Giles and Paula's Great Retirement Adventure
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A few weeks ago, I decided to "upgrade" our pontoon mooring warps (the ones that do not travel with us). I got some super 26mm double braid - over-engineered of course, I think 22mm would do.
Just a small spool..............I got a really good price from a local rope seller....
I have already made the springs, today I made the midships warp....
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Over engineering is the only way to go
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Ex-fucking-xactly........
We have some serious winds coming through tomorrow and I am so bleeding relaxed. The worst thing that can happen is that someone who does not understand the over-engineered-is-always-the-best principle has his boat break free and hits SAKURA, but she ain't going anywhere......
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Over engineerd is your middle name G
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Such good looking mooring warps there! Curious if they ever get stolen sleeping out at night all alone? I’m assuming not every boat has equivalent over-engineered warps.
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Ten weeks ago we lifted her and gave her good old jet wash.
And this is what she looks like today. A veritable underwater jungle attached to the hull.
Won't be getting 23 knots any time soon
Anyway, in 2 weeks she is being lifted again, I have a few jobs to get done which are easier (or possible) when she is not floating. The main job is to get the hull rubbed down, filled and 2 coats of ant-foul applied
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Wondering how the moorings are holding up. Any wear/tear visible due to the last storm?
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My bad…I meant to ask about the warps.
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@Giles this looks sturdy as hell! So nice to see the overengineering
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The guideline for a boat of our size is to use mooring warps with a diameter of 18mm, we've used 26mm for the fixed pontoon warps.
Our travelling mooring warps are a little smaller (21mm) because they are a lot easier to coil, handle and stow than 26mm.
We've also got way more lines than really needed, but I like sleeping easy at night
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Given that I am considerably more mobile than I dared to imagine I would be after the hip op, we made a few plans this morning. All are weather-dependent, but the forecast is promising for the days we are plsnning to do stuff.
Wednesday, sail to, and up the Beaulieu River for lunch at the Master Builder. Home via Cowes to top up the diesel. The Beaulieu River is one of the only privately owned rivers in the UK and is kept beautifully. The pilotage into and up the river is a tad tricky, so that will be good for us.
https://www.beaulieuriver.co.uk/
On Thursday we are going to circumnavigate The Isle of Wight. Paula and I have not done it before, so will be fun. It's about 55nm, we will go anti-clockwise as the timing of the tides gives us favourable currents for the majority of the trip.
On Saturday we will go to Bembridge, a little village on the East coast of the Isle of Wight. We'll stay overnight and go to our favourite pub/brewery/pizza joint for supper. Again, the pilotage is tricky and SAKURA is a comparatively large boat, so that will require some concentration.
"OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011
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@Giles keep on rockin’ in the free world
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Sounds like a great trip and also such good news that hip op was so successful. Bon voyage
