Back in the water

Mystic of Holyhead (successor to Lynn Rival)
Rachel and Paul Chandler
Sun 22 Feb 2009 12:01

New colour scheme - blood won't show on the prop!

We had a successful launching last Monday afternoon.  The trolley slid down the rails and she floated off.  The only hitch was that the engine didn't start at first.   A corroded electrical connection was to blame.


Does this railway go to the sea-side?

After 2 months ashore the boat needs a good spring clean and polish.  Various things need fixing, including a new VHF radio aerial and cable, windlass casing and bearings in the wind turbine.  Paul has been up the mast a few times.  Everything below needs storing and organising so that we have room to stock up with provisions for the coming months.


Friendly (I think) visitors, but we weren't invited for cocktails

Our plan is to leave India at the beginning of March, heading for the Maldives, where we will cross the equator for the first time ever.  We will then continue south to the Chagos archipelago and wait there until the winds are favourable for going on, probably to Madagascar.  Provisions are expensive in the Maldives and non-existent in the Chagos islands.  Shopping for the basics (flour, rice, etc) and fresh produce is excellent here so we'll be packing in as much as we can.