birthday

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Sailing South

Sailing south to Gairloch with nick John and Charlotte.

Also the new tender i built Ply / epoxy construction of course. The design is a 'tippy'. and yes it is but it rows like a dream!

Back on the trailer again 9 July

After missing a tide or two Maureen was gently lowered onto her trailer by the tide at 1:15am on Wednesday 9 July.  After a few hours sleep onboard as the tide dropped we hauled her up the shallow beach to just above the HW mark using Sandys Tractor and various winching systems. We spent some time digging the front wheels into the beech to level the boat to make working and sleeping on her easier. 

Now our refit can start! All to be finished by the end of the month for CARGO1 (sailing exhibition)

Some of the jobs include re varnishing , re painting, (includind mast) refit Bow with double berth, new chainplates and fix the leaks. Also Fit new stove. 

First sail of the year May 08

My first blog post......! written in retrospect.

We decided to sail out to Tanera Mor - one of the Summer Isles, for a Cottage warming party and meet up with some of charlottes old school friends.

We set sail on Saturday morning and arrived mid afternoon after a good beat against the westerly wind . Boat sailing well although still insisting on taking on  water while under way - must get that sorted.... . Been using an old Folk Boat sail that seems to fit remarkably well although not perfect. 

Grand Party and a long row back to Maureen in the dark.

After anchoring in a small bay on the south west of the Island for lunch we sailed back through a choppy sea - water washing the decks and threatening to wet us as the winter has destroyed our spray hood! The boat being so well balanced we retreated below decks as Maureen sailed us home!! 

Myself, Daniel Johnson and Charlotte Watters bought Maureen in 2003 in a slightly sorry state and have slowly been restoring her ever since. At the time we were both students with a passion for sailing and classic boats. The restoration has been slow as it has all been done in spare time at weekends and on short holidays / breaks from work and College.

We have now fitted a new deck (including deck beams), replaced frames / ribs, keel bolts, a large section of deadwood keel , renewed the keel bolts , re fitted the interior and fitted a new engine (Sabb) amongst many other things.

She has now been afloat since summer 2007 surviving the winter on her mooring.

We have enjoyed many short voyages in the late 07 season around the Northwest coast of Scotland.