Just a quickie. We arrived at about 3:30. I thoroughly recommend Nick Lancaster if you want to move a boat around. Very professional and kept me entertained all the way down. Going to keep this very quick since the wireless connection I picked up is very ropey (not sure if I’m supposed to be on it!).
Ahh, the battery charger is buzzing away, and I’ve bought a new kettle. Shit! I don’t have cups. Right, I’m off back the chandlers to buy a cup. Nathan out.
Good morning!
The day has arrived. It’s just a little after 6:30 on Wednesday 27th August and I’m up and about, ready to haul the boom and other last minute items onto the boat before it’s picked up at 9 o’clock.
I was working quite late last night to get the stove fitted properly on it’s gimbals, so it rock solid now. I ended up using “no more nails” tape strips, kind of like double sided tape, but much much stronger. On the packet they rated each short strip of the stuff to hold 2.75kg, and I used 3 of them so that’s at least a holding power of 8.25kg. Enough for the lightweight Origo 1500 stove I think. Especially since gravity and mechanical force is taking the weight, the “no more nails” is just stopping it from moving around.
I also got the electrics finally fitted. I replaced the 32amp Marinco socket I got sent by mistake (and fittedtp the boat, not knowing any better) and swapped it for the 16amp version. I still haven’t tested whether any of my handy work actually does work since I haven’t had chance to build the shore power cable. I need to buy a standard shore power cable from the on site chandlers, Mailspeed, when I get to Essex Marina and butcher it to fit the Marinco plug.
Ok, breakfast, shower, and then let the day begin.
Voyages of a Simple Sailor click the image to buy now at Amazon.com
I have to be honest here, I was expecting ‘Voyages Of A Simple Sailor’ to be mediocre account of some amatuer sailor with a half interesting story. I only bought the book because part of it is about his Corribee, and since I’d just bought one was interested to read about them.
It turns out I could not have been more wrong. After a couple of pages I felt I was in the company of a great writer. His style is absolutely captivating, so completely absorbing that you could be forgiven for wearing a life jacket whilst reading it in bed.
The book is split into four parts, each a story of it’s own, the first is about how Roger began his sailing career and how he found himself in New Zealand, it’s easy reading and makes a good warm up and gentle segway in to the most fascinating roller coaster of a tale that I’ve read for a long time.
The second part is about the Endevour 2, a square rigger that Roger went sailing on in his early twenties, in fact just a touch younger than I am now. It’s the most gripping of the three stories and he does stunning job of portraying the situation. I don’t want to give any of it away, but you’ll just have to trust me on this, it’s one hell of a good story.
The third part is about his little self built 19 foot Ferro Cement boat ‘Roc’, and how he sailed her across the Tasman sea from New Zealand to Australia in some absolutely horrific conditions. In fact, it was on that trip that he died – you’ll have to read it to undertand that bit 
The final part is the reason I bought the book in the first place, the story of mingming, his 21ft Junk Rigged Corribee. This final part of the book is by no means poorly written, but I don’t think it’s quite as elegant as the former two parts. This is perhaps down to the fact that the story being told is not quite so full of peril and near loss of life, but nevertheless it’s by no means a chore to read.
Overall this book as been one of my favorite reads this year and I really do encourage anybody with that faint flame of adventure in their hearts to buy a copy and read in awe, or envy at what’s possible if you just put your mind into it (and of course, your backside on the line
Click here to buy ‘Voyages Of A Simple Sailor’ at Amazon.com
I bought a Tender earlier in the week. I had it posted to work, which seemed like a sensible idea given I’m never at home. It’s huge! and heavy!
I had to get a taxi home form Victoria to Tower Bridge because it was too bulky to carry. I managed about 30m from the office building before I had to give up and call for help. Myself and my house mate, Rob, carried it to the nearest road and waited to hail a taxi. £15 later I got it home.
Anyway, with it being the weekend and all I decided I’d better check it’s all intact and usable, so having nearly broken my neck trying to get the box up the two flights of stairs in our three story house, I open the contents onto my bed and began pumping….
I’ve got to figure out how to pack it back into it’s bag now. Could be interesting.
edit (24th Spetember): This very boat is for sale. It wouldn’t fit on my Corribee, so I’ve got to buy a smaller tender. It’s only been used once and is in as new condition. £400, for collection from Lancashire (near Chorley).
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