. Chance would be a fine thing.
I was really impressed with the thing. It is so obvious how it works, it seemed so well built, ... So near and yet so far.

Also made some progress on the ‘pulpit modification’ front. Discussed our requirements in detail with our ‘stainless man’ and impressed on him the need to revise his quote downward. I think he got the message. Hopefully pulpit will be modified before our summer cruise, and if not it will be a job for this winter.

As our project is now in its final stages I am somewhat apprehensive – we’ve been ‘at it’ for a couple of years now. Completion was always somewhere in the distance, but now... I’m scared that once she’s good and ready I’ll set off one day and I won’t be able to come up with a good reason to head back. Regardless of the consequences, commitments, obligations,... What if?
Hopefully the AZAB 2015 will provide enough focus and dispel such ‘evil’ thoughts.

TTFN

PS: I’ve added two photo galleries – Winter 2012 and Summer 2013.