50:37.0N 3:25.4W

 

28 March – retired from work as a partner with Westcountry accountants Francis Clark and final party at The Redwing on the Thursday just before Easter weekend, to then spend a frantic month fitting out Dragonfly for voyage to Greece. Leon’s gantry erected at Trouts, Topsham, and all headlining replaced (me and Jane, plus Rosemary M when 5 or 6 hands needed!). No mild spring like last year, just artic temperatures so fan heater essential to prevent numb fingers and get the glue to cure. PV cells lifted in place (thanks again R) and producing good amps straightaway. Bowsprit and windlass already fitted in the Autumn.

 

15 April - Intentionally neaped in the brook at Lympstone (while Jane away on a girly college reunion in some caravans up north somewhere) to do more refit work including new Penguin fridge system, Jan completed plumbing in THE new holding tank and Jason’s timber work in Jane’s bedroom  (the fore cabin). Woops – didn’t thank JW for his electricity – thanks John. Fraid all the good French wine we are buying will have been consumed by the time we fly home – will bring a bottle of delightful Retsina instead.  And I got flack from Jane when she sauntered back as i hadn’t sorted my home study (she called it “the bl***y office”!.

 

D`fly beginning to look ready, till you look down below!

 

25 April - Shake down sail to Brixham with son Jamie to do his ICC test– set off with below looking like a building site so passage time spent and on a deep clean and refixing fittings taken ashore before the winter refit. Could just about remember where everything went but all new bits seemed to have different screw positions. What a pain. Early rise next day to scrub the decks so D`fly looking seaworthy before the examiner arrived. Fruitful day, then back to Exmouth docks (now called a marina but for us oldies it is still “the docks”) for several days final finishing off and all those cosmetics so Jane is happy.Thanks for the “sink” locker Jan – fantastic! Six months ago pencilled in 28th as departure date, but could see wouldn’t make it. Main problem being arrangements had just been made to let out our home for 6 months, so had to clear everything, and tidy the sheds.  29 years worth of clutter sorted, many trips to the tip (recycling centre) and the rest chucked up in the loft – what joy that will be sorting out next winter. No idea where anything is, other than “in the loft”!

 

Main benefits of final days in Exmouth docks – Gerry’s chandlery (Dixon’s) handy for screws etc etc, easy to load heavy stores and the draft Bass and cuisine at The Beach. 15kg spade anchor, chain and warp  heaved on board, but too much weight forward  so decided to sacrifice 10m of chain, leaving 40m plus 40m warp - just in case ....