New Dinghy Part 2

This is what I've spent half-term doing.

 It deserves its own blog page, and I'll sort that out when I'm not up to my elbows in epoxy.

It looks like a boat now any way. Compare with the cardboard model of the same boat below. Still a long, long way to go. About 15 of the supposed 40 hours done so far.

FInal Sail of 2009

This afternoon, HT was at 16:42, 9.8m; plenty enough to get in and out, only hampered by the early onset of darkness. There was more water than I expected so I rowed out and soon had the motor on and sails up ready to go.

As I was leaving home Windy Wendy had 9-11 knots at St Helier Pierheads but there was much less than this once I got out. Still had a good time and got Ollie the Autopilot earning his keep too.

As I was coming in due to the lateness of the our, Nicki and Helier were just taking 'Og' out for a short run. The advantage of having lights nav lights, I guess.

In rapidly increasing darkness I managed to partly 'winterise' Kamala, ready for the gales to come next week. I took off the sails and removed any rope that could be brought in. Next season will need a new mainsheet and a new main halyard at the very least.

By the time I left it was 5:30 and totally dark, but St Aubins is a beautifully lit area so finding my way to a slipway was easy.

Virtual Skipper 5.0 online

If you value your time and hope to acheive anything in life, you'll avoid this game. It's too amazing.

I mean it, don't go here:

http://www.virtualskipper-game.com/en/

because you'll download it for free, spend all your time on it till the wee small hours and then feel crap at work the next day.

Or maybe that's just me.

New Dinghy (Work in Progress)

Having dumped my old GRP dinghy, I need a replacement.

I got the plans from Stanley Small Craft for a Rye Bay 8 for £15 (sailing version). Can't remember where I found the website from now but its at

http://www.stanleysmallcraft.co.uk

I was looking at either a Catspaw 8 from B&B Yacht Designs or something from Glen-L, both of which were over £50 just for the plans, when I came across this one.

Paul at SSC is super helpful and the plans arrive by email.

I made a model from the plans out of cardboard, and I like the way it looks.

 Will be ordering the ply and epoxy soon. Hopefully locally sourced if the price is right. I'll do a new blog of the build.

Meanwhile, thanks to Nicky and the Crew of 'Og' who have given me access rights to their piece of tupperware while I make my tender over the winter.