BLUEMOMENT

We have returned and Fairwinds is once more on her mooring in Balvicar Bay, relatively unscathed . . .

The blog is now up to Day 30, only eight days left to upload then I will start to post some pix.

Get on with it then!

Been catching up after a long weekend away. Can't wait for the pics.

I've also enjoyed your Blog - why do I have to use Last Page to advance through the days - I keep trying to use Next Page - I'm a slow learner.

I spent a week working in Lerwick, and then Kirkwall in early June. I got a look at the small boats harbour in Lerwick in the dusk, and managed to get a few photos of Stromness Marina. Didn't get a chance to check out Kirkwall. I took the easy option of the overnight ferry from Aberdeen, though you and Cathy would have had better accomodation - 4 bunks to a very small cabin on the ferry!

I used to route the sheet inside the shrouds on my Leisure 17 when beating - did improve speed - but rerouting the sheet is a pain - extra tacks so that the lazy sheet can be moved - and if you have to go off the wind before you can reroute the sheets outside then you land up with a bag rather than a headsail. If you were to use only 1 particular jib on a babystay then you could fit a fixed block on the sidedeck with an additional pair of sheets permanently inside the shrouds and go back to the furling genoa when off the wind. On the Leisure, I was also able to remove the genoa from the furling foil, and fit the working jib in foil slot. I believe that you need to be able to use a high clewed jib in stronger winds - by some means - rather than a furled genoa. I'm still using hanked on headsails on Mistral - there have been a few occasions this Summer when I've been able to pace myself against similar sized boats in 30/35 knt winds - and when beating with my jib, I've been able to sail higher and faster than those with genoas.

I see that you are considering replacing the engine on Fairwinds - I would appreciate being able to share any research that you do. I think that we may re-engine before next season. I saw in a recent magazine that Beta are going to have a 16hp engine using the same block as the 13.5hp commonly used in the Vega. I don't know how they will get the extra power - the magazine quoted the same revs as for the lower power. I don't know what the additional cost would be - and whether it would be worthwhile. It may not be possible to use 16 - and it is better to work a diesel engine hard.

Looking forward to the rest of your blog, and the photos.

Regards

Ash