Tara and I have been together now for 6 months, with a month on the water.  All the work has paid off.  I drained the keel tanks and to my surprise they were in good shape.  So I purchased more of the same central heating system fluid and filled them up again! The engine having been sat untouched for a number of years received a brief service and started first time.  The composting head seems to be satisfactory and the air-only vent is certainly keeping odours at bay.  All in all a good result, however......

I'm living aboard full time and I'm coming to the conclusion that if our relationship is to blossom into a long term thing, she's in need of some surgery!  From a sailing point of view I'm smitten, but from the domestic viewpoint not so much.

The list of faults is not long but they are significant.  

1. The most uncomfortable bunks I've ever slept in. GRP mouldings that just don't fit my shape.

2.  The galley was obviously designed by a man behind a desk who didn't cook anything more challenging than a tin of baked beans.  Preparation surfaces are pitiful, not to mention ready use storage.  The storage that is there requires physical acts of contortion that even a yogi would think twice about.

So I find myself in something of a conundrum, rip the insides out and start again or...... 

A sail down to Plymouth in the near future will perhaps allow me to ponder the question further.  Whatever happens I want to be away from UK waters next spring.

Peter

Work onboard continues apace.  The composting head is complete, and just waiting for paint to dry.  The replacement windows have started to go in and should be finished by the middle of next week and the new forward hatch is in. I then plan to tackle the topsides and antifoul (which probably means it'll rain for the next few weeks!!)  

Progress had been slower than hoped mainly due to the lack of electricity.  The boat is currently in a field slightly away from the main yard in Waldringfield.  However, I was recently blessed by the kindness of a stranger.  The man who owns the garden next to the boat very kindly offered me a free electricity hook up.  So now the power tools are in full flow and more importantly, as I'm living aboard, the vacuum cleaner can get a run out.

Interestingly enough the gent in question, Rob, told me a story about a chap in the village who some years ago built a 19' local design rigged it with a junk rig and sailed it to Dubrovnik.  Anyone remember or know of this?

Once the paintings done I'm at the mercy of the yard as to when I can get moved down to the riverside.  Once there I need to have the mast unstepped to repair some delamination around the partners before stepping and launching.... hopefully in the last week in May.

Peter

Hello Peter,

Nancy and I will be cruising the Azores this summer aboard "Tao Zou" Chinese for "Skedaddle" our K26J in which I competed in last years Jester Azores Challenge. We have left her in Priaia da Vitoria, Terceira as our home in the Azores. I finished under Rabbit's original sail, or at least the bottom four panels having blown out the top three in the four full gales incountered in route. Finishing 5th out of 10 finishers and 24 starters. Needless to say she now has a new sail which will be bent on when we arrive back the end of May. My keels still have fuel in them to keep the metal well oiled although the previous owner installed a new tank in the aft end of the starboard cockpit locker and capped the keel tanks.

Would love to get together if you get to the Azores this summer.

Glen

Peter Scandling wrote:

if Weaverbird is heading in that direction around late summer then I could be persuaded to cruise in company 

Peter Scandling wrote:

David Tyler wrote:I found Rabbit's breakwater painting when I was in Horta. Next time I'm there, I shall expect to see Tara's ;-)

The last time I was in Horta I was denied shore leave having become 'socially confused' in our previous port of call...... I hope to make it ashore next time ;-)