Thought I'd get one new year resolution off to a good start and write a blog (resolution = write more blogs).

First off a Happy New Year to everyone and fair winds, calm seas and sunshine to you all.

We hope this year will be a goodd one for Emerald and crew as we plan to head off across Biscay later in the year, aiming for southern Spain or Portugal for next winter.

Before then we have a few jobs to do so we''ll be cracking on with them tomorrow. These include:
Hard dodger
Replace leaking water tanks under galley floor
Remove two seacocks (we've replaced the deck drains with scuppers so don't need the seacocks anymore and the less holes in the hull the better)
Anti-foul
Paint hull

In 2012 we got a lot done:
Replaced Genoa tracks
Removed and rebedded all deck fittings and stantions
Removed deck drains and made scuppers for water drainage instead
Installed new batteries and rebuilt the storage area in the tunnel so that the batteries are securely held but can be easily maintained (batteries are wet lead acid type)
Insulated under the aft bed and rebuilt the bed base
Ripped out aft head and installed a compact washing machine and built storage in the space instead
Repair starboard fuel tank
Build and install prop alternator
and many more little jobs!

Happy New Year!

Colin and Nichola x