Lang Mae Yer Lums Reek and Some 2016 Thoughts

[BlowingOldBoots]

Bliadhna Mhath Ùr!

I hope all yer lums reek long where ever and whoever you are. Happy New Year!

What's 2016 got in stock for you, or what do you think you would like to achieve?

For me: -

Get the yacht launched in April and up to Croabh Haven.
Family stuff: boy off to University, daughter settled and happy at school, convert the big shed to studio for her ladyship (sculpture and painting) because she has carried the family for a long time and now that kids are less dependant she needs her own space to do her own thing, enjoy the extended family/relations as they got through cancer and separations / reconciliations, they are a good lot and taking it all for granted is a big mistake that can catch you out big time.

Hopefully I can meet some of you and catch a few at the marina or on the water in the spring / summer. I have a good whiskey collection, some of which will be transferred to the boat.

Cheers! Slàinte mhor!

[PaulJS]

I would like to add my best wishes for the New Year to all, and to your families.

Hope to get some time on the water this year. If only I can get the weather gods to smile during my leave periods I might manage more than 2015's total of one short dinghy outing on Loch Ken! It would also be nice to make some forward progress on titivating the big boat and reconditioning the middle one!

Hope that your hangovers aren't too severe...

[wully]

We'll for sure get together over here in the summer

Here's wishing everyone a good 2016.

[Nick]

.
A guid new year to ain and all . . . let's get all 26 named storms out of the way before May, then go sailing.

[sahona]

All the best for '16.
We plan to 'do' the northwest 200 and then carry on either in norneyerlnd or up the coast via Islay Jura etc. Let's hope the weather is kinder this year.
Relying on VHF to meet all of you as we don't do internet unless it's free WiFi.

[Telo]

Well, I've kind of decided that this will be my final year with commitments that resemble "work" in any meaningful context. If the survey goes well, we may be bringing a new boat north from the Solent early in the season. It also means getting all our personal gear off "Shard " and tidying her up a bit. This means weighty considerations like "should we keep the fisherman's anchor"?" and stuff like that.

She's been a great boat for us, looked after us in some occasionally desperate conditions, taken us up and down the west coast into some remote anchorages, as well as round Ireland in 2005, and a more recent foray over to Donegal.

If the deal goes ahead, the new boat will be much the same size, long keel, but with a pilot house and rather more in the comfort department. Tempus fugit an' 'at.

[sahona]

Exciting times. Best of luck with the survey and subsequent sale (I assume)

[Mavanier]

After two years of working in a seasonal job which has all but stopped us using the boat, I'm taking 2016 off, as is SWMBO, due to the arrival of a tiny new crew member. Hope we're not being too optimistic but we intend to do as much sailing as possible this year.
So Kelpie's 2016 compliment of crew will be me, SWMBO, baby, collie, whippet, and cockatiel. You'll probably hear us before you see us!

[Telo]

Well, Mavanier, all the best with the plans. Sounds quite a challenge, but great fun. We're hoping to make the odd visit to your patch, perhaps sitting in again for a session with your neebs, Mr Pentland. Actually we drove up for a long weekend at the end of November and had a great Friday night session with Ali, Farquhar MacDonald etc etc.

[cpedw]

Is it an age thing, this hankering after a pilot house? Or a reflection of summer 2015? Dare I ask what type you are looking at?

After a visit to Southampton boat show, we were interested by Sirius and Nauticat (the 32 or 321, quite a lot different from the 33).

Since then, we've found there aren't many of either about. And when we saw a 321 at Troon, it failed to deliver the 'wow' factor, except for wow what a price. We've also looked at a Vancouver but we weren't over-impressed. Another consideration is age (boat age and particularly engine). Blue Shift will be 30 this year. The engine still goes quite well but it can't keep on forever. And it's a Westerly so there's always the headlining...

Currently we are in middle England bound for Plymouth. Two boats there have caught my eye. A Nordship 35 is a bit bigger and pricier than the original proposal but what's the point of targets if you can't wiggle round them? The other is a Westerly Oceanquest which is the same hull as B S but no deck saloon though it has a cockpit tent. We'll see.

Derek

[aquaplane]

Mum and Dad went down South to look at an LM which didn't excite. They saw the Espace and bought that instead, it was 1983 though.

It's not just 1980s Westerlys that get droop, Benetaus and Jeanneaus get it too.

I like the look of Sirius boats, out of my league though, or they were when I last looked.

Happy hunting.

[Telo]

Not really an age thing for the boat; Shard is over 40 years old but ideal for sailing conditions conditions on the west coast. More of a comfort/age thing for us so we have have been looking at a Vancouver 34P. The attraction is the evenings in the early and late part of the season where we can sit in some warmth and comfort and enjoy the views instead of having to go below and not see a lot. The 2015 weather did have can impact though, and being cooped up down below for a couple days while sitting out crappy conditions is not good for the soul, IMHO.

Re the Vancouver, the comfort is attractive (proper berths, wow! - we presently sleep in the saloon), and I like the cutter sail plan and the long keel. The Vancouver would also be more family friendly; good stowage space and better accommodation for grandchildren etc. Also, the full cockpit tent would suit Scottish summers.

The other boat that interested us was this one - http://www.devalk.nl/en/yachtbrokerage/ ... ER-43.html. Bit pricier but worth considering when the pound/euro was attractive. Bit bigger than we'd wanted though but she looks good value if you want a big go-anywhere boat.

[claymore]

If I had your money - Shardypoos - The Vancouver is exactly what I'd be after. Or a decent Claymore - mine is available.

[Telo]

Oh, and another thing, the V34P has a windlass, an electric one at that - that chain was always bloody cold early in the season...

[claymore]

So has Claymore.....