Foy Pronounced "Joy"

It's longer to go down by road than it is by sea but over the Tamar bridge we went by land for our lunch date.

We love Fowey, it's a lovely sail down normally and a fab way to spend a weekend. The old town is lovely with the most amazing deli and pubs with fab river and sea views.

The sleepy town is just gearing itself up for the season, with pontoons just being put out. There weren't many visiting boats there yesterday despite the good weather this wk.

We were picked up from the visiting quay and tendered out to Parson Jack, a beautiful moody that had prime spot on the right hand side of the river. She has many a story to tell after doing the Atlantic circuit and back in the last few yrs.

We spent a lovely afternoon out on deck despite the northerly wind gusting up a bit at times. Fabulous lunch and salty sea dog tales time flies in good company.

We were also visited by a lonesome dolphin, that would ride the bow of any incoming vessel into the river as a welcome to Foy. It was lovely to watch and unusual to see in the river. Just perfect.

So hols almost at an end.....well not quite. Today das captain is helping his dad bring round their boat and it's operation engine fix!

If I return from the theatre later and am greeted straightaway by das captain with an outstretched glass of vino....I shall know that's the sign to brace myself that a BIG tax on being stupid bill is heading our way aka a new engine is required. Here is hoping NOT!


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Location:Fowey

Just Delicious

Oh what do on yet another scorchio day! Lady luck is shining down on us with this weather, we can't believe our luck!

Yesterday was sorting out the car day for new front tyres whilst we were landlocked so we tried our luck @ River Cottage Canteen, Plymouth.
No epic voyage by dinghy yesterday as on strict tyre schedule so by land we went and weren't disappointed.

Whilst you can't eat outside yet, that will happen shortly the inside is amazing.
They have made the most of the old impressive building and given it a real industrial and yet rustic feel.




Light lunch of starters (ham hock terrine for das captain and crab for me), plus a glass of Hugh,s legendary elderflower bubbly thrown in for good measure. It was delicious. Service all round was fabulous too. We,ll definitely be back.









After a quick walk around the front das captain set off to change the car tyres and I made the most of the sun on deck just chilling.

I love das bot for catching up on reading, from chick flick books, swailing adventures et al. Yesterday was no exception and I was mission on with a new book. You can't bet an afternoon indulging yourself in a book that you can't put down.

I sat reading Shane Spalls book about her sailing adventures with actor husband Timothy Spall.

I,ve always watched the tv series over the iPad. Das captain is an avid fan, hence the book and I have to say I loved it. Yep I read it over the day and read the last page at 10 o'clock last night!



Fowey by road today to pick up the new headsail, well that's what we thought but the darn thing is still not ready as promised much to das captain's frustration.

We are still going down we love the place and for good measure we have a lunch date with some friends aboard their bot......swooper.


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Location:King William Yard, Plymouth

Epic Voyage!

So when you have a kaput bot engine and the sun is still shining you do the next best thing...that is pump up the dinghy pack a picnic bag and head out for the day.

That's what we did yesterday after first stocking up on essential supplies.

It was scorchio on the pontoons like a July summers day and has softened the blow of our engine woes a great deal.

Life jackets on (just in case) we wendered our way out and headed across the pass, navigating our way through the naval traffic.

We looked tiny in our little vessel compared to the high out of the water boat transfer beasts, battling the current we made it across in one piece and not waterlogged to Mount Edgecombe.

After dragging the bot the up the beach we settled for a spot at the end of the quay next to the boatyard that saw the likes of Suhaili & Gypsy Moth spend their days being fitted before heading out on their epic circumnavigations of the globe.

Chichester set sail on the 27th August 1966 from Plymouth and returned back to port after 226 days of sailing, having circumnavigated the globe with one stop.

He was the first person to do a true solo circumnavigation of the globe from west to east via the great capes, no mean feat and was knighted for that achievement and he hated the boat he was swailing, describing her as cantankerous and difficult!

The boatyard was a hive of activity mainly refurbing military pontoons, now life has changed for them.

We sat and watched the world go by, the inshore lifeboat off up The Tamar in a hurry, which we later found out was due to an elderly lady that had fallen off the bridge and sadly did not survive.

It was mad dogs and englishmen as we saw kayakers and rowers dodge the traffic in the same way we had earlier.

We made the most of the sunshine, ate our scrummy picnic over a beer and glass of chilled vino and then at low water wendered our way back after a quick scoot up the Tamar to look at some boats @ anchor.

Swooper way to spend a barmy English day in March.













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Engine Woes

So after the excitement of watching the big beast go out to sea yesterday I thought that was it......no I was wrong.

After showers, tidy and pack up we were off for the week and not coming back until Saturday when das captain has a date with his dad to bring his boat round and the girls are off to the theatre.

