First sail of the season - hurray

Went down to the boat today - feeling guilty having neglected her during the snow and ice so wanted to check on her. I needn't have worried - very little water in the bilge, batteries good and nice and dry in the cabin - trick is to keep the air flowing through.
The engine started first time and although I hadn't thought I'd be able to get out the opportunity was too good to miss. The sun was bright and the sky blue, about 9 degrees so wrapped up warm off I set.
I think the lock keeper was having a snooze - he seemed surprised to be called on the VHF. Out in the harbour it was a quite brisk south westerly blowing up with the tide so it was a motor down to Itchenor, but it would top up the batteries and warm up the boat nicely.
I had lunch on the Visitors pontoon at Itchenor, practising some manoeuvres planned for a little video project we might be doing.
After lunch I carried on down to the entrance to the Bosham channel - it seemed very strange all those empty mooring buoys. You need to keep your eyes peeled - it's a lot easier to see the 30' - 40' boats that are usually moored in ranks.
Turning for home I unfurled the jib and roared up the harbour with wind and tide - so much so I carried straight on to Dell Quay - beautiful in the sunshine. In the whole day I only saw one other boat moving - the harbour was empty.

All too soon I was back in the marina - tied up and setting off for home just as the sun disappeared and the gloom started to gather. A great day - and the whole of the year ahead..........

New horizons

Plan to get down to the boat this week as the weather brightens and the temperatures get nearer double figures.
Adam and I have a plan for a small video that should be fun and we need some warmer brighter weather to film. Meanwhile this picture got the juices going when I came across it in my files. Enjoy.

Shrimper Association website

The article about the trip from the Solent to the Dart and back again has been published on the Shrimper Association website and I have received several very impressed comments about the journey and the small boats that undertook it.
Now the problem is what to do next year.
Personally I fancy France and then a week or so in the Channel Islands before crossing back for the Dart Rally and then back along the coast to the Solent. Need a crew for each crossing and unlikely to attract much interest as a little too far for most I suspect.
Other options include the Scillies or Falmouth for a week or so and then Dart - Poole etc. The trouble is having to get the boat out of the water and trail her down to the start point - I'd prefer to sail but it doubles the trip duration so not likely to go down well at home????
Oh well lots to ponder......

Winter Projects

Although some sailing may be possible over the next few months it is time to look at some improvements that could be made for the next season.

Top of the list is a spray hood but that will have to be made for me.

Next is a folding seat (Richard Goldsmith proudly demonstrates his at any opportunity and it is very comfortable).

At a more basic and DIY level I want to make a grating or similar for the floor of the cockpit and a similar fitting for the area over the fuel tank. This would mean the rear seating area would be level and much more useful than it is now.

Another woodwork project would be to make up a seat/table that would fit over the engine cover. The slope on this is quite annoying and a surface that was strong enough to stand on but with cut outs for pens, cups, beer cans etc. would be much more useful.

So a busy winter ahead - but need to get down to the boat with a tape measure first before I can get started.

Meanwhile - to remind me of the summer

Is winter here?

Afraid so. Went down to Chichester on Friday to attend a Drascombe end of season dinner organised by Richard Goldsmith which was well attended. Strange to see people in a different environment, without sailing clothes and life jackets on . The ladies had skirts on and some of the men even had a collar and tie - very formal for Drascombers.

I spent the night on Daislebee,which meant I could have a few beers - whether this contributed to the feeling of warm well being I don't know, but my fears about shivering away in the cabin where quite unfounded. I had a very comfortable night and enjoyed the shower facilities at the marina before adjourning to Tesco for breakfast.

There was no wind, it was grey and overcast and England had promised to storm the Samoans later that afternoon so plans to go sailing were cancelled and I cleared the boat out of cushions, food and electrical kit and set off for home by about lunchtime. (Getting home early also earned me some bonus brownie points.....)