When in Leros last September I’d made a decision to come back to visit my sister and get some welding work. Twofold really I seem to have spent more then I’d planned re rigging Stella Polaris and various Mediterranean mooring fees. Plus the replacement of my electrical tiller autopilot.
I’d had Morson group constantly contacting me about welding work at the Nuclear shipyard in Barrow in Furness. I could do with some extra money. After a month or two of filling out security forms and criminal record check and mod Security Clearance I eventually got a start date at the end of November.
Amazing really at my age getting a contract with a large defence contractor called BAE Systems. Since starting I’ve been in the pipe welding school in the Submarine Academy of Skills & Knowledge. I need to pass lloyds marine defence codings for welding the various types of exotic pipe required on a nuclear submarine.
What about my boating I decided to put Stella Polaris up for sale and have a perspective buyer for her a retired Spanish policeman. We’ve arranged to meet at Artemis Boatyard Leros on 23 March. He made me an offer which I accepted.
What should do on the boating front I’ve asked myself I can never see myself without a sailing boat. I went to Newcastle to look at an iconic sailboat Contessa 32. I was little disappointed as thought she was too cramped inside. Owners love their sailing qualities. In 1979 Fastnet race that was hit by weather bomb a contessa 32 survived a knockdown. Number of sailors died with boats that had capsized!
Ebbtide 33 I saw for sale in Hartlepool steel hull evidently needs some TLC I’ve arranged to view her on the 8 March. What about smaller Vancouver 28? There’s one in Scotland and another in Lymington? I’ve always liked Sparkman & Stephens Swans beautiful lines 37? One in the US looks in beautiful conditions kept in freshwater on one of the Great Lakes?
Long way to go to look at a boat? Swan would be my ultimate sailing boat.
But Swans of the Sparkman & Stephens are circa 1960’s/1970’s. Later models were designed by Ron Holland which I never felt had the same beautiful lines. The saloon hatch was in a awkward place above the cockpit close to the main boom. What was I to do? I’d always thought the Tradewind 35 was solid boat with nice lines. How long was going to work for as I’m now I’m in my early seventies? 18 months possibly two years until I was 73?
Tradewind 35 is an excellent sea boat encapsulated hull quite a narrow beam certainly ideal boat for long distance sailing. Need to do some viewing on these boats again unless something else comes up out of the blue? Doesn’t have tiller helm but wheel helm.
After my neck injury I’ve thought about the possibility of having slightly larger body with wheel helm which means I can look straight forward when on the wheel helm as opposed to being off set to one side of the tiller helm which makes it uncomfortable if and when helming as I have to sit straight on which is awkward and uncomfortable on my neck.
Stella Polaris was overall a comfortable boat but as solo sailor I felt it was too spacious.
One the major bug bears was the fixed steps on the mast. I found them constant nightmare fouling the main halyard when hoisting the mainsail. The halyard always had tendency wrap itself around one of the top mast steps. Yes it’s nice to have steps but they’re not a must. The old adage keep things as simple as possible with boating.
I did see a Contessa 35 for sail down in Plymouth there’s a Norwegian sailor who does some serious sailing from Norway out to Iceland & Greenland in his Contessa 35.
I have arrange to view a steel boat Ebbtide 33 again not sure about steel hull? I’ve given myself 18 months to work at the Shipyard at Barrow to accrue more money and savings.
Now one the most important things with offshore sailing boats is their comfort ratio and their capsize ratio. The Tradewind 35 for me ticks all the boxes. It’s had a long encapsulated Keel wheel steering nice flat working deck low profile freeboard lovely lines it’s a solid go anywhere sailing boat. I feel the Tradewind 35 would be the best boat for me and my long distance sailing dreams.
