The Plan 2014 - ?

The Plan AM

Mick has been sailing for more than 30 years.  He started with Wayfarers on a reservoir.  Over the years the boats have slowly increased in size.   Starting with a Sea-wych, trailer sailer, to a Swift 23, Jeanau 26, Jeaneau 32 and for the past 7 years a Jeaneau Sun Odyssey 35.

Mick has completed many sailing courses over the years and has a Yachtmaster Coastal qualification.  He is a practical person and as a professional engineer has always been a hands-on DIY sailor.  He regularly reads and occasionally contributes to the PBO forum.

I completed my Dayskipper Practical and Yachtmaster theory several years ago.  I am the food and subsistence end of the partnership.  I have a wanderlust and am looking forward to seeing many new places.  I am self appointed ‘Tourism Officer’ and look forward to wandering around new towns and cities and any tourist attraction (preferable free) that comes onto my radar.

During the summer months we go sailing as often as work allows.  Most weekends are spent sailing or caravanning on the boat.

We made a conscious decision when we became a couple to live in a small house and have the best boat we could afford, with the long term dream of sailing off someday.

We have seen friends retire and go sailing their boats, some more successfully than others.  We came to the conclusion that sailing is a physically demanding pastime and if we were to do it for an extended period we should try to go as soon (or as young) as possible.  We all have friends who have sadly passed away or become less capable and these events have propelled us towards this decision.

Mick’s daughter has graduated from University and is now living happily in Ireland.  Our parents have all passed away and we have served our time as carers and companions.  So the coast is clear.  We have numerous friends who we will miss whilst away, including my W.I. and craft club friends and close family.  However, technology is on our side.  We have grown up in a technological whirlwind and so keeping in touch has never been easier, with the help of good and often free WiFi.

The time feels right to live our dream.  We have both been granted a sabbatical from work for 1 year and so off we go.

I still won’t quite believe it until we actually leave.

Preparation So Far….

The voyage should be sponsored by Ebay.  Mick has been accumulating stuff, important stuff, for a number of years now.  We need very little, except food.

Mick is partial to a computer or two.  We currently have 4 computers capable of navigation.  There have been many rounds of new software, upgrades and updates.  We have several GPS devices but have chosen currently to forgo Radar, though we do have AIS (Automatic Identification System, which beeps if large registered ships get within range).  I would like to be able to silence the AIS from the cockpit but this is a work in progress and good exercise.

The Radio and CD player now automatically cut out when a maritime information broadcast is active.

Mick has been accumulating Maps, Charts, Cruising Guides and has spent many hours planning the route.  Although this is difficult until we know exactly when, and then the weather interferes.   The boat has a full suite of Raymarine instruments although Mick prefers to use Open CPN (laptop software) as the primary navigational system, although for those in the know, the laptop is fully integrated to both the Sea-Talk Network and the AIS receiver.

We have both lost some weight, with the added bonus that the boat feels bigger.  (By the 5:2 fasting diet method, if you are interested).

There has been experimentation with Wind power, but we have currently decided against taking the windmill.

A microwave has been acquired and will be installed this weekend (8/2/14), somewhere…  The theory being that electric in a marina is free whereas Gas costs money.  Have I mentioned we are quite frugal, tight, scrimpers who love to save a penny or two when possible.

We have been clearing the boat of all the miscellaneous junk we have filled it with over the past few years.  We have enough glasses, cups and crockery for a decent sized party.  There will mostly be 2 of us, though we have kept some extra glasses and cups, just to be sociable.

We have had some cards made to hand out if we meet people en-route and for people back home to keep in touch with the new phone numbers, email and blogspot.

Dental and Sight checks have been made.  One tooth removed.  It had always been a nuisance.

Boat Preparation…..

Mick carries out all the boat servicing other than sail and canvas repairs.  The boat has a lifting keel and a Volvo MD2030 engine.  Annual servicing has always included filters, oils, anodes, and keel mechanism lubrication but in the last year Mick has also changed the exhaust elbow, drained and cleaned the heat exchanger, replaced the batteries, installed a water filtration system, serviced the furling main sail mechanism, winches, electric windlass and outboard motor, de-coked the eberspacer, changed the toilet valve, and upgraded the lights to LEDs.

We will be taking the boat out of the water for Anti-fouling in Feb/March and Mick is going to change the cutlass bearing and prop shaft seal and replaced all the running rigging.  Mick went up the mast last summer using the mast-climber to check the standing rigging and replace an allen screw in the Genoa furling foil. 

We like her to look good so we will give her a good polish too.  I just hope the weather is good enough so that the polish goes off OK.  We have had a previous bad experience where the polish just would not budge and we ended up looking at unsightly streaks all year.

Boat Insurance – You think you can just set sail and go with the wind.  Wrong.  The boat insurance has caviats starting when you can and can’t go to particular places.  The one affecting us is the Bay of Biscay which cannot be crossed after September with only the two of us.  I think this is a good idea, but it may have some bearing on our course and how long we linger in places.  I would like to get passed the Bay of Biscay this year and aim south for Winter.  Mick thinks we may not get so far.

The other big unknown is how often we may return home.  Mick is going to do 3 days work a month and so may need to travel a little.  Neither of us has been away from home for so long before so we don’t really know how we will react to homesickness.  We do have the added advantage of working together for many years, so we are only parted due to work commitments.  We are used to being together which most couples are not.

People keep asking how long will it take to get to places but we just do not know.  The weather is the main decision maker.  It did not sunshine until July last year, but previous years we have sailed from March to November.  All part of the adventure.

I joined the W.I. a few years ago which re-ignited my interest in sewing and has lead to all sorts of new crafts and activities I would never of thought of.  I would highly recommend joining whatever your age.  During the last few years I have been accumulating skills in small scale craft projects which I can take afloat.  My main activity is making teddy bears, and they too have become smaller to accommodate the trip.  I have enjoyed patchwork and quilting, crochet, felting and painting so I think I will be able to keep myself occupied during the long hours waiting in marina for the weather to change.  I am also looking forward to getting truly lost in a book.  I think the domestic duties will take longer too.  Washing and drying are the things I am most uncertain about.  On every other long trip we have taken in the boat the washing has been taken home at the end.  It should be easier when we get further south and the weather gets better.

Mick has made a backup of all the music CDs in our collection for us to use on the trip.  Again technology is on our side.