Feeding The Soul

Friday was supposed to be d-day for completion of our new engine refit, supposed to be that is. As anyone knows who has a boat, when others are involved other than yourself, deadlines end up being flexible!

So no surprise not finished........frustration all round. There are on the finishing stretch but it can't come soon enough for us as we are itching to start our season.

So instead yesterday we took the offer on a gorgeous sunny day for the offer off a swail with my in-laws on Mairdon, their beautifully refitted Sadler 32.
Excited.com was an understatement.

We headed out early and das captain dropped me off at the marina whilst he zipped across to the yard to inspect progress on RedSnapper and apply another coat of varnish to the toe rail.

Mairadon has undergone some work in the winter, some of you remember last year when bought was a wreck....remember vision vison vision and after an eight week refit was transformed. Well more has been done, the galley has had a lot of work done, new work surfaces, enlarged sink and wood lovingly restored. It looks stunning.

The major work on the outside has been the cockpit where all the old rotten teak has been removed and Tec-deck applied...again another fabulous transformation. You just wouldn't recognise her now from the delpidated state in which she was bought.




We set off just after midday when das captain returned from his varnishing extravaganza. The sun was shining although a slight chill in the air. This was her first maiden swail this year, so it was nice to get those sails out and working.

There weren't many bots out and we were also struck as to how quiet the marina was. We had a lovely day zipping around, a late lunch was had out at Cawsands where on the way back we saw this 50ft beauty out for a spin in preparation for the start of the Ostar transatlantic race on Monday.




Windswept and face burnt....note to self to remember the sun cream next time! I could kick myself for that, we returned to the marina with beaming smiles after a good run out.

I know what I am missing even more now, you just can't beat time out on the water, it takes your worries away, feeds the soul and puts everything in perspective. A great time for personal rejuvenation. Weekends just aren't the same after a hard slog in the week.

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Nearly There!

It's in and it's lined up nicely. At long last progress is being made on the new bot engine. Smaller in size than the old one although just as powerful, it looks nice and snug in its new home.

The marine engineers reckon the remainder of the work will be done by the end of the week, which is good news as I don't like this being out of the water malarky.

Das captain is v pleased with work done and even more pleased with the array of new gizzmondos / dashboards that accompany it!

So with a fair wind we are on track to launch for the beginning of June and begin some swailing.

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Nemo Has Arrived On The Reef

At long last they are here and come as a pair. When I came back at lunchtime today a pair of Nemo's had arrived.

They are gorgeous and have settled in quite nicely. Always best to get a pair, currently asexual, over the coming days they'll determine who is male and who is female.

This one is riding the Exeter Gulf Stream next to one of the latest corals....a brain coral, weird looking thing but the most stunning colour of green in the light.

So all good on the reef front and on das bot front, the engine has finally come out and the new one starts to be fitted this week...Hurrah!

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Sad Swailing News

Sailing brings highs and lows and today is no exception. Post Olympics many sailors hopped across the pond and joined up with the Americas Cup.

I still have many fond memories of them over here in Plymouth letting rip in their lean mean swailing machines.




These are now upgraded to double their size and today Andrew Simpson lost his life following a capsize for Artemis Racing. There have been lots of doubts over their capabilities, even the mighty Oracle were shaken in their recent capsize.

It's a sad sad day, the loss of the most brilliant British sailor to the elements. RIP


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It's Pimms O,Clock!

Gorgeous, gorgeous weekend weather wise and as I am heading to London for a few days it looks set to contine there.

Sunshine means one thing and that is bring out for the Pimm's for the first time this year. Not only the long tall moorish drink but I treated the parents to a pudd following our seafood platter last night.

Yep I made Pimm's & strawberry jellies. Dead easy to make, Pimm's ,lemonade, gelatine and strawberries, mix to desolve and then leave to chill and set. End result just lush and brings a whole new meaning to Pimm's O'clock!

On the bot front it's old engine lift out day, crane permitting. So with a fair wind, work at long last can progress. The tiller and outboard bracket are currently gracing our living room floor set for varnishing this week whilst the galley slave is away.

The parents were treated to the reef light show last night plus the latest addition......we have our first coral, it was pretty fab to,watch it come to life last night as it was put in its new home. Lord only knows what I will come back to after my jaunt away!


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Patience

I feel like breaking out into the Take That song........

The marine engineer has returned after his international leg incident with a rudder but now the crane is out of operation, so work has ground to a halt on removing the old bot engine and fitting the new one! We have no luck whatsoever! All should be back on track on Tuesday but it's a tad frustrating all round really. I am missing our time out on the water.

On the Exeter barrier reef project all is well, more fish will be added this weekend and the arrival of my parents for a fleeting visit on Monday will officially open this new local visitors attraction! Still no Nemo but das captain assures me it won't be long now!

Off to the big smoke next week, a few welcomed days off, so I am heading off for some girly time, can't wait.

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