Why change your impeller every year

Simple...

Thanks to Stuart, the king of diesel engineers, for doing it properly.

The view from my office window last weekend...

Cold with a relentless north westerly blowing, driving the sea over the breakwater.

We work to get Annebella ready for another season

Kirkcudbright - a run ashore

I feel sorry for Friday. 
Thursday was the hottest day in Kirkcudbright since 1893.
Friday was the hottest day since Thursday.

Kirkcudbright is a fine Scottish town with a strong tradition of the visual art and particularly painting, for which the artists colony was well known. Perfect to explore with our old art school chum.
Also turns out to have a number of very well appointed hostelries.

The kit bag scene again - how to manage the manifest

Well, this cruise took about 4 months to plan, and list up on list upon list.

We finally hit on a way of managing the last crucial stage of stockpiling and loading up all the stuff we'll need - and there is a surprising amount even for a short trip.

 Now it's all written on the inside of the door with dry wipe marker.
It is literally impossible to walk by and hasn't failed us so far.

Inside the Skerries lagoon

The Skerries lagoon is a special place - a haven from heavy weather and an oasis for seals, seabirds and the scientists that study them. Its a famously intimidating place to get into...

unless you happen to have the expert guidance of CM to help you, of course.
So many thanks for literally taking our sailing to a special place.

Our new teak and holly cabin sole - tragedy and comedy in 8 Acts

A few months ago, at the end of last season, I gave up a sailable day to visit my friend's new acquisition. I will admit that I was a little cheesed off, as good weather was scarce at that end of the season, but I had gone in exactly the wrong direction and found myself sitting on a boat which was slightly larger than Annabella, slightly newer, perhaps slightly posher. Unfortunately in all other respects, it failed inspire myself at least - in much the same way that the Austin Allegro would not have been a classic car if had been the only car ever built. If there was only one way in which she outshone 'Bella, it was  heshiney stripey teak and holly floor. As I drove home, through the glens and the fens, through the high mountain passes, jungles and the arid wastelands, I though one thing, "...gonna get me some of that stripey flooring"
*
Well, it turns out there is only one source of supply in the UK (and also France - i did check) and that stripey flooring is breathtakingly expensive. The eye watering cost is also my fault in some small part, having got my head round making a major investment, I decided to go for the real thing rather than the laminate, and for a reasonable thickness - in this case 13mm - a decision which would pay off in spades rather later in the process . It was also readily apparent that measuring it right would take on the kind of importance only dimly hinted at by the words "fucking crucial".
*
So started a period of literally 2 months of measuring, templating, fitting and measuring again. Happily this also coincided with the input and support from the guys at ChopShop - who specialise in CNC machining and, now also councilling.
*
( Act 1 ) The first template was made using Proplex, which is a double skin board product, rather like corrugated cardboard, available from builders merchants and often used in construction for protecting floor finishes etc. It  has the advantages of being cheap and dimensionally stable in cold and moist atmospheres. It can also be cut easily with scissors, possibly rather in the same way one can trim wall paper into an awkward corner. Happily, no photographs of this remain. Although the surface of the material is black it can be marked up in pencil and a comprehensive set of measurements were taken.
*
( Act 2 ) Back at base the problem was how to transfer to something meaningful. Luckily, I have access to computer aided design (CAD) software and a large format printer. The methodology was to start a CAD drawing with a large area of 10 x 10 mm grid. the measurements of the Proplex template were carefully measured off  and those hand annotations incorporated.
What are the chances of that coming out perfect first time - well greater than that for a start. It kind of nearly worked so with a bit of pulling pushing we had a paper template. Actually we had two, because the width of the cabin sole exceeded the width of the printer, but no problem. We stuck them down, cut them up, marked them up and had us a new template.

The paper template is measured off around the table base.
- human feet shown for scale 

(Act  3 ) Back again to base with what I hoped were better measurements, and to adjust our drawing. At least one thing had became obvious - it would be better to lift the table bases and fix them through the new cabin sole. After updating the drawing I was able to email it to ChopShop who used it to produced the first of our "proper" templates from 5 mm mdf , using a computer controlled flat bed router / cutter big enough to take a 8 x 4' sheet. The mdf sheet  was cheap and easy to modify, but would be dimensionally stable in the humidity on board and resist mechanical stretching.

mdf template version 1 - in place

...and marked up 

I admit to hoping that this would be a good fit  first time, but the mark up shows the problems, principally from the distortion of the paper template by moisture and stretching both on board and in the printing process. Once again good sense from Chop Shop prevailed, as they insisted on another template rather than go for the final cut .
*
(Act 4)  So I had to alter the drawing and sit on my hands - the guys were pushed out with work so I missed out one weekend and so had to wait two weeks for the next version of the template to be produced.

mdf template  - version 2 

When I did, it was very nearly perfect.
*
(Act 5 ) In fact I made one very minor change and we were set for the final cut, and we ordered up the real material, which was couriered diagonally across the country surprisingly quickly. Careful to the last, the guys called me up just to check - "stripey side up ?"
*
(Act 6) Back now in my possession, feeling pretty confident and looking pretty good. This really is pretty good material (hence the price) but once it goes down I'm not expecting it up again.
Hence at least two coats of marine varnish to all sides and especially edges

It takes up the kitchen

For each coat, this took up most of the kitchen for most of the day, but fortunately it was over quickly - and the memory has faded.
*
(Act 7 ) Now we were ready to go:

.

