After only one sail in July, to the Marine Pool at West Park with the kids, I realised that the boat needed to go. Reasons were partly financial, partly family, partly philosophical.
The kids seldom wanted to come sailing so it was nearly always me on my own on the boat. The boat is now too small for a family of 6 to sail comfortably together, although we did do it twice last year.
Time seems ever more precious as the kids get older and busier, and I've been really enjoying cycling this year too. Even a short sail needed 3 hours on average and you can get a lot more cycling than sailing done in three hours.
Money has also become an issue. If my pay had kept pace with the mooring fee increase, my salary would have doubled in the last 5 years. It hasn't, so mooring a boat that is seldom used is no longer viable.
The good news is that the boat went to a bunch of lads, experienced motor-boaters, who want to learn to sail and she now resides in the middle of Gorey harbour.
Absolutely no regrets about owning or selling Kamala.
I kept the wooden dinghy that I built in my conservatory. It's bottom broke from being left full of water and drying out, but its part-way repaired with a stronger bottom.
If anyone has a 12-16ft open motor-boat for less than £600 with a trailer, get in touch. Until we win the lottery, our sailing days are done.
