We had a lot of 'gear' to unload, what with all those tools! And food and clothes for 10 days too. Two dinghy trips so far in choppy waters. A strong wind blowing until 7pm but now nice and calm for a lovely sunny evening.
This afternoon, one of our neighbours on 'Golden Eye' invited us to join for a drink, so we spent an enjoyable hour or so comparing notes and experiences. Then back on Thesee we did some 'cable threading' (my favourite....not!), but it's all in a good cause for the new keel coolers. After our last visit running low on water, Dean filled up a large container to add to our water supplies. Hopefully this will get us through until we reach Cowes and have access to running water (civilization awaits).
That syphon you bought has come in useful Dean
Ooh, half a tank, bonus
Monday 26th June... What a glorious day it was today. The most perfect weather for sailing, well in my book anyway. Think Dean may have wanted a bit more of that windy stuff though. So after we had made our third dinghy trip this time for ladders, our departure at 9.40am took us into Gosport Marina where we moored alongside for 15 minutes. Dean had to pop into the Chandlery because they had ordered him a busbar. Don't ask, i have no idea what it's for. He also took advantage of the free water, and filled another large container and also his new gadget... a solar shower. It's here in Gosport where the Round the World Clipper yachts live, and today it was a hive of activity.
We awoke this morning to a scene of tranquility
The Qingdao branded yacht representing China on the Clipper race route
After all this excitement we were on our way out into the Solent. It was slow going with an easterly Force 3, but nevertheless an extremely pleasant sail.
Messing about on the water
On reaching Cowes the wind died to nothing and we had to do a couple of jibes to keep on course, eventually having to drop all sails and motor the last mile or so to Newtown Creek. Once inside we took the very good advice of the Harbourmaster and dropped the anchor where we were told to. It turned out to be a great spot and the afternoon and evening blended into the most beautiful sunny warm day.
UK Border Force patrolling Newtown Creek
So here we are at the moment sitting under the bimini to keep ourselves cool. Glass of red wine and a full tummy. Life is good!
Dean with his solar shower in full swing
Yet another al-fresco meal this month
Splash of colour on a lovely mid-summer's evening
Tuesday 27th June... ETD Newtown Creek 11am to catch a good tide back up towards Cowes. We tried to keep on a heading of 60 degrees but soon found ourselves being sent across towards Calshot Spit as the wind came round from South East to East. Still, we weren't in any hurry to get to our destination, so we went with it and after skirting Bramble Bank we tacked and headed back across to Osborne Bay, the wind perfect at a constant 15 knots.
Osborne Bay shoreline
With a couple of hours to kill we anchored in the bay until it was time to head into the River Medina, and make our way to Kingston Boatyard for Thesee's lift out first thing in the morning.
Shock! Looks like they've fixed the new ferry
Tonight's view from Thesee's stern
True Solent Hoppers we arrrrr...
However, the best view of the day by far was watching this little family paddling frantically against the current. Hope we see them again tomorrow....will have some bread at the ready.
The little one at the back was doing double time
Wednesday 28th June... Everything's wet!! The rain hasn't let up all day long, Thesee's wet, Saffy's wet, and so are we and our working clothes. It was a big day today, we were feeling nervous when we got up at 6.30am. It seemed to take forever until our allocated lift time of 8.30am. Eventually we spotted the boat hoist on the move and the yard staff came to get us. Two of them hopped on board and accompanied Dean during the lift, whilst Linda and Saffy watched from afar, camera at the ready.
Up, up, and away
Nearly there...
Now safely on dry land....almost
Grubby bottom Thesee
Scabby prop, the anode just about hanging on
In mid-air, just held up by two straps, yikes!
It took almost 3 hours to lift, jet wash, and move to Thesee up into the yard. However, we've got the best spot with a great view down to the river. It's the Round the Island race on Saturday, so we'll get to see loads of boats heading down to the start. That's if we get up early enough....the race starts at 5.30am! This afternoon we got extremely messy abrading the copper coat on Thesee's bottom. This should help stop the nasty marine growth from forming so quickly. The boat's now full of dirty wet overalls. We're both feeling weary so off to bed soon. More jobs await tomorrow.
Thursday 29th June... HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAN!
Look at all those Birthday cards
Not everyone's idea of how to spend their special day, Dean started by fitting the new keel coolers. These will help to keep the fridge and freezer cold. But to fit them you need to drill holes in the hull. Scary. Here's the work in progress.
New hole in the hull
One of the fitted keel coolers from outside
After lunch Dean moved on to replacing two of the seacocks in the heads. The old plastic ones didn't come out very easily and so Dean had to saw them in half to remove them, before he could fit the new brass versions. The new fittings have to be left overnight before any more work can commence.
