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?

Steering Compass:

We took the 'Sestrel' steering compass off in January (2013) as it was looking pretty tired. I was a bit worried that we might not be able to get it back to a reasonable standard - especially as it was sporting a large bubble in the spirit.

the condition of the steering compass in January

We sent it to down Robinsons, compass adjusters, on the Hamble. They are extremely knowldegable in repairing sailing instruments and had done some great work for us before.

after refurbishing, about to be re-fitted

Robinsons refilled the compass bowl, eliminating the bubble. They reckoned it to be in reasonable working order and should be good for a few years yet. Back home, We carefeully dismantled the gimble, re-finished all the painted parts and polished up the brass bezel.

the Sestrel, back on the binnacle

Here it is back in place. In seatrials in June, the course it gave read almost exactly the same as the GPS COG and - ironically - much more accurate than the fluxgate, which we then had to re-calibrate. It's was carefully positioned too - right in the helmsman's eye line. Its great to have it back and working!

Sea trials

<SOM> Sea trial concluded complete succes stop 
Brilliant conditions with lights airs to F4 - some rain in late afternoon stop 
Added experience now in reloading rototstay drum stop 
Photos to follow <EOM>