How many of you walk past moored craft in a harbour and DON’T look around at the craft around you?

I suspect, not many and like me you pass an eye over them, quizzically or otherwise.

The point I would like to make is that one sees an awful lot of craft, traditional especially, where a lot of work has been carried out. Varnishing for instance where the wood has been stripped back, sanded and varnish applied. Maybe two, three or even four coats. The applier (owner in the main) looks back with a satisfied smile and walks away, complimenting himself on a job well done.

Then, how often do you see ripped, badly fitting covers, or no cover at all over varnished wood?

P.S. Badly fitting covers was written about last autumn… See: http://nickardley.com/ditch-crawler-goes-west/

Whimbrel’s set of covers…

Yes, well!

With respect to varnish, yachting magazines go into the number of coats required on bare wood at great length, from time to time. My maxim rests at around eight to ten as a minimum … less means redoing the following season!

When there are a number of small areas stripped back it is easy to loose track – I’ve done it and following season found just a few coats on ‘an area’ forgotten about with a ‘peeling’ coating…

I pencil the coat number against areas stripped back up to ‘9’ here!

Cabin sides could be protected, of course, but it is an unusual sight in summer and is usually when a boat is under a winter cover. I have seen ‘all over’ covers though, and cabin side canvas protectors… Hatches and cockpits are a different matter. I leave Whimbrel’s hatch protection covers on from September to May. During autumn weekends away they get removed, for tidal sails, no.

Whimbrel’s hatch covers.

This one caught my eye recently…

Another well fitting cover…

So often an owner will expend huge effort in stripping, say a hatch, cabin sides and other areas such as rubbing strakes. Below are two examples of such efforts going to waste … in fact the work requires to be carried out all over again!

Both pictures make me sad…

The point about coating numbers is clearly made in the following example. The varnish or similar protective/decorative coating was applied and has not been re-applied at the intervals advised by coating manufacturer. net result – a mess!

Case of insufficient coats…

In the following example an owner has been busy applying additional coats of varnish to wood that had been stripped back. The vessel, a Finesse 24, had been for sale in a Swale-side yard for a number of years. During that time she’s been ashore, but fully covered. Wrapped to her waterline almost! I found her recently soon after her sale to her new owner.

The chap, a lovely Irishman, told me the previous owner had stripped down the cabin sides and sheerstrake some years ago. He’d clearly applied sufficient varnish, albeit she was covered – from memory the boat has been out of water for at least seven years. I learnt too that the old owner even gave the woodwork an additional coat as part of the ‘sale’ deal…

For Finesse aficionados, the boat, Quo Vadis, is staying local for time being…

The boat’s new owner has been adding further coats in between completing hull preps for painting. I received a message a few days ago saying full coats of undercoat were in hand…

A lot of work is involved with stripping back and prepping – here an owner kept his boat fully covered…

Oh, and to finish. I recently sailed into Faversham with my dear wife Christobel: we like going there, but essentially to pick up a new cover for Whimbrel’s mainsail. The new sails are bulkier than our old ones and have a greater covering need … so thank you Wilkinson Sails … my sketch was bang on and your interpretation fits like a glove!

A new sail cover that does what it is supposed to do…

Whimbrel’s tender, Twitch, is twenty-five years old this year … her woodwork has been regularly varnished and when not in use the dinghy is covered: she cost quite a lot of money and unprotected she would have long had her day…

Dinghies too need caring for!

My sincere apologies to the owners of the craft used to illustrate my blog … please take the hint!

My previous post had a little film clip of me sailing on the morning of my last radio therapy session – the hospital staff were very impressed!

Link: http://nickardley.com/ditch-crawler-sails-into-last-radio-therapy-session/

On the morning my end session was due, I wasn’t sure whether to be excited or thankful. I think every emotion would fit: it’s been a testing time in many ways. Christobel has been an absolute brick, the ‘boy’ too… I have to admit, I consumed more hooch during the process than normal for a six week period, but what the hell!