At this stage it became clear what a good decision it was to spend extra on thicker material. I'm sure that thiner material would not have survived the long trip to boat yard as well or being manhandled the last 10 feet.

Mercifully, it dropped into place exactly an first time. Its held down by the table bases and is stiff enough - because of that thickness  - to have not moved at all. The gap at the edge, which accommodated the fillet radius of the GRP part, is filled with silicone sealant. This isn't as strong or as sticky as Sikaflex - but I was very wary of creating a hard spot in the moulding and at least at first
wanted to follow any differential movement, not that it turned out that there was any.
*
(Act 8) Finished !

It's great under foot - especially bare feet - and has really lifted the look of the saloon.
Having the digital resources to make accurate templates was key to achieving a good looking result. Much credit also goes to the guys at Chop Shop  ( http://chopshopcnc.com/ ) for there insight,input, skill, coming in early and working on a Saturday. You should definitely talk to them if you are doing a project like this.

De-gloving Incident !

I heard alarming news when I ran into one of my sailing buddies the other day!

Their partner had had a nasty de-gloving accident on their boat at the end of last season, when load suddenly came onto a rope wound around their hand. A painful accident that resulted in a lot of subsequent medical treatment, not a small amount of which was surgical.

Unfortunate and distressing - I don't know the details, but in any case would be hard to be judgemental, but two things jump out :

Firstly - wear gloves at any opportunity, but absolutely always when dealing with mooring or anchoring. We try to do this on Annabella, but  it's always when the action starts to hot up that one is tempted to take short cut and give the gloves a miss. We have tried to overcome this by having a lot of rigger style work gloves in the cockpit pockets and lockers. At less than £2 each its not expensive. So far so good.

What if we had that accident at sea ? If there was any luck in the original incident it was that it happened on the pontoon, so medical attention was very prompt.However, you wouldn't have to be very far out to sea for attention to be two, three or four hours away. And off shore !

We will find out what the first aid would be + update the post as soon as we can !

What to do on those long winter evenings...

Can't seem to stop doing boat stuff...

New canvas cover for the wheel

...that should keep the birds off !

.That's what I call a Christmas stocking

Look what Santa brought!

Some books here to get into

New log book on the way:

So - we used up all the store bought log book, so I made us a new one. You can have a look at it here:

http://www.blurb.co.uk/books/8120511-sailing-yacht-annabella-log-book

They are exceptional value if you happen to have a sailing yacht called Annabella - or if you just want to follow our adventures!

Success with bread !

Following on from the mixed success on our recent passage from the Isles of Scilly, I think we have fnally cracked the beer bread recipe and produced a loaf not only worth eating, but actually quite nice!

Instructions are:
Preheat oven - our's is a "Nelson" which was set to mid heat which is  6 on the dial, but I don't  know if this relates to gas mark at all. Move shelf to lowest position.
Oil a small bread tin and prepare a small piece of cooking foil.
Mix 1+1/2 mugs of self raising flour with 1 desert spoon sugar and 1/2 spoon of salt in a jug or bowl.
Add a "stubby" (small bottle) of cheap lager and mix thoroughly then pour into tin.
Put tin into warmed over, when it starts ot rise cover with the foil.
We cooked it for 90 minutes then tuned of the over, tipped it out of the tin and put in for another 45 minutes
Timing is the key thing and this works for us but is the subject of experiment.
Cut and guzle with butter and jam, whilst still warm !

10 and 11 July - Postscriptum

After most of the crew took to the road, other Dave helped me take the boat back to her mooring.
We hailed the club launch on VHF channel 37, and they took other Dave off - now he was going his way too.
Katie, the launch driver asked me if I was coming ashore, I said, "No, not quite yet, I'm going to tidy up and straighten out a few things. I'll see you in the bar later."
Well, mid-morning on next day I was woken by someone gently tapping on the portlight with a boat hook. Katie again, " You weren't in the bar last night and thought we'd better check on you..." I'd slept the clock round, but felt happy and secure that the launch crew had been watching over me after all.

There is a a tremendous feeling of satisfaction in skippering a successful passage, even if it is only
600nm. Annabella may not be a big boat, but she went there and came back in the same number of pieces with which she set out and a happy crew.
**
Whose coming next, wherever we're going ?

Sailing is replete with metaphors, but this one will remain with me for a long time. As we came on to the north-south pontoon a seal (small dark spot - middle of the picture) appeared and cruised round, taking an inquisitive interest in everything. I asked someone if they came up to the marina a lot, "...never seen it before." they replied.

10 July - Landfall

Hoorah ! We're back in our home port, 

The boats cam back ok and so did the crew - they're safe and sound and still talking to each other !

What a crew and what a passage !
**
Wihtin a few minutes of this photo we all go went our separate ways,
By night fall were hundreds of miles apart.
Will we meet again ? Watch out for part 2 ?

