Stormy Weather!

Just a quick update

       Delays, delays, delays. I think this audio clip sums up the preparations of late.
Then along with having the weather to contend with I have foolishly damaged a toe which subsequently got infected. So following a trip to the Doc. I have a dose of horse strength pills to try and get me sorted before I set off.

Still; this clip of Morecambe & Wise cheers me up. (Sorry for you guys behind the corporate firewall which block this kind of thing)

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......I'm now hoping for a little more classic Morecambe and Wise, (All together now, sing along) "Bring Me Sunshine".
(Audio clips courtesy of Amazon. You can buy the full copies of the track from them)

Here's a snapshot of Ruach on my drive looking smart with the charity graphics applied.

Ruach relocated to Port Edgar on Saturday. The trip was mostly uneventful apart from one heart stopping moment when the gusty wind induced a snake in the trailer. Many thanks to our good friends Nicola & Derryk for delivering Ruach for me.

I originally had a slot booked to get Ruach craned into the water today, but the gales put paid to that. I have a new slot booked for during my lunch break tomorrow. However the forecast is still very iffy so this may not happen. Oh the joys of boat owning in Scotland!

Again a big THANKS to all you 'givers' out there. The charities, via the justgiving sites, have now received over £800 in donations from your giving. Plus as it stands there will be another £400 given direct to Alzheimer Scotland from my employer in their matched giving initiative. If we can raise another £100 on the Alzheimer Scotland just giving site they will benefit from the full additional £500 of matched giving.

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 main 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 charities.
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 charities through either www.justgiving.com/david-hippey-scotland or www.justgiving.com/david-hippey

Catch you next time.

Regards,
David H.

T-minus 10 to blast off!

It's now just 10 short days until I cast off, weather permitting. But there is still much to do before the commencement of this adventure. Steady progress is being made assembling all the various bits of Ruach that were spread around the British Isles. I've introduced the GPS to the VHF radio and they are now in conversation and getting along famously (for which I breath a sigh of relief).
As planned the heads did get refurbished this past week, so another important milestone also gets crossed off the list. (At this time I can only hope that the operation has been a success as I am unable to fully test them on my house drive). Only time will tell!!!
Ruach is now resplendent with "Charity Sail for Alzheimer's" & "www.eventoftheyear.co.uk" graphics kindly supplied by the team at Anglia Graphic Signs to whom I am very grateful.

Ruach will shortly move from our home to Port Edgar Marina for a few days prior to setting off. Thanks go to Adam Cruttenden and the team for their assistance and generosity.

You may remember from previous posts my question on favourite recipes. Well Penny came home from Sainsburys brandishing a Chilli con Carne in a plastic pouch for me to try. The idea being that you can heat it either 'boil in the bag' style, or in a saucepan (or a microwave for those with posh yachts). Well I have to tell you that my expectation of this bag was low, mainly because I've tried instant 'packet meals' before. I find they tend to be either very bland or very salty. But I was amazed, paired with some rice this made a really tasty dish. I was so impressed I got in touch with the company, it seems they have a whole range of this type of meal. The company has the bizarre but apt name of Look what we found.  As an added bonus to me when they heard what I was up on my trip they offered me a healthy discount on their products, so I have purchased quite a selection which I look forward to trying. So my thanks also goes to Lauren and the team at Look what we found. I'll let you know what the other dishes are like as the trip progresses.

I'm still open to ideas for meals and snacks, so email me or leave a comment at the foot of this blog with your favourite ideas. 

Sorry for the lack of pictures this post, it's been a combination I've been too busy with preparations and again the weather not playing ball, (and I'm sure you don't want to see another picture of the loo) . 

A big THANKS to all you 'givers' out there. The charities, via the justgiving sites, have now received over £700 in donations from your giving. 

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 main 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 charities.

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 charities through either www.justgiving.com/david-hippey-scotland or www.justgiving.com/david-hippey

Catch you next time.

Regards,

David H. 

Hey Dad, I'm nearly famous!

  ..... Well the trip is anyway, it made it into the Cornish Crabbers website and newsletter last week - click here for more info . Who knows, maybe it will be on the 'One Show' next if they pick up this story.

It is starting to come together. The work on the hull has been completed and Ruach been transported across from the West Coast to Livingston. Because the repairs took longer than anticipated (Don't they always), I've brought Ruach to my home so that every minute available can be spent on preparation rather than wasted on time spent travelling to and from the boat.

The replacement berth cushions are completed. The thirty three year'ish old originals were found to be so disgusting when I opened up the mouldy damp mess that I could not even use them as templates for the replacements for fear of contaminating the replacement foam with mould spores. So I spent a satisfyingly  happy hour or so sculpting the blue dense foam with a bread knife to fit the profile of the boat; I have to admit that I chickened out of making the cushion covers. We knew we were running out of time so called in the professionals, it was money well spent I say as the cushions are to be my seat and bed for the next three months. I used Newlook Upholstery Services in Cardenden, Fife.