Many friends, contacts and family members have also been of supreme help in boosting morale and ‘speaking’ soothing words … thank you all.

Strangely it was only during the last couple of weeks that I really felt weakened by it all. It had become increasingly difficult to complete more than a 5 mile walk. Our ‘normal’ hour long walk had become a trial, eventually with me suffering a complete loss of energy half way through on several occasions necessitating rest!

Over breakfast we spotted that one of the pair of blue tits nesting in the new box I made in the autumn seemed to busier than just feeding ‘the mate’. Clearly the young were beginning to hatch. Wow, what a sign – new life! I managed to snap the bird, resting briefly on the nest box perch.

A momentarily resting blue tit…

It was a quick breakfast: I’d already decided upon a sail. My good shipmate and dear wife, Christobel, was going to take the morning out. A walk and catch up with friends at our church’s coffee morning – which we usually pass ‘through’ on a Wednesday walk of around 5 miles…

It was a glorious morning, sparkling sun glistening on the water and a light south-easterly. I motor-sailed out, knowing I’d probably enjoy a run in under head sail into the mooring later, and set off long and short tacking down the Ray channel until far enough east not to be concerned about depth.

Terns had arrived from distant parts since last out … always a joy to see.

Eventually, I reached The Crowstone and put the boat about for a run along the Chalkwell and Leigh Shore. It was so lovely … I so wished that my shipmate was afloat with me … later she’d wished it too!

Running, goose winged, from The Crowstone.

Time soon ran on too, but towards the top of the tide, the wind freshened a little. Some distance from the creek’s entrance the mainsail was stowed, fenders tied and I sipped some tea as the boat glided over the early ebb, inwards… The mooring soon approached. At the right moment, a hop forward, down head sail, back aft and the dear boat slipped gracefully into her berth.

With just a few butterflies beginning to buzz around my innards, I settled and sorted the boat before heading back ashore and home.

Gliding home…

I was met by Christobel … it was time for a quick bite, before getting my head down for an hour or so … my mate had long stopped shepherding me to the bedroom!! The loss of energy and tiredness could only be assuaged by rest/sleep… Upon waking, a loo visit then begin drinking water to ensure a full bladder by time of appointment.

During the six weeks, I have had to ‘go’ and begin water intake all over again when the appointment has been delayed. 20 minutes was fine … 1/2 an hour, dodgy, and once when over an hour I’d held on, diving straight to the loo afterwards! Upon arrival, I was sent straight round to a different unit, expecting a delay, I stopped drinking … but, wow, I was called straight in. Nearly 10 minutes early!

The lady radiologist said as we went through, ‘You know this is your last one…’

I nodded. She gave me a big hug, saying, ‘I’ll be listening for the bell…’

Blast, I thought, as I was hoping to give it a miss!

The two on duty, a chap and lady, both of whom I’d seen many times chatted away with me as they got the ‘position’ right … me telling them of my morning sail, then, off they went.

The scanner head went round … the table jiggled … the treatment head did its two revolutions, back and forth. (Note it can’t keep going, ‘cos the power and control cables won’t allow – I’d asked that question some while before, being inquisitive…)

It was all done. Two more hugs … out to the control office … another hug from lady who had also attended on some sessions … on out to an astonished Christobel. Done, 5 minutes after my appointed time.

Ringing the bell…

That evening we went out for a meal and celebrated after a glass of something and some canapes watching the coming and goings of our blue tits…

On the Friday evening the ‘boy’ came in for a celebratory glass of ‘shampoo’…

Time moved on … on the Sunday after, I managed to nail our boy down for a sail he says he’s long been owed! I’ve told him he can come along any time, a weekend even … but his life is a busy one. It was a chilly sail, but we enjoyed a spanking sail up to the Benfleet Barrier by the Dauntless Yard, enjoying a pleasant run for home.

