Launched

I know, it's Wednesday. On Sunday I promised you that on Monday you'd see photo's of Vagabond being launched so you are probably assuming that the launch did not take place.

Well, you'd be wrong. The Cap'n, the Pursar, Vagabond and I all met at the appointed time and within a couple of hours we had put Vagabond together. . We had to put the mast up twice as I had forgotten to attach a vital piece of string somewhere up the mast

We had an interesting see saw immitation when the Purser and I gathered at the aft end of the cockpit at the same time. The whole rig (including the trailer) pivoted about the trailer wheels and it was the prompt action of the Cap'n that prevented Vagabond's stern from hitting the ground with a crash.
Note 1 to self:  keep the trailer hitched to the tow car whilst rigging the boat!

There was then time to pause for the odd photograph as it started to rain.

The Dublin Lass, Cabin Boy and Cabin Girl arrived as the rain really got into gear and the wind went Easterly and rose in strength. We all had lunch sheltering behind a shed whilst we waited for the boat yard tractor to turn up.

As promised, the tractor growled its way towards us at 14:00, hitched onto the trailer and disappeared towards the ramp. We just had time to undo the trailer straps and for me to climb aboard when the driver was off pushing us down the shallow ramp. A large boat crane was following close behind with a 45 foot yacht on board.

I would like to say that the launch was smooth and polished and went without a hitch or a bump but I can't. It didn't The Outboard wouldn't start. When it did it jumped off the retaining latches and was shut down. Vagabond drifted across the throat of the slipway. We had lines ashore and eventually got her under control and dragged her unceremoniously alongside a temporary pontoon whilst the 45 eased professionally afloat and effortlessly past us.

The Cabin boy and Cabin girl came on board and wanted to know where they were going to sleep.
The boatman sensibly wanted to know where our life jackets were (in the locker, of course).

The Dublin Lass  announced she had filmed it all, was cold (justifiably) and wanted to go home. The Cabin boy and girl wanted to stay and sail.
I looked pensive wondering who had left the pair of pink shoes.
The Dublin Lass took the Cabin Boy and Girl away for their tea, leaving the Purser and me to adjust the outboard and the Cap'n to take up station on the allotted finger berth.
The outboard roared into life. The Purser cast us off and then the wind caught the spray hood. Vagabond took control and would NOT go where I thought I had pointed her. It was like driving a car on ice. Eventually, with a few scrapes we got her into the finger berth and it dawned on me that I hadn't put the centre board down.

The rain lashed down. The Cap'n, the Purser and I huddled in the cabin and the Cap'n produced three miniature whiskies and some glasses from his waterproofs. After a moment of reflection, we agreed that Vagabond had been brought to land under control, so we shared her first docking tot.

After a quick tidy up and a check of the bilges (dry) the moorings (secure) and the fenders (adequate) I locked her up and left her in the gathering  gloom (and it was only 6 pm!)

About two hours later I was home but still soaked, even with the car heater full on.....

The forecast looks rubbish for the next 3 days, so I think it is unlikely that we'll be off round Britain as planned.

Probably getting wet

Tomorrow is going to be an interesting day.

I'm taking Vagabond to North Fambridge, where there is a slip on the bank of the River Crouch. High tide is just after 2pm and the slip should be flooded enough from midday onwards. Weather forecasts suggest that the heavens will open over North Fambridge just after noon so it looks as if the  upperworks and hull of Vagabond will get wet for the first time simultaneously. I trust that the water wetting the hull will be salt water and that on the upper works will be fresh and not vice versa.

Once in the water, Vagabond will be secured to a pontoon and the Cap'n the Purser and I will have our customary docking tot. This is to celebrate that we have successfully secured the to the shore (or the bottom) whilst under control. We adopted this habit from the Viking (sadly no longer with us) who taught us the special customs of sailing in the wild West of Scotland (and the Norwegian method of drying the dishes whilst at sea).

As Vagabond will be a "dry" boat for the first few days until the survival rations are loaded later on this week, we will have to celbrate this at the local pub so there may be more than one tot involved.

Watch this space. There may even be some photos tomorrow. I know you can't wait....

!@!@*& Weather!

I am sure this won't be the first post with this title.
As I type this the heavens have opened, all sorts of solid lumps are streaming down from dark skies and strong gusts rock the barn where Vagabond and I are sheltering.
April showers! 
I had hoped to launch this week and by now be pottering about the River Crouch. At least I can fit the nav instruments and the gas supply in the relative calm of the barn. There's always next week.....

Collection day

I am now the owner of a new boat. The significance of this and of the challenge that I have set myself is starting to sink in.
I have just returned with Vagabond, after spending all yesterday at the Swallow Boats boat yard.  Please dismiss all romantic thoughts of semi derelict buildings, slipways, cranes, large coils of rope and various old spars and blocks lying around. The boats are assembled in a modern purpose built workshop, with no crane or slipway in sight. Well, I grant you that the building is close to the waters edge (when the tide is full) and on fine days (such was yesterday) the boat builders can bask in the sun during the lunch break, sheltered from the sea breeze from a line of alder bushes. The office has such a magnificent view over the Teifi estuary that I am surprised that Matt can concentrate enough to produce such a range of lovely boat designs.

I digress. During  my day I was introduced to Vagabond, trained on the intricacies of her rig, the centre board and the ingenious mechanism that raises and lowers the rudder. With the help of Will, we raised the mast and fitted the main sail. We lowered the mast and fitted the (inboard) outboard engine. The instruments have been mounted on the clever folding panel but I have hesitated to turn them on. I thought I'd wait for the blue smoke to appear when I was safely away in a less public place. 

The sun shone and the solar cells appeared to be charging the batteries. A few snags emerged during this handover; as you would expect most were overcome immediately and solutions identified for the remainder.


Vagabond was strapped to her trailer and left for the night out side of the shed where she was built.




This morning, after some electronic banking transactions, I was allowed to bring her home.

After an uneventful journey (the first under tow for both of us!) she now resides in a farm shed, with some cattle for company. I say uneventful but I kept frightening myself when looking at the interior rear view mirror. I discovered that my motorway* driving routine has a sub programme * that goes 'check left rear view mirror, check right rvm, check interior rvm - OMG there's some idiot in a boat right behind me.

Here, she'll be ignored by me for a couple of days whilst I go off to do other stuff (Guiding people round Bletchley Park, looking after the grandchildren and buying the owners agent a good dinner, to name but three of them).

There are a few more jobs to do before she gets taken to the water next week.

*Translations for those on the other side of the Atlintic:
motorway -  freeway
sub programme - sub program