..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..