Day 8 - On passage again

After two great days in St Mary's and a farewell trip to the fuel berth, we're back to sea, heading north. The weather continues to be fair, the sea flat and the winds light - so there is lost of motoring.  

We were quickly rejoined by the dolphins, who seem to come with us everywhere !

Day 6 - Isles of Scilly

Even on a school day, moorings are in short supply at St Marys, and we probably got the last one free when we arrived just after 060 BST - even if it was for "a larger" boat. About half an hour later, a "larger" boat did turn up, on passage from France. They did a loop rather dejectedly and then we invited them to raft on to our mooring, Very competant sailors but rather less talkative than most of French yachtsmen that we have encountered previously.

More morrings.

The only really bad thnig that went wrong was not bringing an outboard for the tender, so having to rely largely on the launch service to and from the quayside was a bit of a constraint.
*
Ashore, St Mary's is lovely, the weather is always fantastic, the locals friendly and all gods and services easily affordable.
*
There is fuel on the quayside, a small supermarket and laundret withn walking distance and a good chandley not far away - although sadly short of rib tickling anecdotes about Port Elizabeth yacht club,
*
Rat Island sail loft  is hidden round the back of the quayside. Like all properly run sail lofts it is a temple to sailing and the sailmakers are the high priests. I can't say enough in praise of their helpfulness. No really, proper.

Rat Island sail loft - a temple to sail making

An offshot from the sail loft - as though they needed one -  is Ratty's canvas shop, just off the main street in St Mary's. We bought a sailing / duffle bag of the shelf in blue and yellow but coudl have had more of less any size, configuration and colour if we had time to wait for a few hours. Great value for handmade goods made in the UK, and definately to be recommended.

Ratty's - go there and buy cnavas work!

Day 4 - Milford Haven up to North Scillies

We turned more or less dead south, heading across the Bristol Channel.

Although the weather remained fair and the winds light, the view of the sky remained hazy, depriving us of one of the great pleasures of passage making  - the great arc of the night sky.

Day 3 - St David's to Milford Haven

Day 3 St David's Head to Milford Haven 

Having passed St David's head in the night passage, we still had a long way to go to the Scillies and we were concerned about the amount of fuel we had left. What could be more natural than to steam up Milford Haven to get some more ?
On paper it looked very tricky, but in practice was much more straight forward than it looked. We were lucky to find the lock open and an easy berth awaiting us.
Equally, Windjammer Marina is the kind of old fashioned yacht chandlers that should by rights no longer exist, by which I mean nice people who know what they're talking about being helpful and selling useful stuff for reasonable prices. To say nothing of the  hilarious anecdote concerning over indulgence at Port Elizabeth Yacht Club !

Full of water, diesel, gas and fish and chips, we passed through the locks again - old hands by this time, and back out, down river to sea - leaving behind us an island of helpful cheery people in an ocean of otherness.

The skipper - still laughing about Port Elizabeth  yacht club.

The lock gates start to open

...and through we go

Day 2 - Porth Dinllaen to St David's Head

By the next morning, of course, the wind had dropped and the sun was in the sky. It was a bit sad to leave Porthdinllaen without exploring it any further, or at least visitng the excellent Ty Coch pub,  but we had miles to make, so bent our course southwards sailing and motoring across the wine dark sea.

Porthdinllaen - viewed  from our visitor' mooring, the next morning

Bardsey Island is a prominent land mark - a full stop at the end of the Lleyn peninsula - and was in our view from mid-morning until late afternoon. For so long, in fact, we thought we'd never leave it...

Bardsey Island - stayed with us for a long time.

About half way across the bay, we were joined by a school of dolphins. Over the coming days dolphins came and went but were some with us more or less all the way.

(02 July)- Day 1 - On passage and off passage

That's us ready to go and flying our new blue ensign from the Cruising Association!

The weather was perfect to set off, with a westerly  F3 and little sea state. Unfortunately, by the afternoon the wind had grown and backed to a F4 right from the south. By early evening found our selves reaching too and fro but struggling to make any headway south, as the wind built towards the top of F5. It looked like being a bumpy night at sea, but luckily we were about 3 hours from the shelter of the north side of the Llyen. By last light, which was 2200 ish,  we had picked up a buoy in Porthdinllaen, had hot dinner on, a bottle open and were relaxing in the welcome shelter of the little harbour. Many thanks to the harbour master for answering the phone mid-evening and offering us free use of any vacant mooring. It would have been nice to row ashore to the excelletn Ty Coch, but we were all too tired.

Progress Day One - HH to a welcome vistors mooring in Porthdinllaen

Visit Dun Laoghaire now !

A great visit to Dun Laoghaire over the weekend, and a warm welcome from the National Sailing Club, who hosted the club cruise from Holyhead. Thanks to SY Jibbity for inviting us to raft on.

Dun Laoghiare is a direct passage from Holyhead, has full access and is well protected.

We skipped the full session with live music - as we had to be up and around on the Sunday, but had a great meal and a couple of pints at The Lighthouse.

We'll be coming back here !