Who was it who said, “We have no plans so nothing can go wrong”? Unfortunately we had mountains of plans and many things seemed to go wrong. Despite our best intentions and early start of preparations, the last few weeks have been very chaotic and stressful. Hold ups and mistakes having equipment installed gave Simon many headaches and left no time to try them out. Any extra wires for new toys at the chart table caused Si considerable stress as you can either see what you are doing inside the lockers or get your hands in; both is impossible!

Above all else packing my house up ready to let was the most stressful of all. I finished work on July 16^th giving me two weeks to our intended departure date to tie up things at home and pack for the boat. In reality it took all that time to just pack up my house not helped by swine flu. It was a very strange feeling to have no job for fourteen months and no home for a year. As I moved myself onto the boat and many of my belongings into Si’s office I felt somewhat lost despite usually spending three or four nights a week on the boat. I still had numerous boxes of odds and ends to sort through, mountains of paperwork to do not to mention a year’s accounts and my tax return. Si returned to London for a night to complete his tax return amidst numerous last minute boat sales.

GALLEY

I’d moved the provisions to the boat with non-perishables weeks ago when Si was back in London. The tide was out making the slope down to the pontoon very steep and the wind was blowing Brindabella off the pontoon leaving a huge gap between. Although it would have been lovely to have help transferring four heaped trolley loads from car to boat I was glad that a) Si would have no idea how much weight I’d be adding to the boat and b) I’d have all the time I needed to pack and reshuffle the various types of food until I was happy things would be accessible at sea as well as at rest. It was a late night! I drew plans of what was where and everything I bought is on spreadsheets in an attempt to log what we actually use for any future adventures. At present between us we shop for Si’s home, my home, the office and the boat so it’s very difficult to know what and how much of everything we use.

In the process of moving I lost my recipes for TVP and couscous kits that I’d worked on some time ago. In bad weather it is so easy to empty a ziplock bag into the thermos flask, add water and eat from the flask. Couscous is great and I’d worked out several varieties to keep handy. We will have to perfect as we go.

I still have straps to fit inside the galley lockers to keep everything in its place and enable me to squeeze in those favourite kitchen items. Everything is onboard to fit the straps later.

GARDEN

There was little time to finish my research into hydroponics in the end so I re-potted basil and Italian flat leaved parsley through heavy plastic tied to the pot in case the pots should take off in wild weather. Having little confidence in their chances of survival I’ve made two pots of basil oil for the fridge which sets and keeps for ages. Any suggestions are gratefully received on gardening at sea!

STOWAGE

I’m now wishing I’d taken out shares in Lock ’n’ Lock containers as their sales must have increased considerably this year. I don’t actually know where Si has put all the boxes of spares as I only had to turn my back for a minute and mine would disappear. My last order was a big one. I quickly filled mine and packed them away! I’ve suggested labels on the lockers until we know where everything is.

Things are gradually falling into place onboard with lockers for games, electronics, cameras, sunglasses, tableware etc, etc as well as provisions and spares. I re-shuffled my bedside shelf and was able to bring some extra books as well as my painting set and jewellery making things. I’m delighted there was also room for the folding bikes, Si’s guitar and a mini washing machine and spin drier. We are not travelling light!

We built the shelf behind the port saloon berth and already wonder how we managed without it. It’s proved to be very useful indeed and I was very pleased with finished result. I had to guess the colour of the varnish to match the saloon and spent ages staining and varnishing back at home.

More good news was my clothes fitted in with room to buy more! And, half of what I’ve packed is way too tight and if I don’t lose weight will have to go. I’m two sizes bigger than I was.  L At present I’m optimistic!

SEWING

This has taken the majority of my time since moving on board and kept Si’s office in a permanent state of chaos. I finally packed the machine away the day before we left. As fast as I crossed one thing off the top of my list, we added another two to the bottom. I felt like I was sinking and would never catch up. As well as UV protective covers and bags for just about everything, I made my waterproof cover for the fore berth adding loops to the corners and centre sides, casing for fibreglass poles through the sides and a hose hole covered with a Velcro fastened flap in the centre. It should come in handy for all sorts of occasions.

Little repairs needed doing and the usual 3” cut off my new T. shirts, but finding out we needed fancy dress costumes just before we left necessitated a flying trip to Fabricland. Even if I didn’t have time to make costumes before our departure I thought we could make them en-route if we had materials onboard. I didn’t know if we’d have time to hunt out fabric shops in foreign countries travelling south. This year’s theme for the pre-ARC costume party in Gran Canaria is ‘Children’s TV’. My heart sunk – Si had his uncooperative head on and I don’t watch any TV. It would have to be something from my childhood and definitely something quick and easy to make. In the end I had a marathon session at the sewing machine and got the basis made. I now have my uncooperative head on and as Si didn’t help me decide on costumes, I won’t tell him what we’re going as. How childish!!!!! I’m sure he’ll look lovely in his dress though!

BOAT LIFT/ CLEANING

This went swimmingly well and we had the hull rubbed down, two coats of anti-foul on, anodes changed and wax on the hull in two days. I spent another day cleaning and waxing the topsides after she was splashed and washed all the curtains and the fleece covers I made for the upholstery. There’s still spring cleaning to do inside and metal to polish, but these jobs can easily be done en-route.

PARASAILOR

Our day’s tuition with Brindabella’s latest addition to her wardrobe was great and didn’t she look good. There was minimal wind but the foil helped to support the sail stopping it from collapsing and we were getting nearly as many knots of boat speed as knots of wind. We were able to use it up to 60° off the wind and it was very easy to handle shorthanded. We were impressed. By the end of the day I definitely felt more confident about flying something with such a huge area in big seas and Si was definitely pleased with his investment.

FAREWELLS

Brindabella looked so pretty dressed with her flags as friends and relatives came to say goodbye. Our waistlines suffered with family dinners and homemade cakes not forgetting all the wine! I felt so empty saying farewell to my babies but know they have their own lives now and I will see them after Christmas when I bring CJ home from his holiday with us. I shed many tears.

DELAYED DEPARTURE

So, the preparations almost complete and the necessary tools and materials onboard for jobs still to be done, we decided to depart as soon as Si’s last boat sale was complete. Our original plan to sail to Falmouth with CJ was now impossible but he was happy to be able to sail a first short leg to Hamble. It required a bit of juggling with the car. On Thursday 27^th Si took the car to Mercury Marina so he could drive CJ back to London by Saturday lunchtime. CJ was very excited on Friday morning as he dressed in his Brindabella ARC crew shirt. He looked so grown up. The winds had other plans for us however and after .holding on in the hope things would calm, we eventually gave up hope. CJ was so disappointed. Later that day we caught the train to Hamble, had our farewell dinner with him as planned in the restaurant, then drove back to Northney. L On Saturday morning I said my farewells and Si drove him back home to London.

                                                                                                                                                  ---Lini---