Windmill Up And Working

Well, we have now got an alternative source of juice for charging the batteries!

In the end, it was not that difficult though, as ever, there was a lot of contorting oneself into awkward positions to feed wires through lockers and behind panels and such like.

The regulator is screwed to the panel where the switches and such like are. It has a green light on it to show that charge is going into the batteries though we are more and more of the view that they need replacing

We have reassembled down below and are going to go to the bar for a celebratory beer shortly.

Here is a picture of it working. More to follow when we have a fast internet connection.

Progress

Well, we have had a fun day. As the wind seemsto be lighter in the morning we decided to get going on the jib halyard first thing. We had a bit of a palaver getting the ascender set up and working out which was the best halyard and such like to use for the ascender. Eventually, we settled on the main halyard for the bosuns chair and the topping lift for the ascender.

Tom Cunliffe had a chapter in his latest book from which I had got the idea and it all looked great. The reality is that it is a lot of hard work but is eminently possible. There is no way that Audrey could have wound me up the mast even with the genoa sheet winches but with me stepping up on the ascender, we got there in the end.

I even remembered to tie the new jib halyard onto the chair so didn't have to come back down for it. We even got it threaded and reeved without too much swearing. There are good views from the top of the mast as well.

Next up was a quick trip to Sheppards in Gib to get some nuts and bolts with a view to tackling the windmill. Suffice to say that it is erected and a cable is now led to the regulator by the chart table but lack of daylight and an urgent need on my part for beer has meant that the last bit of connecting it to the batteries will have to wait.

We should have that done tomorrow when we will see about boring all the legions of readers with photos.

Bright, Cold and Windy

Well, we have been here for twenty four hours now. The weather is nice and bright with cloudless skies but the wind is up around force 7 gusting to 32 knots so no sailing is happening. It is also a lot colder than we expected with temperatures only reaching 10-12.

Still, it is nice to be here!

Off to the Boat

Well, it feels like a long wait but we are now on holiday and doing the last minute rushing around everyone does before flying anywhere to spend a week on Sarah G.

Hopes are to get the jib halyard re-reeved and the wind generator up and running at last. We are also hoping to get some sailing in. Even, dare I say it to get across the straits to Morocco but we shall have to see what the weather throws at us.

On the subject of the weather, it is not looking that clever with the temperature forecast to plummet into single figures - almost as bad as here though hopefully with less rain than the rather sodden Britain we have at the moment.

Anyway, time to get back to clearing the rubbish off the bed and such like.

Progress on the House

A long weekend so as to burn up some annual leave has been used productively for once and the floor in the living room is sanded and varnished now.

Here is the room bare and waiting for the sander

And, the finished result!

On a more boaty topic, just a week to go till we fly down for a week aboard. Priority will be to get the windmill up but we also want to do some small scale cruising. We shall have to see.

Off Topic - But the More That Come ...

The better.

Belly Dancing has a very long tradition and makes for a great evening out. Anyone in London on the 25th is encouraged to come along.

Brixton Hafla

Bunch of Loons But You Have to Admire Them

As I write, the Vendee Globe round the world race is starting off Les Sables D'Olonne. They race round the world non stop south of the three great capes - Good Hope, Leeuwin and The Horn.

The idea of enduring the biggest seas that the world can throw at you in what is essentially an overblown dinghy is not something I am ever likely to wish to endure even though Robin Knox-Johnston did it in his sixties!

Vendee Globe

The very best of British to all of them anyway!

Found their blog

Nik and Tony are busy enjoying Archangel though it is a bit reassuring to find that they find it as challenging to actually get on their way as we do! According to stated plans we will be heading to Spain about the same time they are heading down the Thames.

Click Here

In other news, I did a bit of quick research into travelling with your cat. It is a bit of a mixed bag unfortunately. I suspect that taking her out of the EU will be a major hassle. There is also some doubt about crossing EU borders such as from Sapin to Portugal.

We shall have to find out anyway.

Not Much Happening

Well, we have a holiday booked now. 27 November to 04 December now. Falls after Audrey's hafla. Plan is to finally get the windmill fully installed and then get across the straits to Cueta and hopefully cross the border into Morocco for a visit.

We took a jolly to Bursledon between bouts of the lurgies to get some bits at Force 4. The most eye watering bit were a couple of Wichard shackles for the halyards - £21 each!!

Oh well, more to follow.