A great sail from Portsmouth to Brighton. We tested our wind vane, which is working perfectly. It is more efficient than it has ever been. Last year we rehung the rudder it is now nicely balanced and the steering system is light and smooth; so the wind vane easily steers even in fairly light winds and slow speeds. The vanes that Di painted for Wanda are still functional, bright and colourful. Just sitting and watching the self steering do its work is a pleasure. (if you like that sort of thing!) I am so pleased.
Whilst realising that any planning is necessarily tentative these days; we have had a change of plan.
We were aiming to have Wanda lifted out in Newhaven again, but we have now decided to leave her in the water in Brighton for a while.
We are now planning a return to Uzbekistan. A bit more adventurous, we aim to move to Bukhara; a desert town nearer the Turkmenistan border.
If all goes well we will return to Wanda in 10 months time. Meanwhile a couple of weeks to relax, play and complete winter lay up.