The sun was shining and there was a good wind, gusty in parts as we headed out under motor so a good swail for the day was in order.

Out in the sound as we were about to go under sail alone, the engine wouldn't go back into reverse, kept sticking and then wouldn't go into forward gear either.

We headed back to Jenny Cliff Bay, dropped the pick, and das captain went down to have a look. After a quick diagnosis and lots of swearing we made the painful decision to head back to port.

It wasn't painful in that it was the right thing to do, just painful as we were well and truely hacked off!

After getting her back in safely, with the throttle still sticking, the rear cabin was dismantled and the back locker unloaded onto the pontoon so full access could be had to the engine.

Das captain has diagnosed the problem but it is a hell of a job which he can't do alone. So we are port bound as a floating caravan for the rest of the week.

Hey Ho, the sun is still shining brightly and we shall use the dinghy for some epic voyages out instead.




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Location:Plymouth

Wouldn't Want To Mess With This Beast Out @ Sea!

Not a bot to be seen this morning across the Sound as it has all been closed for a few hrs to let this monster wend her way back out to sea after a multimillion pound refit.

Two years in the making in the purpose built dry dock she is now back up to full muster and will soon be stealthing her way under an ocean near you!

As this one goes out another one replaced her a few weeks back for its long awaited refit.

It's so peaceful here this morning, the sun is out again and the swell of the last few days has been replaced with a millpond.

Surrounded by three tugs and half a dozen police boats, this big beast looks quite majestic in the water as she comes round.

Crew on deck, captain in the tower, there are small crowds along the front watching her wend her way.

Not a great war fan, but there is something quite magical about subs in the water. This big beast is no exception.





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Location: Mount Edgecombe, Plymouth

Impromptu Catch Up

A lazy morning today, I was up and reading whilst das captain had his first full lie in of the hols thus far.

It was sunny from first thing and the marina a hive of activity from sending out gin palaces to divers checking the pontoons.

We couldn't quite decide what to do so opted for shopping for new boat shoes for el capitan and then a dinghy ride across to
William Yard for a spot of lunch @ the newly opened River Cottage canteen.

That's it with hols u get into the zone...sailing can wait again until tomorrow.

Bot shoes bought we made the epic journey around the breakwater to William Yard....with an audience! The lads on the pontoons eating their lunch were wondering what this pair of nutcases were doing!

The chop wasn't too bad and we managed to time it right to avoid warship traffic and of course the Cremeyll Ferry!

William Yard was the old mainstay of the Royal Navy, amazing buildings which supplied many a sailor over the years. Now abandoned its being refurbished to all its glory by urban splash. They have maintained all the grandeur of the old buildings and it really is beginning to breath some life back into the yard.

Beautiful flats and now an array of cafes and restaurants map this landscape with a perfect view all around of the sea giving a real european outdoor feel to the place.

Soooo..... after our epic dinghy ride over ...Hugh's place was closed! How inconsiderate for a monday on our hols, so we settled for another restaurant and sat outside in the scorching sun. It was like a hot summers day there today.

Lunch fab and joined by the good and the great we were about to leave when my phone went...a fab friend who had seen my post re Canteen being empty and was about in Plymouth asked were we about still so we could we meet up.

The remainder of the afternoon was spent laughing and catching up in the sunshine, over some fizz as she hits the big 40 on Sunday.

She cadged a lift back with das captain as I took the road route back to das bot with her crew that joined us.

Love impromptu afternoons like that, when you least expect it, there is nothing nicer that chewing the cud over a drink in the sunshine.

Happy 40th birthday loops for sunday xx













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Location:Royal William Yard, Plymouth

A Great Swail

We woke up to yet another gorgeous day in the Yealm and it wasn't long before we slipped the lines and were away.

We were greeted by quite a swell as we left the entrance and headed out to sea, but it was still a stunning day.

Our new headsail has been delayed by a week so we,ve put the number 3 on at the front until we pick her up. It was time to let her come out to play.

We zipped along with just her up and no mainsail....Solent sailing today said das captain as we whizzed along at 7.5 knots! It was fabulous, she went like a dream and we were back to Plymouth in no time at all.

The sound was full of racing boats on our return some faring better than others as they struggled with the strong gusts, I love seeing the display of colourful spinnakers dotted across the place.

Back at the Marina, it's all about Princess Yachts, the pontoons are awash with them. It's jam packed, we,ve never seen so many of them being commissioned to go off to their new owners.

Anyone would think that we were in a recession!




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Watching The Tide Come In

This is how we spent our day yesterday, basking in sunshine at The Ship Inn @ Noss Mayo.

After a quick dinghy ride then yomp along the road we landed at he pub.

The place was packed being a barmy spring day.

Sat outside watching the world go by including mad Englishman and their children swimming we ate lunch and consumed a pint or two of beer/cider.

