Went out to Fairwinds today - must be three months since we were last aboard. The tape over two of the screw holes where I have still not replaces the port cabin-top grabrail (split on the way back from Spain in 2007) had come off and one of the bunk cushions was a bit wet at one end, plus the charts underneath that were not in placcy folders. These amounted to one Moray Firth chart with Decca rings on it and one nearly new Imray of the N. Minch which I am optimistic of saving. Also some chafe on the top leading edge of the sprayhood because I had not topped the boom up enough (but it is as thin as tissue paper anyway).
Otherwise not too damp, not too squalid, no chafe etc. Bilge less than half full. Engine started first time after I had WD-ed the Morse button and the keyhole and ran sweetly. Apart from the beard she is pretty much in 'sail-away' condition and I find it hard to see why anyone takes their boats out every year if they have a sheltered swinging mooring.
We will have to lift briefly to antifoul thoroughly this year as we didn't last year. Of course I had hoped to reinforce the foredeck and fit a new windlass, demountable inner forestay, better bow roller and more cleats but yet again that ain't going to happen. Apart from anything else my Cruising Instructor qualification lapses in the Spring and so I am doing a YMI course which is costing me £650
Plans still include taking the boat down to Cornwall after the CC in preparation for a Summer cruise to Brittany, but it depends on money - I am saving pennies for the ARC in November.
