Sunday 27 March 2011

The fit-out continues

While the boat is in the shed having some deck repairs carried out I am getting on with other items of the fit-out. You should have seen my little MG driving down the M8 with the bowsprit, gaff and boom all sticking out of the unzipped back window, I'm sure it looked like some kind of dodgem car. They are all now in my garage awaiting a coat or three of varnish.
Saturday I purchased some lovely Goldspar yacht varnish and a new zinc anode and fitting kit for the hull. A big thanks to the guys at the Bosun's Locker at Port Edgar for their generosity.

To accompany me on the journey I was thinking about taking my guitar in it's protective hard case to entertain myself as I venture out in the wilds, but it does take up an awful lot of room on a small yacht like mine and the damp salty air would not really be best for that fine instrument. Then I remembered a conversation with one of my good friends, musician Phil Baggaley, around Christmas time last year, I remember him mentioning about having a Ukulele and playing it just like a four stringed guitar. So following a short hunt around the t'internet I found a cheapish one with a hard case. I thought it would be nice and easy just tuning the four strings to the same tuning as the top four string of a guitar, then my vast array of (four'ish) chords would be an easy transition from guitar to Uke, using the same fingering and all that. Easy peasy!
NOT. After fighting the Uke, new strings going out of tune within seconds of being tuned, and still sounding rubbish, with me thinking ' well, it was really cheap'. I decided to have a go at tuning it to standard Ukulele tuning and, boy! The instrument was transformed! Now all I have to do is re-learn all my chords!!!
The good news is that after about a week the strings are settling down to stay in tune for about the duration of a song or two and I have just about enough chord shapes to match Status Quo.


Don't forget to drop me a note at onpassage@dhippey.co.uk to sign up to be informed when blog updates appear.
Please share this site with your friends and family ( Especially the rich ones :-)  )


If you came to this blog from the website www.eventoftheyear.co.uk you will hopefully have had a look around the site and be aware of what I'm up to, both the adventure itself and the fact that I'm aiming to raise awareness of dementia in our society and to raise money for the Alzheimer's Society.
I'm doing this trip for fun and funding the trip myself, but while I'm on this venture you can do your bit to by supporting the Alzheimer's Society through the 'Charity' link on the website or by going direct to: http://www.justgiving.com/david-hippey/

Catch you next time.

Regards,
David H.

Thursday 24 March 2011

On dry land at last

The Scottish weather finally relented, Ruach came out of the water on Monday to have some essential maintenance work done before the trip commences.
Even this task was not without it's challenges. I had taken a days leave from work to sail Ruach over to Fairlie Marine to be hauled out the water. Unfortunately the boat hoist had failed, needing a replacement part. So it looked like a precious days holiday was going to be wasted, but then we formulated a plan B! This was to see if those nice guys at Largs Marina could squeeze me into their busy early season schedule. Thankfully they agreed and Ruach was hoisted out of the briny, then pressure washed to remove the marine flora and forna, before being placed skilfully on to her trailer to await the haul by road to Fairlie.
The final task before her 'road trip' was to lower the mast and remove the bowsprit. This is the first time I have performed this task on a Cornish Crabber and more to the point the first time I have done this single handed. So with a bit if thought, a few old timers trick, the right weather and a dose of ignorance the mast came down easily and the bowsprit was dismounted.



As I write this blog I notice that it is now only 65 days to the commencement of the journey. Where is the time going to? I so hope time starts to slow to a more leisurely pace once I step off the everyday treadmill of life.


If you came to this blog from the website www.eventoftheyear.co.uk you will hopefully have had a look around the site and be aware of what I'm up to, both the adventure itself and the fact that I'm aiming to raise awareness of dementia in our society and to raise money for the Alzheimer's Society.
I'm doing this trip for fun and funding the trip myself,  but while I'm on this venture you can do your bit to by supporting the Alzheimer's Society through the 'Charity' link on the webpage www.eventoftheyear.co.uk or by going direct to the website http://www.justgiving.com/david-hippey/
Thanks for your support.

If you want to be emailed when this blog is updated drop me a note at onpassage@dhippey.co.uk

Catch you next time.

David H.

Wednesday 9 March 2011

Around the world in 80 days

Looking at the 'time to start of cruise' widget on the website I see it is now just 80 days until the start of the cruise. Just enough time to make it around the world then! Well that was enough time for Jules Verne's character Phileas Fog in his classic novel "Around the world on 80 days".
Still seems to be a bit short when I'm preparing for this trip while still holding down the day job as well. Never mind, press on.

As I write this blog Ruach remains afloat, the Scottish weather has thwarted attempts to get her lifted out of the water. It's currently blowing a force 6 with gusts of force 8/9, then just to top it off it is threatening to snow too. So it looks like it will be Monday or Tuesday next week before we get the right weather for the lift. Watch this space.

Special thanks to the people who have donated to the Alzheimer's Society so far on the back of this trip. The just giving site has only been up for less than a week now and you have already given over £100 (plus the amount reclaimable through gift aid). You people are so generous.

Don't forget to drop me a note at onpassage@dhippey.co.uk to sign up to be informed when updates appear. I've also added some widgets below this blog to help you share this site with your friends and family.


If you came to this blog from the website www.eventoftheyear.co.uk you will hopefully have had a look around the site and be aware of what I'm up to, both the adventure itself and the fact that I'm aiming to raise awareness of dementia in our society and to raise money for the Alzheimer's Society.
I'm doing this trip for fun and funding the trip myself, but while I'm on this venture you can do your bit to by supporting the Alzheimer's Society through the 'Charity' link on the website or by going direct to: http://www.justgiving.com/david-hippey/
Thanks for your support and words of encouragement.


Catch you next time.

David H.