Our Northern Mötley Crew

The sun is shining and all is well aboard RedSnapper.

After a very very long car journey yesterday we are joined by Aunty Kath & Colin for the weekend prior to their big sail tomorrow might across to France on the ferry.

The marina is packed, as Rally Portugal heads out tomorrow from here so the flags and bunting are flying everywhere.

It's a slow start this for everyone aboard here after a late night catching up last night. Just getting ship shape and then we are off for a swail!









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Finding An Old Friend

The sun came out just in time for the start gun in the Jester Challenge Race.
It bucketed down all morning, turn just after 11 the heavens opened to sunshine.

We pooled out to see them off, no wind and a mega contrast to yesterday but at least it was in the right direction...easterly.

Huge admiration for them all, not all 70 plus made it to the start line but it wasnt a bad show with lots of additional flotilla like us sending them off.
Safe passage to all.





We came back in with sea fog rolling in behind us and came across a pleasant surprise on the run into the marina. Steve and his dads old boat. We first saw it when we came down to Plymouth, moored at Saltash and looking very sorry for herself. Well she too has been given a new lease of life and is now moored here at the marina.

Post berthing and a late lunch we went over to have a look. Lots of the additions that they had put on were still there an she sat very proud in her berth all ready to go. We saw her out on the water a few weeks back with both sails up, heeled over, having a blast and wondered if she had a new owner as looked loved again...now we know. Funny old world.













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The Darn Autopilot

Winds were a gusting yesterday touching 38 knots at the breakwater and white horses just out of the marina so it was no go on the swailing front.

We pitched up to help out on Mairadon and there really has been big steps this week. The new hatches are on and the windows spanking, new guard wires have been fitted and she is beginning to look ship shape.

The engine goes back in this week and the work on the rigging for the boom will start.

When we arrived the boys were talking whisker or telescopic poles! No wonder work is slow as all they do is talk talk talk! Not sure what if any option has been chosen as its not essential what is is sorting out the autopilot that just wouldn't work.

Whilst they pontificated next steps I got the polish out and scrubbed and polished the top and all the metalwork. Despite all her neglect this tlc is not taking much in bringing her back to life and the removal of grime has left her sparkling once again.

After doing all the suggested testing by Raymarine, the autopilot is still not working, there was many a scratched head and sigh of frustration from the boys most of the afternoon. The ram works as we tried it on our boat last night, so think they just have a duff one. Back it will go and then start all over again refitting the new one.

Eventually the wind dropped last night and we enjoyed supper back aboard RedSnapper on deck in the sunshine.

The Jester boat was making last minute passage jobs and this morning like me up bright and breezy and have been hoisting their sail up and down for Blighty.

It's cloudy and drizzly here today but warm, the fleet sets off at lunchtime on their transatlantic adventure. Here is to a safe passage for all of them.










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Jester

The sun may be shining but the wind is blowing a hooley here today.

After being becalmed in Exeter yesterday and both of us hot and bothered we zipped down the dual carriageway way last night and chilled out and cooled down over supper.

Not sure we,ll be swailing today as it won't be pleasant. The marina had boats in gearing up for the Jester Azores Challenge 2012.

There are 72 entries in all but am sure not all will make the start line.

The race as described on their website is run on a gentlemanly basis with the following guidelines :

You must be a sailing vessel between 20-30ft and human power is the only acceptable alternative propulsion to that of the wind:rowing or club hauling for instance are permissible.

It's also a single handed race with stops allowed and no time limit. The race was born out of size restrictions to the single handed transatlantic race and the original Jester a 25ft folkboat is steeped in nautical miles and history.

Funny looking thing and there is a replica one just berthed up from us that is taking part in the race.
Let's hope the hooley drops for their departure on Sunday.

On Operation Mairadon, the new hatches are in and windows replaced.....yeah she is watertight just need to sort out that darn autopilot now!









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Location:Mayflower Marina

Ray Of Sunshine

A lovely way to end my day off. I picked up ELG up from school all hot and bothered from an afternoon being an Olympian! The best bit, she had held the Olympic torch as one if the teachers had been a runner this week when it had come to Exeter. So not only had she seen the relay but held the torch all in one week.....one cool banana!

Quick dash home to change and shower as boy was it hot and then off we pootled to town to do some shopping. We love shopping together and yesterday was no exception, we blitzed many shops in just the hour before they closed and ELG was delighted with her new bling bag!

Supper was outside and the chance to girly gossip something else we do well , whilst post supper with tummys full up we sat on cathedral green and watched the world go by. Big concert last night so there were all walks of life wending their way about. After a fab debate on car speed (!) and why do they make cars that go over the speed limit it was home time and a quick rendition from The Billionaires Son.

Just love an evening like that, a whirlwind but full of fun.














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Location:Exeter

Pampering On A School Day

The sun is shining brightly and I am having a me me me me day.

Sat in the hairdressers as I write this being transformed as the wild woman of Borneo look was back with a vengeance! Not pleasant to say the least and the new addition of bilge paint that wouldn't come out from last weekend wasn't helping with the wild look either.

It's all go! Amazing what a bit of pampering can do to the soul an I am not finished yet!

Rounding off my day in the most perfect way, I am picking up my gorgeous neice from work and we are having a girls night out!

Shopping, dinner out and girly gossip....looking forward to it.
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Nautical But Nice.......All Things Rhubarb

I love this time of year for lots of things but on the foraging front I just love it for all things rhubarb. It's time to get the witches cauldrons out again after a short spell in hibernation.

I spent last night post work chewing the cud on a friends allotment, plotting this seasons delights in the jam and chutney department as the fruit and veg is coming long now at a rate of knots!

We picked our first rhubarb and there is tons more to come and last night prepped some to steep for jam making tonight. The remainder will be thrown into another pot for a new recipe spiced fig and rhubarb chutney recipe that I have found, plus enough let over to get the first rhubarb liqueur mix on the go! Love it....so therapeutic and the end result ain't too bad either.





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