The ‘boy’ in charge: I was relegated to deckhand!

A long term project to obtain new u-bolts for Whimbrel’s rigging set up is approaching fruition. All three of ‘us’ Finesse owners at the Island Yacht Club are doing this. One of the others took it upon himself to find a manufacturer for they’re not of a standard length. In the mean time, I completed making pads upon which the new U-bolts will be bedded. They’re made from Iroko.

This is something other Finesse owners might be interested in … a boat, Quo Vadis, up for sale for a long time at Conyer has just found a new owner. water ingress has caused deck and deck shelf/carlin problems.

Pad making – top and bottom.

The planned and ordered u-bolts…

One afternoon, whilst ‘resting’, I corrected a second set of new charts…

Chart correcting…

Then, just a week after my last session, we put Whimbrel onto the club hard for her annual bottom clean and anti-fouling coatings. My good Mate did the bulk of the jet washing, final scraping and cleaning of the propeller … I hasten to add, my task was to redo the sheer strake and rudder varnish work and look at the bottom hull fittings. The boot top was cut into the hull paint work. The hull paintwork was touched up here and there … in between the underwater parts of the rudder needed several coats of primer too … my job too!

Christobel doing what she loves best! Note the glistening varnish above…

Above – the cutting in of boot top.

All done … Whimbrel waiting for the tide.

The boat was got back onto her mooring for one night, then we were off for a weekend – the bank holiday one at the end of May.

Over on the River Medway, it was Medway regatta weekend and the annual barge match was taking place. The Friday run across the Thames turned into a 2 hour motor sail due to lack of wind, although on the Essex side there’d been a good breeze. We were able to sail from the fort into Queenborough though!

We set off promptly on Saturday morning to sail upriver to meet the first of the barge fleet, then ‘chase’ out towards the Thames estuary. Christobel produced bacon sandwiches shortly after our departure … they were delicious.

The barge fleet approached with a clear leader, Niagara, with the Ironsides and Edith May seemingly enjoying a private competition behind. The indomitable bowsprit class Edme was close behind, working through the fleet of stay sail class and ‘coasters’. At the finish, the order was little different!

Edith May kept coming up on the Ironsides, overlapping and falling behind again … it was amusing to watch!

The lovely Marjorie and the powerful Adieu seem to like keeping close company…

We sailed out towards the Grain Edge buoy before turning back. Soon the fleet of eleven stately sailormen had all passed. It wouldn’t be long before the first reached the Medway No. 1 buoy and began heading for home … and I, in particular, wanted to be up near the finish line off Gillingham to see the first home!

Inside we passed close by Doris owned by a friend.

We met dozens of large yachts in an ‘inside’ race followed by dragons and squibs.

Whimbrel healing to the afternoon breeze as we rounded Darnet Ness…

What a splendid sight – the Edme in Gilligham Reach, tacking for the line…

Poppy, a gunter rigged Hunter – a pretty boat owned by two friends…

From one of the race yachts passing close by us in Saltpan Reach floated a cheery shout … ‘Nick .. you writing another book?’

‘Why,’ I called, adding, ‘Did you enjoy the others?’ An enthusiastic answer drifted back. I called out to the fast passing craft, ‘Maybe…’

‘Good!’ was all I heard. And the ‘faceless’ questioner and clearly a fan, disappeared astern.

No pressure then…

We berthed on the inner side of the Medway Yacht Club’s visitor pontoon at the suggestion of a boatman, who helped  us in…

During the later part of the afternoon, I prepared our supper of chicken with cider and cracked pepper corns> When nearly cooked it was left to soak in its juices whilst we popped ashore for a beer at the club. It was a busy place with the milling crews of yachts and the big class day boats as well as the barges – all getting set for a long evening…

Enjoying ‘afters’ – a lovely bottle of red and a selection of cheeses sent to me by a cousin. Thanks Roger & Judy x

On the Sunday we enjoyed a spanking run down river to Queenborough. It was a little breezy, but nothing ‘inside’ – we later heard that some yachts had sailed back to Essex, in quite lumpy conditions. Silly!

