Roadmaps...

..with the news that over 3 million adults have now had at least one jab in the UK, we have been given a road map for the way out of this madness we have suffered for the last year, and after a period of some considerable introspection, I am getting a little excited about prep'ing and launching the mighty ship "Sparrow" ... 

I blame COVID for said introspection by the way (well we've blamed it for everything else, so why not?). At various points in time over this winter I have contemplated either selling "Sparrow" (with a view to up-sizing rather than any permanent hanging up of the anchor!), and/or taking up windsurfing again, either by getting my old race board back (if my mate will sell her back to me! ), or by buying a new Windsurfer LT [clicky] (which I'm still kind of intrigued by as there is a growing fleet locally, and I could do some one design racing), and then the issue with the engine not quite fitting [clicky] had me contemplating a new Tohatsu ('cos I know that fits, and you can't get second hand one's for love nor money), and, and, and, and, and...basically all just excuses not to go on the water....

In the end, I kid you not, I saw the following on one of the Farcebook pages I follow and it just struck home - no idea why, as Farcebook is awash with this motivational stuff and it's mostly bolleaux, but basically this just summed up the issue I was wrestling with, and chimed...

..and I thought "f*ck it" ... I was getting overly concerned about security for "Sparrow", and too concerned about having the new engine nicked, before either event had actually happened...  so I've pulled my mental finger out and decided 'onwards and upwards', I'll secure her, and it, as best I can, and hopefully get some simple sailing in this summer, which is ultimately what it's all about.. but no more using those as excuses not to do it..    

So ..  roadmap... this about sums it up, and comes from the RYA (original here) - the key date being March 29th for two reasons - one we can travel, and two, even more importantly being mostly old men, the clubhouse toilets can re-open..  

Not sure when I'm going to launch, I may do it either just before, or just after this years Jolly Boys cruise (postponed since last year) now very definitely looking to be a go-er, based on this roadmap as we are due to be sailing May 21st, which rather handily is 3 days after step 3!). 

"Sparrow" is looking OK - a winter on the hard and she's looking a little green round the edges, but nothing a good clean won't fix. The job list has been updated and is at the top of the page..  in addition to what I had planned, I'm also going to do the following

• a smooth off of her bottom - no idea how many years of antifouling paint on top of antifouling  paint there is down there, but while it's not falling off it isn't smooth either, so a sanding pole with some mesh and a bucket of water is planned...
• the gel coat is original but is getting thin to non-existent in places - I will not paint her (that way lies madness) but I do need to stop further UV damage to places where it is thin - like it or not I think I'll probably colour match some off the shelf polyurethane paint as it's easier to prep, apply, and repair than 2 pack, and it will inevitably scratch and scuff..
• last painted in the '14/'15 layover, the main cabin needs a refresh - the forecabin I did last spring
• I think I also want to do something about the curtains, which have been UV'd to death..
  
• I'm toying with the idea of a depth gauge - I've never had one, but it would be an interesting project..  I am thinking in hull, rather than through hull - no one in their right mind drills holes in a boat..

More anon...