The next job on my list,  in nautical terms, is to tackle the heads. That sounds so much better than saying I need refurbish the loo.  I have the spares kit, I have the tools,  I just need to find the resolve to do it. It's one of those jobs that is oh so easy put off, but is definitely be worth getting done before I set sail. (Three months with crossed legs isn't really an option).

Don't forget to drop me a note at onpassage@dhippey.co.uk to sign up to be informed when blog updates appear.

To date, between both of the charity websites, you have donated over £500. I am so grateful to you for this, you know who you are. Every donation, large or small, makes a difference.On behalf of the charities I thank you.

Please share this site with your friends and family

( Especially the rich ones :-)  )

If you came to this blog from the main 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 charities.
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 charities through either www.justgiving.com/david-hippey-scotland or www.justgiving.com/david-hippey

Catch you next time.

Regards,
David H.

I'm in pieces, bits and pieces

I've posted a picture of Ruach below, not one of the best pictures I know, but it's posted here as a reminder to me of what Ruach should look like as she is currently scattered to the four points of the compass. The hull is under repair across in Fairlie on the West coast where the famous prolific boatbuilder William Fife plied his trade; the rigging is being refurbished down in Rock with the boatbuilder Cornish Crabbers; the boom, gaff and bowsprit are in my garage just about ready for their final coat of varnish and the berth cushions are about to go to an upholsterer across the Firth of Forth in Fife (Try saying that three times fast).
I have great faith that all these items will soon be reunited in one location.

The picture was taken in Rothesay harbour on the Isle of Bute during the June 2010 National Shrimper Week where thirty'odd Cornish Shrimpers and two Crabbers met together and enjoyed a spell of idyllic Mediterranean weather cruising around the Clyde. (Yes REALLY, it was that HOT!)

You may notice that I've added an additional justgiving site on to the main website pointing to a Scottish Alzheimer charity. The reason I have added this is that my employer will match your giving up to a maximum of £500 for a charity in the same locality as my work base. This means if you donate £20 to the Scottish giving site they will match that donation with another £20 so boosting the value of your donation.

I've had a few comments on the question posed last post about meal suggestions. As a reminder I asked for "things that are easy to store, quick to prepare and can be cooked on just two burners. No grill or oven". Someone reminded me of Charles Stock and his pocket cruiser Shoal Waters who used to place a tinned steak-and-kidney pudding in his kettle to cook while underway. Another recommendation was for a Fray Bentos chicken pie cooked under an up-turned pan on a single burner, spotted on Dylan Winter's site KTL. KTL really is an interesting site, full of spectacular video footage of his trip so far. For just a few $ subscription you can watch all the video in best quality. I'm sure you won't be disappointed (If you do subscribe tell Dylan I sent ya).
Please keep the ideas coming using the comments link below or by email.


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 main 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 charities.
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 charities through either www.justgiving.com/david-hippey-scotland or www.justgiving.com/david-hippey

Catch you next time.

Regards,
David H.

"Holy Decks Batman!"

The repair work is coming on a pace. Thankfully the extent of the rot is not as bad as it could have been (I had feared the worst), so not so bad for a thirty something year old boat. As you can see below there is currently a hole in the deck above the galley of just under 2' x 4' with nicely scarphed edges awaiting the patching pieces to be fitted. John & Hugh are doing a great job with this crucial work.

This week I had a very exiting call from Peter Thomas, MD of Cornish Crabbers LLP, offering the help of Cornish Crabbers in a practical sense in helping prepare the boat for the trip and also helping the spread the word about the trip and it's goals.
I really appreciate the way people are getting behind this project. I'm already in receipt of emails of encouragement from people around the world. From my perspective it is great to be able to benefit the charity while fulfilling one of my own life goals. So thanks to you all who have given to the charity so far. Please continue to support this very worthy cause.


Now, I need some feedback from you guys. I'm looking for meal suggestions that are easy to store, quick to prepare and can be cooked on just two burners. No grill or oven. One of my favourites for a quick nourishing meal is chunky chicken in a white wine sauce served with rice and sweet corn. But I am open to ideas. what do you guys suggest? Drop me a mail or leave a comment to let me know your thoughts.


Finally this time I must mention my thanks to Hannah Brinklow, I'm grateful to her for championing my cause with her manager. Cheers Hannah. 




Don't forget to drop me a note at onpassage@dhippey.co.uk to sign up to receive an email of when blog updates appear.  Please 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.
As a reminder, 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.

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.

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.