Trying to get the old seacock out
Finally, it's out
New one looking from outside
Meanwhile, Linda was doing her best at rubbing Thesee's bottom. It's not a very rewarding job i'm afraid and she was glad when Dean asked her to take Saffy for a walk. Later on Dean was still at it when Linda caught him touching up the coppercoat on the keel. This needs at least 3 coats so will be ongoing for the next few days.
After dinner and rhubarb crumble we walked up to the Lifeboat Inn at East Cowes Marina for a celebratory drink to Dean on his special day. I think he has been so busy today he forgot it was actually his Birthday! You are truly one of a kind Dean. Love you Birthday Boy xxx
Off to the pub
Friday 30th June... Today's first job was scrubbing the decks, and surprisingly it was very satisfying. I say that because you can actually tell you're making a difference when you do it. The day got even better when our good friends Sharon & Michael popped in to say hello. They had just arrived at the Yarmouth ferry crossing and were en-route to their hotel for a Wedding tomorrow. We were so busy chatting that i forgot to take any photos! Silly me, how annoying. Later on, Dean finished off one of the seacock fittings and was pleased with how it turned out.
Scrub, Scrub, Scrub
Saffy's lifejacket comes in handy for ladder transportation
Saturday 1st July.... It was 'Round the Island' race day today. The first boats crossed the starting line about 6am. We have some friends who entered the race, but we didn't go and watch as there were still jobs to be done. We needed a bit of shopping so Linda and Saffy walked into East Cowes to pick up some essentials and came back with two crabbing lines.
Photo taken from Vessel Finder during the race
Lovely flowers in East Cowes
Today it was polishing the hull day, and oh dear it didn't go well. Dean wasn't happy and kept throwing his dummy out of the pram. The weather was hot and the polish kept drying out. It's an awkward job too because you are standing on ladders reaching up and across. We did our best but Thesee is 50 foot long and so there's still a lot to be done yet. Dean finished off the second seacock, then we had to knock off early too as we were meeting our 'race' friends at Island Harbour for a meal. Unfortunately the water taxi was so busy we couldn't get them to pick us up, and the land taxis were also busy. In the end we had no choice but to offload the dingy and outboard, walk it down to the river, and take ourselves there. It must be about two miles up the river and it seemed to take forever to get there. Needless to say we were late. Linda looked so beautiful in her dress, wellies, and lifejacket. We returned at 11pm in the dark, but it wasn't as scary as Linda thought it would be on the river. In fact it was just nice to get back and get to bed.
Sunday 2nd July... Well what a fantastic sunny day. We started polishing early to get as much done before the sun came through. It's still not an easy job but somehow things went better than yesterday, apart from Linda spilling her 'Nano wax polish'. Other than the polishing it was pretty much a tidy up day.
You're so shiny Thesee
Monday 3rd July... Last day here in Cowes today and we're very pleased to report that all the scheduled jobs have now been completed. Dean gave Thesee's hull yet another polish whilst Linda cleaned the cockpit area and polished the metalwork. Then a final test on the seacocks after Dean has sprayed some silicon grease to the lubricate the workings.
Over the last couple of days we have become friendly with a couple working on another boat here in the yard. They are from New Zealand and have been here for a month, having purchased a boat here in Cowes. They've had some major works done to it and so it was a big day for them today as their boat (named Seamogs) was launched into the water.
'Seamogs' starting its long journey.... destination New Zealand
The owners have not seen it in the water yet!
So this evening we are taking it easy. Poor Dean has worked really hard, he is aching all over and his hands are raw with blisters, not to mention his sunburnt legs. Tomorrow is our own big day as Thesee is due to be launched at 10.30am. Here's a few photos to end the day.
Ouch! Dean's painful blisters
Still OK to hold a Rum & Coke though
Tuesday 4th July... So today the hoist came to collect Thesee at 10am. The boatyard staff put the straps in place, removed the boat shores, and then went for a half an hour tea break leaving us to nervously keep our eye on Thesee whilst he 'hung' around, you might say.
Time to go Thesee
Slow but sure
Once we were back in the water, Dean checked, checked again, and treble checked his new seacocks to ensure there were no leaks. Everything was fine, and once we had re-fitted the backstay, filled up with water, and said cheerio to our New Zealand friends we were on our way back to Portsmouth with the afternoon tide. Halfway across the Solent a tanker passed by leaving quite a big wake in its path, and Thesee did a couple of rather big splashes as it rode the waves. Damn, there goes the shiny hull.... Thesee's now covered in salt water again!
Making our own waves as we motor back to the mainland
Back at base we took even more photos of Thesee before heading home. A rather successful 9 days on board with everything going to schedule.
Putting everything straight before we go
Last minute reflections
We can't wait to come back next time for more adventures
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