Sumara of Weymouth

26th July 2023

Rotherhithe

Reading time: 5 Minutes

The adventure seems to be attracting a fair bit of press. The Telegraph had this write up and PBO had this.

Stirling and Son’s Facebook page has this amazing video of what I should expect and, although I have sailed on Integrity before, this looks like pretty tough sailing.

With just a week to go, it is time to start packing and to sort out any loose ends. I’ll be away for around six weeks and conditions could be pretty rough. I’ve been doing some gentle training and trying to avoid any injuries but it is Sod’s Law that now my right knee is playing up! I’ll book in to see a physio but it’s nothing major and it only plays up when I run so hopefully not too much running will be required.

Last week I visited the Dentist for a check up and to get some emergency pills in case something flares up, which it wont. Sadly the NHS don’t really do Dentists anymore. The last time I had toothache the NHS quoted six weeks for an appointment whereas my Private Dentist asked whether four o clock would be convenient!

I’ve ordered a spare pair of varifocals. I can happily see bergs and growlers without glasses, but I would struggle to read “Integrity’s” compass, especially in poor light. As we are sailing quite late in the season, there will be a few hours of darkness to negotiate. Will Stirling, the Skipper, likes to navigate traditionally, so hand steering with a massive tiller (assisted with block and tackle) and an eye on the compass is the way we do it. No Garmin screens or auto pilots!

Today I will start to pack. There will be just enough time to whizz into town to buy anything that I am missing.

My list so far is:

Take List

NWP

230713

Quantity	Item	Where	Packed	Priority
	Sea wear
1 Pair	Sea Boots Helly Henson with Gaiters	Boat		A
1	Guy Cotton Bib and Brace	Boat		A
1	Guy Cotton Jacket	Boat		A
1	Single Point Tether	Boat		A
1	Souwester	Store		B
1	Crewsaver Lifejacket	Boat		EITHER
1	Spinlok Light Lifejacket	Store		OR
4 Pairs	Seaboot Socks	Buy some more		B
1	Towel Neck Scarf	Boat		C
1	Merino Beanie	Boat		A
1	Lowe Alpine Hat	Store		A
1 Pair	Devold Wool Mitts	Store		A
1 Pair	Double Thumb Mitts	Store
1 Pair	Gortex Over Gloves	Store		B
1 Pair	Blue Thermo Fishermans Gloves	Home
1 Pair	Climbing Mitts	Store		A
1	Mid Layer dungarees	Boat		A
	Equipment
1	AGM Rugged Phone	Me		A
1	Charging Cable for above	Boat		A
1	Skeletool	Boat		B
1	Head Torch	Boat		A
1	Charging Cable for above	Boat		A
1	In Reach	Boat		A
1	Charging Cable for above	Boat		A
1	Instruction sheet for Inreach	Download
1	TZ Camera	Boat		A
1	Charging Cable for above	Boat		A
1	Go Pro with housing and bracket	Boat		C
1	Charging Cable for above	Boat		C
1	Waterproof notebook	Boat		A
1	Garmin Fenix Watch	Home		A
1	New strap for above	En route?		A
1	Charger for above	Home		A
1	Mini power pack	Buy		C
1	Space pen	Boat		A
1	Bear Alarm	Home		B
1	Screach Whistle	Blue Bag		B
1	Sunglasses Varifocal	Boat		A
1	Ordinary Glasses Varifocal	Boat		A
1	Spare Varifocal	Boat		B
1	Reading Glasses	Boat		A
1	Ordinary Glasses	Boat		A
5	Lanyards for above	Buy
	General Wear
4	Merino Underwear	Ordered		B
3	Merino Leggings	Home		A
2	Cotton underwear	Home		B
3	Merino tops	Home		A
2	Merino Zip Tops	Home		A
3	Walking Socks	Buy More		A
1 Pair	Scarpas	Buy or take old ones		A
1	Boat slippers	Home		C
2 pairs	Technical Trousers	Buy one pair		A
1	Rab Generator Jacket	Home		B
1	Mosie Net	Yellow Bag		A
1	Arteryx Waist Coat			B
1	Wool pullover	Buy or heavily darn		A
3	Snoods	Home		A
1	Devold Merino Trousers	Home		B
	General Gear
1	Sleeping Bag	Boat		A
1	Bivvy Bag	Home		A
1	Pillow Case	Home		A
1	Sheet for mattress	Home		A
1	Wash Bag	Home		A
2	Toothbrushes	Home		A
1	Comb	Home		A
1	Nail scissors	Home		A
2	Razors	Home		C
1	Plastic beaker	Home		B
1	Book to read?	Home		C
	Bags
1	Yellow Ortlieb 85 L Duffle	Home		A
1	Ortlieb Atrack 25 L Rucksack?	Home		A
7	Roll top waterproof lightweight bags	Home		A
1	Spinlok belt bag	Home		A
	Documents
	Passport	Home		A
	eTA Number	Home		A
	Air Line Tickets	Home		A

Please shout if you think I am missing anything. I’ve asked Will if there is anything he would like me to bring out and he suggested a couple of jars of Horlicks. I am still deliberating whether this is his sense of humour or whether they are actually enjoying a warming nostalgic bedtime drink. What do you think?