The holiday that went bump

Just got back from a two week holiday on the English east Coast. We had two different sets of experiences; on the one hand everything was fine, with nice weather, walks and visits.

On the other hand, though, everything went wrong. We hit two other boats, suffered two major scratches, hit ground thrice of which two times fairly hard and once in a major way, and dropped a £85 VHF in the black East Coast mud. The sprayhood stitchings came loose before we even set off, and the wind measurement instrument gave the ghost. On the way back, in an unforecast Force 7, two waves piled on top of another dropped right in the cockpit at just two Miles from port, drenching us thoroughly just before we arrived. The wind was always either on the nose or dead astern, with the exception of the crossings, which gave us a Force 6 and 7.

So did we enjoy it? Well, it wasn't too bad as holidays go, but it was a mixed feeling we took home and not that of the leisurely cruise we had planned.

I did manage to get a new anchor, chain and rope extension, but not the second anchor roller I'd hoped to find. But the anchor was a big step towards the all important reliable ground tackle so much needed for cruising. Here's some pictures of the new stuff:

11 months to go...

As we'll be casting off the lines for the Caribbean around July 1st, 2010, it is now less than a year before this long anticipated date. A good time, it seems, to start the story of our preparations and tribulations to get out there.

The reason I post this now, is because I succeeded in buying a second hand wind vane. I've been looking for a used Hydrovane for a while now, and I was just starting to take a concrete interest in actually buying one. And then, all of a sudden, two appeared for sale the same week! I bid on both and ended up paying £1000 for one in good condition somewhere in the Welsh Wild West (Cardiff).

Needless to say, this is a bargain price and what could have set me back £4500 (list price) turned out quite nicely. This leaves more for other equipment, of course, since there is no doubt that I will be spending quite a lot of money on other goodies before next July.

But self-steering is now officially off the list of things to get! Now only to mount it on Victor Too's nice fat transom.

Things to come, things to do...

We're off to England for a well deserved holiday!