Wednesday 13 October 2010

Making Progress..

That's the tri-light fixed thanks to Rob, only a few jobs left then its time to empty the boat and put everything back in, in an organised fashion and finally throw away those out of date biscuits and breakfast cereal.

Rob was quite bemused as to my intentions of sleeping under the anchor with a chain that's seen better days, so it looks like I'm on the prowl for a new anchor chain if I'm planning on anchoring up on the journey, which is very likely.

I'm also going to have to invest in a couple of solar panels due to the long legs required on the journey and the amount of amps being used by the radio, lights, navigation instruments and 'toilet', or invest in more batteries, but space is limited.

So, its all going to plan, I've a few issues to resolve with 'work' then its off to clear my head..

Saturday 9 October 2010

There are some very nice people out there !!!

Finally got the toilet (heads) working today, so only the Tri light at the top of the mast to be done now, I spent another hour up the mast scratching my head as to why it wont work as the electrician unfortunately let me down today (again). But to my joy I bumped into a fellow sailor who must have taken pity on me and offered to sort it out on Wednesday in exchange for me giving him a hand anti fouling his boat, brilliant news as I was running out of options, thank you Rob.

Hopefully, weather permitting I will be setting off in the next couple of weeks for the 'Anglesey' sail to see how Zuma holds up, I cant wait !!



Not the most comfortable position
 


Wednesday 6 October 2010

The beginning - 6/10/10

Well I suppose this is where it all starts.

Hi, one of my ambitions is to sail around the coast of Great Britain. I have been fortunate enough to own a yacht for the last five years, its a sport / hobby that in my wildest dreams I never thought I would participate in.

My first sail boat was called YoYo, a Hunter 701, a great first boat for learning the basics. She was moored in Conway and after a year of learning the ropes, I decided to go for something a wee bit bigger and on an 'out of the blue' walk around Liverpool Marina I came across Zuma, a Jeanneau Fantasia 27, made an offer then fell for her in a big way.

Every opportunity I was out on the River Mersey learning how to sail, scaring the life out of myself, but eventually I became more trusting of Zuma and she of me.

My first ever Cruise / sail was over to Conway, I can remember thinking i had conquered the world when I arrived and that was the start of the bug. Since then I have done Conway 9 times, Isle of Man 3 times and spent many an hour out on the Mersey.

With the construction industry being hit by the current economic climate, my business unfortunately went into administration leaving me no option but to live the dream.

Zuma will be ready in the next month to take on the first tester sail from Liverpool to Conway to Holyhead to Caernarfon to Pwllheli and back, just to ensure that when i go for the big one in April / May, I don't do my own head in and Finley (parrot) doesn't get too sea sick.

So for the next few weeks its a matter of getting the most information about the task in hand and fixing that bloody tri light at the top of the mast, oh and the toilet. (the last crew to Conway blocked it, and it never been the same since).