Just a quick one update - we arrived in the Rade de Brest last Thursday after a lumpy Channel crossing, and have been waiting here since for a window to head down to Spain. Looks like we'll have it tomorrow (Wed) so expect vids and photos to be uploaded this weekend.
We went out for more test sailing in various wind conditions and have been pretty happy with the reefing setup so far. We still had to do some tweaks to the sail tension but that's all done now.
We also tested our third crew member, the self steering. It took a bit to dial in the Aries but in our last test run it worked really well and should take care of most of our steering when sailing.
A little excitement for the week was a french boat running aground. They'd come out of the channel and hit the bottom on a falling tide. While there was still a little water, Nathan went out to help in our dinghy and helped them set a kedge anchor. Another power boat attempted to drag them into deeper water but in true power boat fashion, gunned his engines and sent his son for an impromptu swim. The good chaps from the RNLI came over in their rib to check everything/everyone was okay then left them to it. We watched the boat gradually lean further and further over as the water level dropped but in true gallic fashion the crew stripped down and spent the afternoon sunbathing on the high side of the deck.
Another job was changing the water filter as the water from the tank was beginning to taste a little off. That was a quick and easy job and from the state of the filter you can see how well it works.
From the day we reached Falmouth I spied an African restaurant and I was promised we would visit before we left. We finally stopped in on Monday and I was not disappointed, with such items on the menu as Biltong, Koeksisters, Amarula, Mealie (corn on the cob) and a picture of Madiba on the wall. I started with Boerewors, Nathan with Bunnychow and my main was Bobotie with a side of Mrs Balls chutney. Sadly we couldn't manage dessert.
Nathan also put together a self steering tiller should we have any problems with the main steering.
And that's it for now. We had a window this week and a front came through so now we are debating hopping over night to Brest then waiting for a four day window to Spain. Oh well...
Lauren: I've spent some time creating another video highlighting a bit of our stay in Falmouth. Take a look.
Yes, it's Lauren. I can't believe another update is due after almost another week has gone by.
At the moment we are primarily waiting for a weather window to cross Biscay. We are hoping for a solid 5 days of good weather, as Biscay is notoriously rocky in the wrong conditions. While we wait, we have been crossing off jobs.
The spray hood and cover is mostly all done, a few more zips to be stitched on and access panels created for the winches, then it'll be finished.
The sails we sent off to be turned into slab reefing have returned. I have been scrubbing them clean on the pontoon ready for when we put them back up.
But it's not all hard work. We also have time to treat ourselves, like pulled pork and chips for dinner and regular doses of pancakes. Last night our friends 'Irreversible' had us over for a lovely lasagne while we discussed (and moaned) about the next leg of our journey.
Next week we are going out for a few sails, including a night sail, so that when the weather window comes, the boat and ourselves will be ready to go.
The spray hood and cover is mostly all done, a few more zips to be stitched on and access panels created for the winches, then it'll be finished.
The sails we sent off to be turned into slab reefing have returned. I have been scrubbing them clean on the pontoon ready for when we put them back up.
One of the most dreaded jobs is cleaning out the shower drain pump. This is a box - for those who don't know - that drains out the kitchen sink and pumps it over board. The pump had been taking far too long draining and it was about due for it's annual clean.
Inside the box was disgusting. It was full of fat. Now, we're normally very good about cleaning off fat from pans before we wash them, but a few dregs must have escaped our notice. The amount of fat must have been building up gradually and the result you'll see below.
That picture doesn't even begin to convey the smell. I held febreeze over Nathan's head while he used rubber gloves to scoop out the fat into a bowl. I then had the job of carefully running the full bowl through the boat and over the side; careful not to spill a drop and leave the smell hanging around for the next few weeks.
The weather has been a form of entertainment recently; some crazy looking storm clouds passed over our heads yesterday, and surprisingly no rain followed. It felt like something out of 'Twister'.
And this was the front this morning as we watched a band of rain come creeping towards us.
But it's not all hard work. We also have time to treat ourselves, like pulled pork and chips for dinner and regular doses of pancakes. Last night our friends 'Irreversible' had us over for a lovely lasagne while we discussed (and moaned) about the next leg of our journey.
The days all blur into one here at the moment, but jobs have been being ticked off the list nicely.
We also spent a couple of hours painting the Aries Self steering; a nice little break from harder, more labour intents jobs. One half now bears the South African flag and the other has the Australian colours.
The spray hood and bimini Nathan has been working on so diligently has almost been finished. The side and front windows are in and looking great. The zips are stitched in so we can roll the side panels up for more airflow and visibility. Just a few more zips to stitch and tidying up of the hems, but it's essentially finished. Because of the position of the new spray hood, Nathan has also moved one of the solar panels as it would sit underneath and constantly be in the shade. In it's new position, the sun should always be on it.
We also spent a couple of hours painting the Aries Self steering; a nice little break from harder, more labour intents jobs. One half now bears the South African flag and the other has the Australian colours.
The sail mail - the system we will use to send emails while far out at sea - has also been tested this week. It works! Email address to follow.....
In big news, the sails have been sent to the sailmakers to be turned from in boom reefing to slab reefing. Putting the main sail up and down took a lot of time and effort as the turning mechanism in the boom was so stiff. Slab reefing means we do away with that system and hopefully make setting sail a lot easier for both of us. We should get the sails back next week and then spend a few days out in the harbour testing the new system. Hopefully then I can handle the main and mizzen sail on my own.
Our Garmin wind indicator also got damaged when the mizzen mast was re-erected but the awesome guys at Emsworth Yacht Harbour offered to swap it over, so another trip up the mast was in order to bring the old unit down.
Our Garmin wind indicator also got damaged when the mizzen mast was re-erected but the awesome guys at Emsworth Yacht Harbour offered to swap it over, so another trip up the mast was in order to bring the old unit down.
And Nathan also needed to swap over the alternators to a higher output model (which actually don't seem to be putting out any extra amperage).
Last night our other cruising friends from 'Irreversible' who we met at Emsworth arrived so this afternoon we got off the boat and had a much needed catch up with them.
Oh, and remember last week I mentioned we went to Pendennis Castle? Here's a couple of pictures.
So that's about it for the moment. We'll likely be in Falmouth another couple of weeks, testing the new sail setup and waiting for a weather window. The winds blow SW across Biscay but as soon as we cross there, we get a lovely tail wind the whole way down. Anyways, updates to follow....
