Wander Lost

Month: September 2021

  • In Aberystwyth for the Winter

    I have moved the boat to Aberystwyth Marina on a 6 month winter mooring package a week earlier than planned. The weather has changed this week with a colder and windier outlook.

    When preparing to leave Aber laat week, i noticed a leaking fuel hose, I managed to find a replacement online.

    Leaking pressurised fuel line

    During the winter I have lots of plans for doing improvements based on my first 6 months experience living on the boat. I want to move the anchor winch further forward, improve interior storage spaces, lower the front V berth beds to give more headroom, make the table a drop sided one so i dont need to keep putting it away when not in use, I also want to get the boat lifted out for anti fouling and other hull maintenance

    I also have other things i want to do this winter. It’s Ffions birthday and driving test next month so today Ffion and I have a 3 day trip to Alton Towers planned, it should be a lot of fun plus great driving experience for Ffion with new unfamiliar roads and following SatNav.

    Ffion and her dad need help up at the field to do some work in the farm shed and they are also preparing for a house move.

    I want to restart developing some computer software etc which will eventually provide me with an income.

    I also want to do sone winter sailing to gain more experience before heading off to the Med.

    I think I have a very busy winter ahead of me 🙂

  • Summer coming to an end

    I have had a fantastic first summer living on Lady Cindy, the regular company of Ffion aboard made it special, we have had so much fun. Its not all been a bed of roses though, plans were made and changed all the time. Flexibility is an absolute must for this lifestyle. I have had diy jobs that i had to redo, some several times, until i got things right, i have had my low moments, but without them you would not appreciate the highs. I have done many miles of sailing (i will work out how far some day soon) sailed in lots of different conditions and got a good feel for how Lady Cindy handles and likes to be trimmed. I have spent time in New Quay talking to old friends and customers. Looking back on it, I definitely made the right choice for this lifestyle and looking forward to the next steps.

    So whats next? I am booked into Aberystwyth marina for six months and plan to use that time to refit the interior with better storage, lift the boat out of the water for hull maintenance and spend time with Ffion and other friends. Next April I will sail South via Southampton to say farewell to family there and then head South to the Med for the Summer.

    These are just random photos from my phone taken since I moved aboard that remind me of a few of the many things I have done…

  • Swansea

    I have sailed from New Quay to Swansea to see my eldest daughter and grandsons, I am now on my way back to New Quay.

    Towy Lock in Swansea

    On the way down I stopped at Fishguard and Milford Haven. The last and longest leg into Swansea was a bit touch and go because the Towy lock closed around 9.30pm which was my eta at one stage. Motoring and a turn of tide meant I eventually arrived with an hour to spare.

    It was great to spend time with family again, we went to a museum and had a meal.

    I am currently on the way back, I broke the Swansea to Milford Haven leg in two this time and caught a nice Thornback Ray while at anchor.