Category: Sailing in General
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Everything I know about antifouling!
17th April 2022 – Dunstaffnage. Updated April 2025 Compared to the complexities of varnishing, antifouling is a simple and manageable task. Nevertheless, there is plenty of scope to cock it up. So here are a few random musings which may be of some minor help to those who may be new to boat ownership and…
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The Preparation Continues
12th April 2022 – Dunstaffnage It’s day two of the annual maintenance. I’ve allowed a whole month this year to do all the painting and varnishing and have the boat launched. Maybe I can squeeze in a wee test sail too. Last year was pretty stressful trying to get everything complete in just three weeks.…
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The Preparation Begins!
11th April 2022 – Dunstaffnage I’ve arrived at the boat ready for a month’s solid work to get her expedition ready for the big Greenland trip. It was 20:00 by the time I got here after a very pleasant stop over at Ray and Jackie’s farmhouse in Yorkshire. I managed to find just enough space…
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Wells-next-the-Sea and the Coastal Exploration Company
Wells-next-the-Sea 25th – 27th March 2022 As a Christmas present for Grit, who decided she didn’t want anymore “stuff”, I purchased a day trip on a Mussel Flat Boat with the Coastal Exploration Company. The slightly devious part was to choose to take up the voucher on the weekend which just happens to be my…
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Making a Scramble Net Cum Boarding Ladder – Part Two
I’ve finished the the Scramble Net cum Boarding Ladder! Ok, I haven’t tested it yet, so it could be a totally useless pile of junk but we shall find out in a few weeks when I hope to test it in the chilly London Docks. I was surprised how many things didn’t work. In the…
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High Latitude Expedition Insurance
14th March 2022 – London (Updated 26th November 2025) Reading time: 15 minutes There are probably going to be four parts to insuring an expedition yachting trip heading for the high latitudes. Firstly, insuring the boat, secondly insuring the crew for any potential search and rescue costs, thirdly covering medical costs and finally a general…
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Making a Scramble Net Cum Boarding Ladder – Part One
I have been giving some thought to retrieving a MOB and decided to make a boarding ladder that can also be used to parbuckle a casualty onboard. Not sure how this will work out but here is the design concept. I’ll post another video showing the build process and finally I’ll try it out and…
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Storm Proofing Sumara
Friday 18th February 2022 – London With Storm Eunice approaching, I am picking up on a slight sense of panic amongst many boat owners. Will their covers be OK? Will their boats be OK with those wooden props and wedges especially with the mast up. Will their mooring lines chafe through? etc With Sumara currently…
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Sumara’s Propeller
Reading time: 5 Minutes Updated: 2nd December 2025 Category: Boat Maintenance, Sailing in General I’ve just finished painting my propeller (2022). It does seem a shame to cover up all that lovely bronze, but I think it may be getting some really hard use this year. The wind in Scoresby Sund can often be very…
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Gloves or Mitts – or Nothing at All?
Reading time: 10 minutes. Updated January 2025 Best for Dexterity – Bare Hands Here are a couple of tricks to keep your hands toasty warm without using gloves at all: Just Rubbing Let your hands get very cold, then rub them vigorously until they warm up. They will soon get cold again, so rub them…