We arrived after low water and left just before high.

A swooper way to spend the day.

















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Location:Noss Mayo

Out For A Swail

Having calmed down after my seagull rant yesterday we spent a leisurely morning just pootling.

We listened to the Royal Marine band up on the hill play out some tunes during the rededication service of the Captain Scott memorial. Now he was one epic explorer.

The afternoon saw us have lift off, the sun may have been out but we were wrapped up to the hilt as the breeze was bracing out on the water.

With the wind on the nose we scooted across the sound, out past the great mew stone and across to The Yealm.

I love it as you line up to Wembury church and then line up towards the markers on the hill to navigate yourself into this beautiful river entrance. The bluebells aren't out yet but it won't be long.

There are quite a few local boats in the water and after abandoning our first choice mooring for being in the shade we opted for the newly refurbished visitors pontoon as it was basked in sunshine.

You can't beat a cold beer on after your first proper swail of the season so we sat on deck watching the world go by and the sun go down in a place we just love.




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Location:River Yealm

I Will Dislike Seagulls Forever!

I love things all nautical but not these beasties!

There is nothing beautiful about them at all and at this time of yr with not many boats about in the marina they do their worst and do nothing but poop!

They haven't got to power washing this end of the pontoons yet so it is dodge poop city, vile!

We seem to have a seagull convention at the end of j pontoon and the squawking at 0600 this morning was not a pleasant wake up call!

It's dodge them city now as they swoop overhead and has brought flash backs to my ceremonial covering of poop some time back.

So my aversion to them is deep rooted in case anyone was thinking this was a temporary fad of dislike!

Bring on the gas man this morning and then we are out of here!


Otherwise it will be target practice this afternoon, I spare no apology to you seagull lovers out there!

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Location:Plymouth

All Dressed & Ready To Go

The boat always looks naked without her sails on so with the sun on our backs yesterday we set to work.

First it was the final layer of polish over the top, and now she really sparkles, then the task of putting the sails on.

First the main, it can be a pain sliding the sail bag on and threading her on but it went like a dream. Even putting in the batons went like clockwork.

We've ordered a new genoa which arrives on Friday in Fowey, so have put the number 3 sail up for now. We've never used her but she'll get a test run later today.

Das bot is now ready to go.... well almost. Testing the gas we weren't convinced we haven't got a leak using the old soapy water test.

If in doubt ring the gas man, he can't come until tomorrow morning so better to be safe than sorry.

We witnessed a gas explosion aboard a boat a few years back, not a pleasant experience, the chap ended up with full thickness burns. Another day without it is no hardship.

So it's another nice day here today now the fog has lifted, das captain is still snoozing, once awake it'll be showers and then a day zipping around the sound testing this beauty out and getting some nautical miles under our belt.




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Almost Done

We had a productive day yesterday. With the car packed again to the rafters we headed down to Plymouth for the final time.

As das captain fitted the ropes and lazy jacks I spent the afternoon polishing the top.

It was filthy and I wondered when looking at it whether it would ever come off but we have a new product called finesse-it recommended by a boat neighbour and boy it is now my new best friend.





With a bit of elbow grease it worked its magic and the whole top now looks swooper. Not a black spot or water mark left in place.

All that remains to be done is a layer of 3m polish today..yay!
We rewarded ourselves with a beer aboard before heading off for some supper at Jolly Jacks. I had some fabulous monkfish and das captain opted for the staple burger!

We,ve had a peaceful night aboard and our gearing ourselves up for a final day of labour today before getting some nautical miles under our belt tomorrow.

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Das Bot Is Launched 2012!

After a frosty start, the sun came out for das bot yesterday. We had a cracking day.

We left my parents in bed and on packed lunch duty and headed down the A38, and the boatyard.

The car was packed to the rafters with sails etc, more more journey to go tomorrow to bring the rest of the kit down.

I was put to work on the final hull polish whilst das captain began to clear up inside the boat. I made light work of it in the sunshine and some banging tunes blasting through my headphones. Doing domestic slavery @ home is never this easy!

After the captains inspection of my work to ensure I had met the required standards I was put to work inside to clean. Despite all the sanding work that had taken place over the winter she was in reasonable shape so it wasn't too arduous and was helped by the in- laws trusted Hoover!

My parents arrived and we sat on the sea wall eating lunch in the sunshine, watching the boat that was going in before us prep herself in the slings whilst waiting for the tide to rise.

That's it with boats.....sometimes you have to wait, we were ready to go but needed to wait for the Sigma to be launched. My parents said goodbye and headed back to North Devon whilst we sat and yes.....waited!

With the Sigma launched it was all systems go, final wet n dry and antifouling on the patches that were in the chocks and we were off.

The boat guys at ShoreStore are great, and as always from the tightest corner they weave their magic and lift her out, up and over the wall towards the water. I still marvel at how quickly and effortlessly they do this.

