Solo Ventures

 This is one cute little boat! Seriously,  she has bilge keels (no slipping needed), an onboard diesel,  full headroom and knows her way through heavy conditions.  Down below she is well appointed, with two berths/ lounges,  a folding table, a hanging locker and in the vee berth, an enclosed head.   She is one off the little Westerly not designed by Laurent Gyles,  but she is based on the original Westerly 22 and the modified Nomad 22. These are the boats that Bill Churchouse sailed in various Jester Challenges and are well loved by the Brits. Some were exported to USA, but are not likely to be available in the southern hemisphere .   Can be had,  well appointed,  with running diesel and cruising fit out for load than £5000. 

 Plodding,  well staggering ahead.  Last week I drilled the rudders and ordered dyneema courage that will be used to lash these too the hull.   But its not been delivered yet? No,  I'm still waiting.  I do wonder if people are using the pandemic to go at a slower pace? Probably.   There has been progress in other areas of my fragile existences on this rapidly spinning,  orbiting planet.  My son had decided on taking on the responsibilities of paid work. Yay! Good for him,  it's a major step forward for a young fellow happy to while away while days in his room,  and opposing all encouragement for him to be active, civil or productive. I'd almost given up hope that he'd be my second parenting/ homeschooling success.  But there you go.   Another benefit of him taking up work is that I could charge him rent,   but more relevant to me going sailing ( and this blog), to live independently.  With both children earning money and being able to support themselves,  I can take tim

 Today I have shamelessly reposted a blog page from the blog of Tiki 21 Badu. I've read it before, twice and yet again today; it's wisdom touches me.   I recently watched a utube video by a ditzy bird who considered she knew enough about the Tiki 21 to refer to it as a "coffin". Her expertise? She crews on a Tiki 26 on sunny days during the" sailing season". I recall her previous rivetting video was about "nudity". Mind boggling buckshot.   But this sailor gets it right; it's not the boat. Enjoy.   In response to Seans question about the Tikis suitability for voyaging: I don't mean to sidestep the question but... I am no longer of the opinion that boats are inherently suited to any particular use. It is more a matter of whether you are suited to the task of voyaging aboard the particular boat in mind. If you are Moitessier it is realistic to make a long voyage in a boat made of wood, burlap, newspaper and pitch (1st chapter of The Logical R

 Finally back at work.  After bloody weeks and months of rain and wind the chance arrived for some work to get done.  Not having plans to go ofI and feeling the vibe,  I used the original rudder as a drilling template.  After drilling putt to 4-5mm, a larger drill was used either side to clean the scurf on each lashing hole.   Not certain of the process,  I G00gled possible solutions without success.  The options are:- 1. Coat the holes with epoxy.  2. Overdrill, fill with epoxy and redrill. 3. After lashing seal with epoxy.  Thoughts:- 1. Could easily foul the hole and not serial properly anyhow.  2. Lots off work, could weaken site.  3. Easy,  but will it still allow free rider movement? Afterwards, inside of hatches and rollers were painted.  Happy days!

  " How can a yacht*, dwarfed by the waves, survive in these extreme watery Himalayan conditions ? "           Sir Robin Knox-Johnson *Clipper 68'. This quote is taken from the forward to Lisa Blair's book "Facing Fear". First of all, I have never, nor do I plan to,  sail the Southern Ocean. And yes,  I have issues with Sir RKJ's "winning" the inaugural RTW race that included Bernard Moitessier,  who was first to round Cape Horn but elected to continue sailing to Tahiti. Ostensibly to avoid the fame and publicity should he sail to the finish line.  I've no doubt Sir RKJ sailed a fine race and has since enjoyed yachting stardom that arose from crossing that line. Incidentally,  Lisa Blair sailed under Sir RKJ in the Clipper Race before he wrote the forward to her book.  No harm in sharing the spotlight ... if you're that way inclined.  Anyway,  each to their own,  and this is what I want to explore; my own views on "conquering

 I am just re-reading Sailing Into Solitude by Val Howells and am aware that he questioned Blondie Hasler's Hasler'discussion to allow Chichester's successful ocean racing yacht of 39' to enter a race against two 25' "sailing canoes", a "tubby cruiser" of similar length and Frenchman's diminutive craft.  Hasler was afraid to limit the number of entries given there were only four. So I attempted to calculate the efficiency of each craft based on LWL alone.    Blondie on Jester 25' carvel Folkboat Lwl 19', 6"  Max speed 5.8kn. Distance 3000nm. Time 48 days.  Average speed  2.6kn Efficiency 45% of hull speed.   Chichester , Gypsy Moth III  Robert Clark 39 Lwl 28' Max speed  8.5kn Distance 3000nm Time 40 days.  Average speed 3.1kn Efficiency 36.5% Theoretically Jester was sailed at a higher efficiency and if you consider the greater capacity for a heavier yacht to pierce through waves with greater inertia,  to remain more stable

 Inspired by a group of guys, mostly middle aged or older, that sail the Jester (transAtlantic), Azores or Baltimore challenges in older boats between 20 and 30 feet. The solo challenges are self supported,  self rescue type affairs and while it's common to have withdrawals from every challenge,  very few require outside assistance.   So, idly just checking the local  market to see what is available should one have the money and time to mount a challenge. . Cole 26 $6000, Qld. Average cond.  International Folkboat,  $7000  tidy,  simple.   Spacesuit 28', near,  spacious $16000. The 2022 Jester Challenge to Newport RI began with j just four entrants this year.  A series of storms battered the little fleet and the last two yachts decided to withdraw to the Äzores due to significant gear failure.  But apparently,  without a deadline any of the four may resume the race.