Sailing is suspended for lack of wind for the next couple of days.
We revarnish the blocks of the running backstays while there is still some life in them.
Greetings from France !
Love at first sail
I was able to enjoy a first little sail with Sheila this morning 28th of Jan.
Water temperature is 9°C so I was a bit cautious sailing her alone today.
Everything went fine. Nothing broken, nothing damaged, nothing missing.
Lots of learnings for a very short session as I had only sailed Sheila once, with Jean-Paul, some years ago.
A big thanks to Mike – now I know I need to leave the mast coat on !
Greetings from France !
Starting the season with a clean hull
This week (22nd to 27th of Jan 24) was about getting Sheila out of the water and then back.
The objectives were to :
- Clean the hull and cover it with two new coats of antifouling paint as this had been skipped last summer. In winter in Britanny it is too cold for lacquer paint and varnish, so this will have to be done later.
- Review the boat in details. François Blatrix is a very knowledgeble shipwright and he had only seen the boat afloat. On the hard he was able to inspect the hull and perform a minor fix on caulking. Sheila passed her health check and is deemed fit at the start of her 120th year.
- Clean the cabin with fresh water
- Take the measures for a mizzen cover with Karine and Philippe at Delta Sails. JP had a new mizzen sail made for Sheila so we want to protect the kit. Then put the mizzen mast back in its place.
A big thanks to the pros. We did it !
No one was hurt in the process. All the stunts were performed by real people.
Tidying up
Some news from Sheila in early 2024.
I am doing a bit of cleaning before I can (hopefully) take her out of the water next week.
It is still early in the season and there is quite a program before she looks like a princess again. In January the Golfe du Morbihan belongs to the sea birds and they love their picnic on the deck. Unfortunately they have terrible table manners.
Greetings from France to the Court of Princess Sheila.
Many thanks to Mike, John, and Jean-Paul for their confidence.
I am so grateful to them, but now I need to deliver !
Kind regards.
Eric
2024
Sheila enters 2024 with a new Guardian although Jean-Paul is commited to remain onboard.
But we keep the same ambitions :
- to protect her vulnerability
- to sail her as much as possible
- to provide her with much love and attention
Next year, she will be 120.
This year we would like to make her more visible.
Happy New Year !
Eric