So long since I put something on here and so much has happend Celtic Spirit is now down South in Gibraltar and has been since May 2013 it was a great trip only stopping twice one in Porto and then in Lagos in Portugal.

 

Round the Island Race 2011

25th June 2011 and its 05.00 the wind is whistling through the shrouds and i'm sure that's water on the decks, but the crew is up, the bacon is on, and we are finally here, the morning of our first race, and it blowing a hoolie! so as we join the blue group in the holding area the second Mayday crackles over the radio, the 07.10 start is counted down and were off a beet down to the needles and then with the wind and waves behind us we surf broaching several times till the far corner of the island, its now 12.30 and sandwiches and flute cake are served as we continue to battle wind and waves the Bembridge cardinal, this is our turning point and its just the final run back up the east side, so 9 hrs. 7 mins and 43 seconds and we are finish and I mean FINISHED! but I would not have missed this for a moment, and before you even think of asking, 30th June 2012 I have already checked!

Newbury Cruise 2011

Early start from Portsmouth mainly due to the risk of grounding not being able to leave on time for the cross channel tides but some 13 hrs later we are entering the east side of Cherbourg, time to go up the mast and maybe do some running repairs but the fore-stay is coming unravelled. two days here and then off to the Alderney race but due to for once to much speed we are here far to early and have to tack around the top of the island and Wait


Guernsey Harbour was our second port of call and once we got used to putting to ground yet again life was just great Here. a trip to Hurm and the NYC club dinner in the sailing club and yes finally I got that steak!!

West Country cruise

The Royal wedding was a great excuse to go cruising so off to the west country with Selko,
we started with a night at anchor in Studland bay and then moved on to the new marina in Portland, followed by a very early start to go round Portland Bill on route to Dartmouth, then two nights in Salcombe on a buoy and return journey taking in Torquay, Weymouth, Lyimington and finally back to Swanwick ten days later.

Copper Bottom

Well she is back out and has been copper coated so with luck this will be the last anti fouling for the next ten years!! I used a company called Reactive Resins as they were so much better value than all the others. so here on the hard she will stay till the 21st April the only bits left to do are the pads and Kevin my new discovery will be doing them next week and he will also be helping me do the topsides and the deck on the 24th. so roll on Easter!!!

Bunny ears

Well at last the ears have been fitted and the new sail tested with Chris Horseman, It was a crisp days sailing but fun for the time of year just two more weekends and then she is ashore for the removal of the old anti foul and on with the copper coat,
with luck and good weather she will be launched just in time for the Easter break.

A summers sailing

Well been sailing to much to keep this up but think its about time for a recap!
a number of people have sailed this summer and it has always been fun an old school friend Chris Horseman came on, and after his adventures this must have seemed very tame, but a great day was had and I look forward to him and with luck his family coming on again. Andy and I managed two extended cruses one to the west and one to Brighton. both I will cover a little more in their own posts, but to all who did sail I hope you enjoyed you day or days and I look forward to seeing you in the yard over the winter! (OK only joking)

Laid up ashore

What a winter we have had, but it has given me a chance to look at Celtic Spirit and tweak with all her insides!, the electrics have been the main attention for me with new domestic AGM batteries and a new 40A charger duly fitted, some Heath Robinson wiring rectified and the battery meter now in a place you can see it, a new stern gland fitted and Andy with grease gun in hand has overhauled the Kiwi prop also fitted is a Nature pure water purifier for some decent drinking water, all the seat covers have been removed and washed as well, and while I have been hard at work the Yard has been fitting the bow thruster and grey water tank, polishing the top sides filling the rudder and giving her a coat of antifouling, so she was launched on the 8th March and moved back to Swanwick on the 13th now on X22 some way from the showers but its ok for now.

Last sail of the season

Call us stupid, call us mad, but last weekend we took her out for a sail, it was a beautiful sunny day, and had it not been mid winter the temperature would I'm sure have gone above 5c but hey that's what all the expensive gear is for! we did 50 miles in total and went out beyond the safe water mark west of the needles and back, Andy and I improved our night navigation skills it still requires someone to go below to clean the log once again! one day someone will make one which never gets clogged up, just as a note to this, we also still have a small reverse problem, but the crew were ready this time and a second disaster was avoided. we took her on the Sunday down to HYS and now await her lift, the yard is doing the bow thruster and the gray water tank, she will also have a polish and anti foul and with luck be back on her mooring by mid March.

Sails Off

Well as the gearbox is starting to become a pain, this week as per my insurance the rigging is being changed, and to make things a little easier I am having a Z Spar's mainsail track installed. I had a cleaning weekend and got her ready for the riggers knife! the main sail has also been sent off to have the alterations done and with luck all will be completed by the end of the month, all we need now is to decide what to do with the gearbox!!!

50 - 52 - 909 N 001 - 17 - 977 W

Celtic Spirits new home is now at Swanwick marina, the old Moody s yard. she will be here till mid winter when she is due to have some work done, our time at Deacons was nice and we made some new friends but it was not to productive on the sailing side.

Deacons

Well at last we have moved ! I think that Ancasta were more happy than me, but hey at sometime I was going to have to pay for moorings. So with the help of Mike, Cris and Colin we had a days sail up and down the solent and then back to our new mooring, so for the next month she will be at Deacons Yard at the top end of the Hamble.

The survey

Well today the small book covering as may derriere's as humanly possible arrived and what a read but I still love her and apart from a little scratch here and there she seems sound as a pound, well actual lots of pounds but that's boats for you. so with luck fourteen days or less she's all mine !

My Map

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The Beginning

Well at last I have put my hand into my pocket and bought a new one! some time ago I related purchasing a Yacht as the same as having children, you know you only have another one when you have forgotten how painful the last one was, well White silk was then and Celtic Spirit is now.
She is a Jeanneau sun odyssey 37 twin cabin and at present she is lying at Hamble point marina but soon to move up to Swanwick for the winter, then back in the yard for some work prior to next summer