Winter jobs….

Well Autonomy is parked up out on the hard (lifted out just before Christmas) so sailing practice is off till Easterish.  Always breath a slight sigh of relief once the craning bit is safely completed.

However plenty of winter jobs to do (servicing engine, antifouling and the 101 other “little jobs” that need doing). Mast is out – so we can give the rigging a good check over. Genoa is with Ben for a little bit of attention after the winter series (and to add large arrow on the leach line showing people which end to pull 😉

Hopefully we won’t get quite this much wind in the open sea in June this was a winter day when they cancelled the racing but we went out for a play anyway ..

This year – due to some nasty cosmetic scratching in the marina when we had a force 10 through in the autumn she is due to get a respray this winter – so hopefully we’ll be looking very smart for the race.

Winter jobs have started – annual battle with the heat exchanger stack (which seems to stick each year just a little bit more than my improved methods for unsticking it) – blooded knuckles again. Finally got it apart, cleaned up and back together. Just need to see if when I fill it with water it all leaks out again.

Also been checking out the rules for the race – and Santa bought a few bits and bobs for the boat – all things that you hope you never have to use – emergency navigation lights, things to throw at anyone who falls overboard (I think the idea is that they help you find them again – not that you skewer the individual in annoyance – but I’ve not read the small print yet).

I’ve also had a bit of a look at the route – and came to the conclusion that basically its pretty silly – last time we went to Scotland we went via the Isle of Man – not via a load of harbours that don’t have enough water and vicious tides. Must remember to ask Crispin if he minds detouring a bit …

As for the running – well after being dragged round the Paps of Jura by Crispin – I vowed not to be quite so unfit next time (or at least to have actually broken into a trot within the last couple of years just in case) – so have been trying to get out a couple of times a week on a little loop that probably wouldn’t warrant Crispin and Damon putting their trainers on.  All a bit snowy and icy today for running (rare for us here out West) – so today’s exercise was dragging small children up hills on sledges (lets hope it thaws tonight – I think the running was easier !)  followed by a walk to the pub (too dangerous to run and 100 yards is still a bit far) and a large lunch (have to be careful to keep calorie intake up in this cold weather – especially after Christmas)