Relaunch, Tuesday 27th April.

Another sunny day with little wind was just right for the relaunch. On the way to Conyer the mobile rang. I half expected it to be the marina , confirming the relaunch, but it was Birgit, Ingrid's cousin in Denmark, asking to be included in the cruise from Oban. No problem! So there will be four of us through the Caledonian Canal: Paul, Mogens, Birgit and myself. Last night came an E-mail from Adam and Lucy. They plan to fly out to Belfast on 25th June and back from Islay on 30th. Not as long as I would like, but they have to earn a living!

At the marina I went into Wilkinson Sails, and was given £25 sponsorship by Andrew, in cash, up front! Very encouraging.

Pepsand was lowered into the water about half an hour before high water. Steve Walls (Moonstream) lent a hand, and it all went without a hitch. Tied up in the usual berth I set about inflating the dinghy and soon it was stowed on the foredeck in front of the mast. The stern gland received its annual grease and squeeze. A check revealed no leaks and so lunch was taken. Then a pleasant walk along the seawall with Des before returning home with the ladder. Not long to go n0w.

http://www.rnli.org.uk/

http://www.rnli.org.uk/how_to_help_us

Ready for the Water

With the brilliant spring weather continuing, the last days of preparation have been a pleasant experience. Yesterday saw Desmond and me at the boatyard early. One of the really good things about Swale Marina is the convenience of a sail loft and really good sailmakers, Wilkinson Sails. The mainsail cover had been getting rather past its use-by date, and a new version was ordered and completed within a week at a very reasonable price. We picked it up and rigged it as the first job. Next the propeller was rubbed down and given a coat of hard antifouling. Then to the engine. Refit impeller, retension the alternator belt, check the oil, and rig up a hose to provide cooling water, and very soon the sweet rumble of the Volvo MD2030 breaks the silence. (And with the commercial flying ban, it has been unusually silent in Kent recently.) Now a check round the rig: all pins in place and properly locked; stanchion retaining bolts secure; guardrail tension correct. All the while Desmond stands guard, seeing off occasional doggie visitors and snoozing under the open tailgate. After coffee comes a delicate task of filling minor scratches in the gelcoat, rubbing back and polishing. Then a careful stow in the lazarette, followed by a wash and clean and polish in the lower half of the cockpit. A bite to eat and then a fine walk with Des.

Conyer lies on the Saxon Shore Way, and there is a choice of really good walks. This time we chose to go along the west side of the creek. There were no sheep around, so Des went off the leash and had a really good, i.e. muddy time in the many ponds and shallow pools beside the sea wall. A good day, and Pepsand is ready for relaunch next week.

http://rnli.org.uk/how_to_support_us

http://rnli.org.uk

Another spring day.

The wind has dropped and so it was possible to bend on the genoa (120%). Went to Conyer early and had the sail on very quickly before the forecast wind arrived. However, the wind, when it did come, was most welcome, keeping me cool as I rolled on the antifouling paint. Not a pleasant job, but soon over. All the charts are now stowed in correct order, and there is more than enough liquid refreshment aboard to last the whole trip, ...perhaps. I had been putting it off, but today was the best time to clear the cockpit lockers, arrange their contents, and take home the unnecessary junk that accumulates there. The sterntube greaser swallowed half a tin of grease, and there is plenty left to go at during the next three months. Spare diesel cans are full and stowed along with the engine oil and antifreeze.

Yesterday at home after a goodly bout of gardening I ran the outboard, which started easily. The petrol still should be renewed, a job for tomorrow. The engine starter battery seemed low on charge, so I removed it and took it to a local electrical company to be tested. Once there, it showed good charge. Perhaps my multimeter is at fault. At least I don't have to buy a new battery this time.

The batteries are 90 A/h . The starter battery is a standard automotive item, whilst the number two battery for domestic work is a deep cycle type. We carry a spare, dual purpose battery, just in case. Shore power is provided by a Guest 15A unit, complete with residual current circuit breaker and a double gang 13 A socket. So we are well set up.

Spring Cleaning.

The fine weather continues. On Sunday my favourite grandson Richard came with me to the boatyard. We had intended to bend on the genoa, but the strong northeasterly wind precluded that. Instead we washed the interior and polished all the woodwork. Now she looks as good inside as outside. We found one or two small problems which we fixed. The air filter, having been cleaned, went back, and a small crack in the saloon table was glued and clamped. Mooring pennants and other ropes were checked and restowed. At the bottom of the locker was the outboard motor bracket, an emergency device should the main engine fail. I have not had to use it, but some years ago, on a different boat a similar bracket was most useful and got us into Levington when the fuel system developed an air leak and stopped the engine. In calm conditions the Honda 2 pushed my old Westerly Centaur "Bhanshu" along at 3kts.

Real Progress!

The long-awaited spring weather has arrived at last, and real progress is being made. The mast is stepped and everything there seems to be working. After setting up and safety-pinning the rig, the boom went on and at the same time I renewed the lazyjack lines. The mainsail was bent on. Topsides, deck, coachroof and cockpit have been cleaned and polished, the sprayhood refitted and reproofed, and dodgers lashed in place. New jackstays are now rigged, and two hardpoints fitted , one on each side of the hatch on the cockpit bulkhead.

Inside, a thorough survey of "what's in which locker" revealed some interesting doubling up, and no fewer than three spare impellers!! I seem to collect the same kind of item repeatedly. A sign of old age? Like refitting the in-line water pump back to front? (The plus side is a clean bilge.) Just before Easter an extra ten metres of anchor chain was linked on, and the chain tastefully marked at five-metre intervals with coloured cable ties. To cope with weedy bottoms a mighty Fisherman anchor has been added to the armoury. So now we have a 25lb CQR, a Danforth kedge and the Fisherman. Forty metres of 3/8" chain leading to thirty metres of Anchorplait and a fifty-metre Ankralina should suffice. For the buoys we have one inch diameter mooring pennants for clipping on, useful reminders of years spent on swinging moorings in the Medway.