Leaving Saturday

Well the time is fast approaching. Time and money are running out. If I don't leave soon I never will. Still have one or two electrical problems to sort but nothing to stop me from leaving. They'll be sorted by the end of the week anyway. Bring on the Sou'estlies!

Up the mast

Camera almost lost overboard!

The Bounty (1984) - William Bligh Highlights

Nick Cave - The Ship Song

Great sailing music

Dead calm Blyth

Things are looking up! Still on for end of May departure.

And another.

In the meantime ...

Trial run

Things just are not going my way.

Just when I thought the engine wasn't poorly any more the alternater goes on me. What a string of bad luck. After the cylinder head was put back on I discovered I had a water blockage in the fresh water internal cooling system. That was soon put right and then today I took her out and motored out into Blyth Bay and put the engine through it's paces. Bit difficult to start from cold this morning but no problem from warm. She's getting better on cold starting. Then I realised the batteries weren't charging up indicating an alternater problem and after testing it - that was the case. So frustrating!!! Taking alternater to be tested tomorrow. Still hoping to leave end of May.

Mark Twain wisdom?

Twenty years from now you will be more disappionted by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. And discover.

My patience is being tested

Cylinder head back on. Engine working but now it seems I have a thermostat or electrical problem. Is there an electrician out there who can help me!!! Arrrrggghhhh!

Marinas

I will list all the marinas that have kindly supported me before I leave.

Sailing again by the weekend?

Up to date I have sent out 112 letters and I've had 36 marinas around the UK offering me free berthing the latest one being Holyhead which will be my landfall after crossing the Irish Sea from the Isle of Man. Thank you. And many thanks to Ralph at Fox's Marina in Ipswitch for his more than generous offer. Royston come to fit the cylinder head tomorrow so I hope to be sailing again at the weekend - fingers crossed.

Update

Well at the moment the cylinder head is with Royston Volvo specialists in Walker. Hopefully it wont take them long to sort out the problem with the injector and get them both overhauled while they're on. Its a shame the problem couldn't be diagnosed earlier on but nevermind - asi es la vida. For the moment I'm still looking at a mid May departure - it wouldn't have been a great time to leave when I originally intended 4 days ago as we have had strong northerlies for the last few days and now the wind has died away to almost nothing. Summer will be begin mid - end of May in earnest! :-)

To date 25 marinas around the uk - most of them along the south coast have kindly offered me free berthing for a few days. The response has been fantastic. On top of this Falmouth Harbour Commissioners have donated £100 to the Ellen Macarthur Trust. Thank you so much for that Falmouth. I have just sent off letters to marinas based on the east coast of the UK - so fingers crossed. At the moment I have Hartlepool, Peterhead and Lossiemouth supporting me along this part of the UK. Need to fill the gaps in.

Craftsmanship