Tides were looking good for Sunday / Monday so Friday and Saturday were spent working on boat jobs. Numero uno - get the starboard engine fixed. The engineer arrived at 06:30, spent a couple of hours aboard tightening bolts and cleaning up the pressure relief valve, then to much delight, fired up the engine and announced all was well. Phew.
Next on the list was re-attaching the mast winches with new stainless bases. Now, I wasn't going to pay £100 (each!) for custom stainless mounts so bashed around some 2mm plate, bolted on the winch then drilled and tapped it onto the mast. Another job done.
After that, it was time to refit the twin wind generators atop the mizzen mast. 5 hours later and with one bolt hole drilled, we gave up. Seriously, everything that could go wrong with that project, did go wrong, so we've left it for a sunny weekend when I can be bothered doing it again. Hey ho.
Another BBQ that eve then it was time to depart Sunday morning. I wouldn't say we had boat breaking conditions, but a 3kt outgoing tide against a 20kt breeze, all in 10ft of water, made for an uncomfortable trip out to West Pole (about 1nm off the harbour mouth). It was clear all the boats heading out were struggling in the short, sharp chop but everyone persevered (who's going to try and get back in against a 3kt tide???) and things settled down once we tucked into the lee of the island. After that, it was a great 6kt motorsail to Cowes. Motorsail you say? Yep. Still haven't sailed the boat - the excuse this time was we were getting on for 14:00 and with the shops shutting at 16:00 on the Island, wanted to get in and show the departing crew member around before things got quiet.
Anyways, after a walk around Cowes, it was time to get the kayaks out and blast around the marina, then out to the pub for dinner. It really was an amazing evening of sunshine and light breeze.... the sooner summer gets here, the better.
06:00 dawned on Monday and it was time to get back to our marina. We had a great departure up the Medina and hooked in to the 2kt easterly tide quite early - unfortunately, the rain then appeared. Fortunately, we have a wheelhouse. It really is one of the things I love about this boat - everyone else out sailing was utterly miserable, and we were practically in our pajamas. Awesome.
After a 3 hour motor back (wind dead on the bow) - in which we also configured the autopilot - Calypso was tied up again in the marina, another 30nm of water beneath the keel.
The next few weekends will be spent working on various jobs, then it's off to Brighton (about a 70nm round trip) on the 27th / 28th June.
57 weeks to go....
 plus the last time a crew member would be able to join us, so it was off ...){kind=link}
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