At Last

Finally rigged the mizzen sheets and set up the topping lifts on both masts and so off to sea.

It was somewhat lumpier than I had been expecting after a long run of Northerly winds and the gaffs were a bit unruly as they were hoisted. The power winches worked well though the main peak halliard was a bit too long and didn't flatten the mainsail as much as it should.

But she actually sailed, not too fast but definite progress under sail.

It became clear that she needs the big headsail as the weather helm was taking any speed off the boat, which was a pity as I hadn't rigged the foremost stay. Thats all completed now and all we need is for the rain and gales to go away and we will have the rest of the year to go somewhere.

Some discussion about where to go for the summer cruise. I favour South she favours North. So no doubt we will split the difference - and go North. Must admit I would like to anchor at Holy island again.

Slow Progress

Afraid work has taken rather too much time to progress Olive for some time.Made some headway with electrics and installed a couple of extra lights so now its easy to read in the bunks.

Olive is out of the water at the moment and we intend to get the hull polished and antifouled next week. We did try to get someone to do the antifouling for us to save time but the estimate was £900 which was a bit too much for us - so its brushes and rollers to the fore.

Something of a performance having the old girl lifted, The boat lift has one fixed cross member and one moving cross member. Normally with a sloop you drop the backstay and reverse into the dock. But with Olive being a ketch that wasn't going to work so some debate about removing forestays and going in ahead. After measuring and a bit of head scratching the tabernacle was judged substantial enough and we went in ahead - with no problems. Getting out astern may be another story, but we shall see.

Some days things just don't work out

In amongst all the work we have had the occasional trip out just to keep our hands in.

Sadly the last trip wasn't an outstanding success, as the picture shows. We set off in a roughly northerly direction and about 4 miles NE of the Tyne, the engine failed. There was a strong off shore wind and we were drifting in the general direction of Holland, and towards the main channel into the Tyne.

I'm no diesel engineer and the brute didn't seem inclined to re-start so I called Humber Coastguard, who in turn called Cullercoats Lifeboat.

Its all been said about the RNLI and the Cullercoats guys were top notch and hence the photograph thanks to tyneships.co.uk, and of course many thanks to RNLI Cullercoats.

On the refit front the electric winches are all installed and working and make life much easier. I used the ones on the mizzen mast to enable me to fit the radar scanner. So now we are fully equipped with radar, which on first sight seems a very capable little set - a JRC 1500.

Next on the to do list is the stern cabin and we are waiting for the estimate from ABC for the changes and that more or less completes the job.

And then we can go sailing!

Work Continues

Despite the rotten weather the work has continued to get Olive fully fitted out.
The bow thruster is now fully wired up and working.
The Helmsmans seat is in place. The winches to operate the gaffs are all built up and ready to bolt to the tabernacle.

Once the winches are done I can fit the radar and another battery or two and we're there.

We even found time for a little trip out to sea. The weather was nasty, lots of rain but in a nice warm wheelhouse you don't really care about the rain.

Oh the smugness of a motor-sailor.

Also went to Sunderland airshow at the end of July - anchored up in about 10 metres of water. The Danforth anchor held absolutely solid, which is good. What is less good is pulling about 40 metres of 10mm chain and a 60lb anchor up with a manual windlass - hard work.

So I think we need to budget for an electric model for next year.

It never ends with a boat - always something to spend money on.

http://www.smallboatclub.org.uk/

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Starting to come together

Now we have the boat at home in Royal Quays I can start to make some progress in the installation and upgrades.

I have fitted 2 new batteries to replace the ones we lost. I will be fitting another 2 later when we have finished the rest of the electrical work. The Shorepower installation is to shift to make room for the conversion of the stern cabin and at the same time I am going to install a split charging system and a charge controller.

I have installed the new fresh water system using flexible tanks under the floors. I had some problems with the piping. I bought 38 mm pipe from 2 different suppiers. One supplier's pipe was too big for the fittings, the other supplier's was too small.
So had leak problems.

After the horrible foggy trip from Amble I have bought a JRC 1500 radar so that will be to fit soon as well. Its going on the mizzen mast and the control box will sit above the helm position.

Lots of other stuff to do including fitting the helmsman's seat but things are coming together.