Gps chart plotter

Yea for the new garmin chart plotter adorning the helm - even if it is on a temporary bracket !

The trireme sail

Spending help from Jonathan and Rob at JKA for their help with the massive genoa, known as the trireme sail, once again adorning our forestay. 

<<note to self>> Must get their web site on our links when access to a full version of blogger allows

Warm front passes,

After literally weeks of high pressure, a low has broken into the cycle and the warm front prophesied by the surface pressure charts blew through in the early hours. 

Of course it all sounds much worse at night, and the wind didn't make F5, but there was much rocking, some rain through the port lights and the extra rigging that a ketch carries caused some extra moaning, so it sounded like a real storm at sea.

Now out to check round for any real damage...

Another visitor

This cheeky chap came to visit us. Watch out for the funny walk right at the end.

Another sketch of pwllheli harbour

Firmhelm office & yard to the left, the old harbour master's office + tender store to right

Fresh bread this morning!

Made some fresh bread this morning using this recipe which I have adapted from John Vigor's books (ackowledgements):

Mix 3 cups of self raising flour with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 2 teaspoons of sugar

Add a small bottle of beer - supermarket 'belgian' type lager sold in stubbies will do

Pour the mixture in to a greased bread tin

Cook in the oven until its done

On a comparative scale , delicious!

Our neighbour upstream

A lovely boat on the next pair of piles upstream from us. It's not clear whether they have brought this boat from the Isle of Wight or the owner is just commenting on two of their female acquaintances...

Pwllheli harbour

The cluster of buildings and slipways along the south side give the harbour it's character as a working harbour. The rnli is on the right. 

Electrical work

I've just been doing some electrical work for Annabella, on the bench at home, which involved soldering on connections for some not particulalry small components. Is it me, or in the past 25 years have the connexions got smaller- and rather more fuzzy?

New neighbours on the pilings

Rebellion

Welcome to our new neighbours, a spanking new UFO34 called 'Rebellion'. (Thanks to Barney for his photo)
I think we're going to get along...

The refurb goes on....

 Work to update the interior goes on. 

Prototype locker front

The orignal locker fronts are now too frail to hold the screws of the hinges. We have tried out a new replacement, using the original profiled foam but new fabric, expertly applied by Lynn. Result - success and four   three more to do.

  

We have also added some coir matting to both the forepeak and aft cabin sole. Good looking and feels great under foot!

Coir matting to the fore peak + aft cabin sole

Dolphin encounter

We've encountered dolphins quite regularly off the Lleyn peninsula, or rather they've come and found us. This must have be one of the most exciting episodes, partly because it took place in such clear conditions but also how close they came and their sheer exuberance.

Sorry about the rickety quality of the video, I wasn't really expecting to take it !

Porthmadog to Pwllheli

We thought the excitement of the day would be a bit of nervy manoeuvre in the harbour, to turn around and face out to sea. The conditions were beautiful, even if we were still deprived on wind...

Clive - enjoying the bright conditions

You can see from the photo that even the wind generator has stopped rotating !

Trip to Porthmadog

Beautiful sailing in the afternoon from Pwllheli.
Unfortunately there were very light airs, so not much sailing as such, but we did get out the mizzen out to see how that worked.

Although its only about 7nm between fairway buoys, there is quite a long buoyed channel leading into the harbour at Porthmadog. For fin keel boats like ours it can be very dangerous to stray out of the channel!

The scenery is stunning - especially on a sunny day like that - and there is always a warm welcome and a cold beer at the yacht club.

The fairway buoy for Porthmadog

             

About midway along the buoyed channel

Crew Notice : Porth Madog

Weather for the weekend is looking good. 
Who's on for a trip to Porth Madog?