List of jobs...some will get done...some...well you know how it is...

The visit to the Ashlett Dining Club gave an opportunity to work out what needed to be done before the season starts...what could be done...and what it might be nice to try and do,....

1. Clean and Polish   - hull looking shabby and marked so a must do job.

2. Rhino tape sheathing                          

 - the experiment I covered in a blog at the beginning of 2014. It has lasted 2 years as an experiment and is  working well so looking to fully cover the hull in a clear protective layer.

3. Engine service  - Service kit ordered

4. Spare fan belt  - Ordered

5. Repair white gel coat chips - Gel coat acquired

6. Sort out mast rub from blocks

 - Solution acquired - to be fitted (brown shampoo bottle cut  to fit blocks and allow rope travel and stop mast rubbing/ chafe.

7. Battery maintenance - Solar panel purchased- to be fitted


8. Boat tidy and review of contents - Severe clear out of accumulated 'useful' bits and pieces


9. Measure for cockpit cover  - Done - purchase of material next step


10. Cockpit tent     - Chase up Habitent or make my own ???

11. Clean up anti fouling   - needs abrading and touch up in places - apparently Cilllit Bang will remove the white deposits left by coral bloom picked up in Chichester harbour

12. Wash ropes  - Done ..re-fitting ...ummm errr.

13. Replace mooring ropes  - Getting worn and besides a different colour would stop people using the anchor warp in error.

14. Inside storage  - explore the creation of large 'halyard bags' to provide stowage along inside on hull. (Glenys ,you are going to be busy - never mind weddings)

Anything else that occurs ....... in between must remember to go sailing

Ashlett Dining Club

The night before had been minus 3 so it was little wonder that my wife looked at me strangely as I packed up my bags to go to the second Ashlett Lunch time dining with plans to stay over night. I wasn't the only one who was mad enough but armed with a fan heater and extra sleeping bag I set off.

Lunch at the Mill was a very sociable affair with many Drascombers emerging from the winter shadows and gleefully contemplating the season ahead. Not only was socialising going on but Sharon from Drascombe Boats was showing round a potential Drifter 22 purchaser, who took full advantage of gleaning all the information he could from the assembled crowd - not sure he went home any the wiser !!

The afternoon passed in the clubhouse, together with Glenys, trying to work out how the club sewing machine worked - it seems it didn't but Stewart had a solution - a sewing machine he had acquired form the late Douglas Hopwood, which it seems may now be put to good use making covers for Drascombes and, hopefully, Shrimpers .....

The hardy few spent the evening in the Mill, listening to the various contributions offered at the Open Mic evening - some good, very good...others...not so.

Adjourning to our boats it wasn't long before a tap on the hull and the query, "Do you have a spare fan heater?"...well of course I did...doesn't everyone...

It just happened that on the way down I had stopped for some supplies and whilst shopping in Tesco has spotted numerous fan heaters going very cheaply..and all much more sophisticated than the old one I had brought with me...so I did in fact have a spare..lucky for some..another chilly night otherwise.

As it was snug as a bug..

Breakfast was taken at the Top Club and we departed for home..but the first night on board of 2016.....in February......