We hopped on board and with their usual final banter of good wishes for the season the boys waved us off.

It's not very far across to the marina, but I love that first put in as you motor along and see what's changed along the shoreline. I sat on the bow, sun still out with spray coming up I was in bot heaven!

We moored up not in our usual spot, that will be tomorrow, checked for leaks and then set to work power washing the top, she was filthy, but gleaming after we ad finished with her. She,ll look even better tomorrow when polished and the sails are on.

The final job of the day from these weary swailors was to put the spray hood cover on and whip off to the Barbican for fish and chips. Perfect end to a perfect day.

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Location:Mayflower Marina

Check This Beauty Out!

Glorious day here in Plymouth and the sun is shining!

Just putting the last layer of polish on and then we,ll be moving post lunch ready for launch this pm!

The inside looks stunning, bar the odd door to go on!

The top needs a power wash and polish and this beauty with her sails on will look swooper and be ready to go! Yippee!










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Happy Mothers Day Ma x

Mothers day is a celebration honouring mums, maternal bonds and most of all their influence on you in life.

Today it is celebrated on various days in most countries around the world.

Its orgins trace back to Greek and Roman times. In Thailand it falls on the Queen of Thailands birthday and in  France it origins trace back to the 1890 where the day was introduced to encourage large families due to the low birth rate.

This is my ma, where the maternal bond remains strong and she continues to influence me tremendously despite me leaving the nest yrs ago.

Love you ma and happy happy mothers day xxx

The Last Push 'Til Lift Off

It's going to be a tad hectic for the next few days....

Last minute varnish...check

Gleaming hull polish...check

Engine checks...check

Gather the mountains of bot kit...check

Boat stock up...check

Bot in the chocks...check

Soooo happy, so excited thank goodness we,ve got until high tide Monday pm and then we,ve got lift in and we,re away.

The sun is shining today so bring on the nautical miles for the next two weeks.


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Not The Best Day

Arrghhhh!

Up @ sparrowfart on fixed train schedule. Limited turn up @ event but it was quality not quantity.

Finished way earlier than scheduled, that is ok can catch up on emails and then hr round shops.

Weary.com then gets on fixed train to hear the sirens start to wail and the whole station is called to evacuate immediately.

V v weary.com is now back on train and wishing is was bedtime.


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Location:Birmingham

What A Difference!

The main cabin no longer looks topsy turvey, and almost like it has been like this all winter. Bar the middle of the table which has joined the line at home to be varnished, the interior is done....Yay!

The photos have been taken by das captains iPhone so the cushions have turned electric blue and not their usual dark navy.

So the focus this weekend before launch on Monday will be polishing the hull and preening her ready to go.

As always there are last minute snitches, one we now have a cracked toilet.......that is easy to fix, not so good is a problem with the freshwater pump for the engine, major leak..........not quite in despair, here is hoping we can get one quickly, it won't be cheap and bear the pain!










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Our Home Port

This is the ariel view of where Redsnapper is berthed........Mayflower Marina in Plymouth.  We are out on the pontoons as you look directly down.  Its a fab place to be, out of the main thrust of marina life, and opposite the public slipway so we see many a Jeremy Beadle moment much to our amusement!  We see and feel the warships and subs as they make their passage out to sea or returning from their missions, some after many months at sea. 

We have been here for four years now and love it, it has everything we need, takes only 40 mins to get there on a good day, has a fab restaurant if we need it in Jolly Jacks but most importantly we can get out in all weather. 

If we dont fancy a weekend away we can spend hrs swailing  around Plymouth Sound, drop the pick for some lunch and then off again.

The sound is also a great staging post for round the world races and the Marina this yr hosted the support boats for the America's Cup, what a fab few weekends that was.  There is always something going on, which is swooper.

As much as I loved the River Exe, we were so tide bound by the bar and weather, for one season our bot was almost redundant.  Now every friday night straight after work, from when she is launched we are down there bar weddings and funerals, it cant get better than that.

Varnish!

You can tell that launch day is getting nearer as bot things migrate home for working on and our hall and lounge begin to look like a boat jamboree!

There is a new auroma in our house its called varnish and turps and it stinks! Das captain has brought home the top step and other items for varnishing.

I have been away in Birmingham for a few days but was welcomed home with the kitchen resembling a make shift work bench. The work looks good and the interior now complete, so the work has now moved to the toe rails for this weekend.

Das captain is still in good spirits but varnish wont be on his Xmas list this yr and the end is in sight.

The launch date is booked for the 19th so we are on track and good to go.

Happy days!


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My First Ever Swail

Daffs Galore

I don't have a welsh bone in my body but these beauties which are awash in our front garden have come out in force overnight to wish everyone a Happy St David's Day!
Spring is here!








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