Alongside RSAYS, Outer Harbor
Wind: calm
Sea: calm Swell: nil
Weather: overcast, showers, cool

The weather has been mostly wet and windy over the last several days. Consequently, life has been pretty quiet around the Squadron. I have used the time to progress a few small jobs in the Squadron's new member's workshop; the main job being repairs to Sylph's cockpit grates, which must be over forty years old. The repairs have been completed and I expect they will now outlast me.

I also purchased a new steering compass and am making up a pad to mount it on to the cockpit seat under the tiller. (Unfortunately, while doing some work in the cockpit, I managed to break the glass of the previous grid compass. The old compass can probably be repaired but for now I figure that it is easier to replace it.) The new compass is little more than a dinghy compass but it is low profile and will fit well where the previous compass lived and, given that I generally steer using the wind vane or tiller pilot, it should do the job quite adequately. I am also making a cover for it to protect it from UV damage and more importantly from me, hopefully making it more difficult for me to step on it or damage it in some other new and creative way.

I am pleased to be able to report that the reconditioned engine appears to be running in good order (fingers crossed, touch wood, etc.). I have not yet given it a good long run under load but hope to do so with a short local sail in the next week or so.

While I am committed to coaching and sailing with the Freedom crew for the winter series, Sylph and I will not be able to stray too far from the Squadron. But the winter series will conclude on 27 July so, all going well, we are planning for a longer sail up to Brisbane, departing late August to make younger brother Michael's long awaited wedding in September.

And after that I have plans for some longer distance sailing, before the creaking timbers of my ageing body overtake my ageless will to do so.

All is well.