Campbeltown
Swiftwing
Fri 19 Oct 2007 18:28
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Date: 27/09/07
Location: Campbeltown
Lat/Lon: 55:25.53N 005:36.18W.
BEVERLY:
We have spent the last four
months working on Swiftwing to make her more comfortable and equip her for ocean
passages and our new lifestyle. Having read lots of cruising books it always
says that the most difficult part of cruising is the preparation and leaving. I
would certainly agree with them.
Swiftwing is now equipped
with a water maker which has not yet been tested, a Beta-marine generator a
windlass with a handset that doesn’t work. A replacement is on its way. We now
have a beautiful saloon with two Ikea chairs and a new - and as yet unvarnished
- table being the highlight. We have lot of new Raymarine equipment such as a
C80 chart plotter/radar, life tag system, auto pilot, along with a Sea-me at the
top of the mast. We also have an Iridium satellite phone, mostly to provide us
with email. The fridge freezer has yet to be connected up as is the pressurised
water system. Some painting and varnishing still need to be done and, of course,
we still have to find a place for all our belongings that we don’t feel that we
can live without.
I am sure that everyone who came to visit us must have wondered how on earth we would be ready in a week when we still had floorboards up trying to wire the boat. However, finally, on 27th September, having done a very quick shopping trip - with the help of Anne Crossan who came to my rescue - we left Campbeltown at mid day. Our regret about being in Campbeltown was that we didn’t have enough time with our friends or enough time to visit people who where unable to visit us. We where fairly stressed about leaving in time to cross Biscay but I hope everybody who was so kind to us understood if sometimes we seemed a little preoccupied.
Sarah takes advantage of a rare photo oppertunity while up the mast before we leave. |
