Job List Progress

 Last weekend saw several jobs progress including a windlass cover, genoa repair, continued work on the electrical system and fitting the outboard bracket in the head. I went out for a quick motor round to charge the batteries and check things over but had a problem. Smoke and a weird noise starting emanating from the engine bay. I stopped the engine and sailed back on to my mooring. The positive cable from the domestic battery fell on to the prop shaft and was arcing over. Very easy to fix and no great drama but a bit alarming at the time.

First trip out of the river

The weekend before last was my first trip out of the river Medway in Louisa. We set off on the morning tide and made it out to Shimmering Sands Towers before the tide changed. The wind gradually increased to F5 from the South West and by the time I was passing the Kentish Flats windfarm the wind speed was F7. I put a reef in whilst hove to and all worked well despite it being a bit bouncy. I then sailed up to the Ham Gat buoy before putting the engine on. Motor sailing against the wind into the Swale from the east was a bit tricky but she made it in OK and we were anchored by mid afternoon.

We picked a calm spot in the lee of the Conyer Penisular and had a good rest overnight. The next morning we set off back the way we had come and with a SW F4 made it back to the Medway for early afternoon. As I was passing the gas terminal in the Medway I spotted another club boat entering the Medway. She gradually caught me and by the time we were entering Gillingham Reach we were alongside each other having a great to and fro sail back to the moorings. 

A great first proper sail and hopefully a sign of things to come.  

 

Anti foul (on the cheap)

Total cost, a cup of tea and water! A friend of mine gave me an almost full tin of antifoul paint and another friend helped me clean the hull and apply the paint. I used the clubs scrubbing dock and after a hard days work in the sun Louisa now has a Vision-On style hull.

We finished the antifoul off with the dregs of an old tin I had. It would have cost more if I had more than one tea bag!

Also managed to fit the self steering and change over the anchor chain + some other minor jobs. The self steering is a Mk 2 Sea Feather and  despite not having any instructions it went together reasonably easily.

Hopefully the lock down will be over soon and I can go sailing properly.

Job List Progress

A good day of progress, multiple items off the short term list including;

• electrical distribution
• voltage sensing relay
• windlass service
• sampson post install
• jib sheet winch cam locks serviced and re-installed

And gave my mate a tow back on to his mooring after he had his engine lifted in at a local boat yard.

Next on the list are some medium term job like fit the self steering and hull scrub and wash.

First Post Lockdown Sail

What a fabulous day, steady F4 easterly and warm dry weather. The weather has been the best sailing conditions I can remember for April and May and this was the first time I made it out for a sail. Only made it to Stangate Creek and back, it was wonderful. I ache all over but it feels OK.

Lock down visit

My first visit for months since the virus started to get a grip and no real problems. Someone had kindly checked the moorings and added a bow line and someone else had secured the sprayhood. Inside there was a bit of mildew but nothing significant. The engine started first do, oil was good, batteries fine, no water in the bilge so all good. I spent the day checking things over - 50m of 8mm anchor chain quite rusty, electrical distribution moves forward, slowly. I need to find a better way of holding tools in place while I work on the other side of a bulkhead. Anchor windlass needs servicing, I might be able to take it off and do this at home. Hopefully I'll get to visit again next weekend and go for a sail. Everyone at the club was doing their bit to respect the social distancing guidelines and personal hygiene measures.

Well that's torn it

Plans for 2020 are obviously on hold with the COVID-19 virus pandemic. The club is closed and with travel restrictions and social distancing there is no opportunity to visit Louisa. When I was last at the boat about three weeks ago I made a start on the primary electrical system. The boat is in a mess and wasn't left in a state suitable for a long absence. The mooring lines weren't properly doubled up and not everything was stowed properly. Apparently the river is very quiet and so hopefully the boat will be safe.

How long this goes on for no one knows; three months, six months or longer. Unless I post about some of the boat projects I am doing at home this blog will be sparse..

Something to look forward to.  The Jester Challenge next year is planned to be a dual Baltimore and Azores event in 2021. I wonder if I'll have enough money left to take part?