I'd rather be sailing a Macwester Rowan

Two years ago I completed the Jester Challenge to Baltimore with El Capitano. We had a great time and I kept him on his toes. He now appreciates the benefits I offer; comfort, safety, standing headroom, in-board engine (now reliable), decent sails, steering stability and character. Also, he has realised that a faster boat on paper isn't necessarily faster in the open sea. Check out his attempt to complete the Jester Challenge this year HERE. 

Starboard side leak

I have had a small leak on my starboard side for a few years and now it is time to investigate the source. It appears to be at the deck / hull join amidships and with the trim of the boat on stands it is more pronounced and fills the locker base with about 1/2" each time it rains. To move this forward El Capitano will need to remove the rubbing band and this appears to be a significant task!!

A well earned rest

After 2 years afloat I am ashore and looking forward to a well earned rest. I have a lovely slot at HNYC near to power and water and on the new hard standing. I am sure I will continue to be abused by El Capitano but at least he will be focusing his efforts on Mischief. The plan is that I will be ashore until late 2020.

Why no posts?

Apart from a great club rally trip to Brightlingsea in August I have been left alone. Occasional checks to make sure I am still afloat are all I see of El Capitaino. He is busy with another boat, Azores or Bust. 

The Not Norway Trip

Summer cruise 2018 to no where appears in cruise reports. It was actually quite fun and there is always next year. So long as he remembers that I am in charge and he is only there to bug me.

Norway Trip Preparations

The final stages of getting ready and the boat is full of stuff.

this is about 1/6 of the food, clothes, water, charts, parts and books I loaded up this weekend.

And here are some of the items in the cockpit, a friend lent the fool his liferaft and I have an EPIRB so fully kitted out! I might let water in and have an aversion to heading into wind and tide but I want to get home just as much as he does.

Conyer Creek

The club rally to Benfleet was cancelled. Various reasons circulated; not enough water, behavior of the club members last year, they were busy launching. This worked out to our benefit, we went to Swale Marina in Conyer Creek instead. It was tight getting in on the high tide and at low water everyone dries out.

The sail home was excellent, after we made it back into the Medway against the tide.

See the full report in the Cruise Reports section.