We popped ashore for some stores then I was pointed to the bunk for a sleep … the mate read for a while.

Later over tea, we enjoyed an entertaining afternoon watching the movements of various craft. The local 4-oared skiff was out too, and a single hovercraft appeared, swinging off the tideway and over the mud – watched by the harbour launch!

Goose winged down Long Reach … it was busy!

A relaxed Christobel…

Afternoon tea…

Part of our entertainment!

I did get to the Admiral’s Arm and enjoyed a pickled egg too…

The homeward passage on the bank holiday was pleasant and uneventful, sailing off the mooring.

So, how do I feel?

Relieved, pleased, happy, sincerely grateful for the care shown by the oncology teams, it is difficult to put into a single word. Mostly, I’m just so happy that I’ve come through this part of my treatment – a rather large part for sure – with few if any real problems. When I sit and think about all the pro’s and con’s I’d read about last summer and how frightened I was, the current position is a blessing: everything works ‘normally’, whatever that is!

Christobel said something to me during the last week which was so touching and so special. It was what one can only say is love. The ‘what’ will remain ‘what’ for it was only ours to share … bless you darling. xx

I am thankful too for all the messages of support, love and good wishes, from all and sundry – many of whom don’t really ‘know’ me. That too has been a blessing. And, today as I write after depositing some stores aboard Whimbrel, I can relate that an ‘old salt’ stopped me down the creek to ask how things were … he said that last autumn, he thought, ‘You were a gonna…’

I told him what the oncologist had said … ‘I’ll not beat about the bush, another year, two at the most, and …’ It hurts to write it, so I’ll leave it there.

But I know now that I’ve probably escaped.

In July’s edition of Yachting Monthly is a piece written by Dick Durham, a monthly columnist – read it!

Copied from July 2019 edition of  Yachting Monthly.

On the last day of my radio therapy for prostate cancer, I enjoyed a fabulous sail…

See: https://www.facebook.com/nick.ardley/videos/pcb.1089499444593655/1089457137931219/?type=3&theater

It was just the tonic needed!

See earlier posts:

Ditch-crawler moves smoothly into second half of radio therapy…

Yes, I have reached half way, well, I have gone over the line now by a couple of days!

It feels good, I feel good and most of all, Christobel is so, so, pleased. Bless her cotton socks (or should I say, many coloured legs, which she favours! But, bless her, she is feeling as tired as I am, and those that continue to offer support, I am most grateful indeed.

A few days ago I cleaned out the forward bilge on Whimbrel and then the gas stowage. After coats of primer, stripe coating and a final overall coating, both are much more presentable.

Forward bilge…

Another important area: with a drain line (and valve) it gets wet when sailing hard!

I had to obtain more paint – red, as you can see – but found that the red bilge has been ‘done away’ with by the more common paint manufacturers. This means that at some time in the near future Christobel and I will have to come ashore for a period and hard clean, scrape, sand, and re-coat in something different. Grey most likely. Why do ‘they’ do this?

My thoughts run along doing areas ‘clear’ of the bilge proper in stages, afloat…

Hey ho!

Yesterday, with tide times not conflicting with the all important hospital run, I got away for a sail. My good ship mate didn’t come: independent therapy is good for both, but afterwards Christobel said she’d rather have come along: it was glorious!

Sailing back into Smallgains Creek. The Genoa was dropped nearer to mooring and boat sailed in under mainsail. Lovely.

The mainsail had its first airing under sail since being serviced by Wilkinson Sails.

But this is more about radio therapy: I feel an ‘old hand’ now … I have ‘got over’ the lateness of being called in sometimes … for this means that another has needed more time to be treated. One soon realises that ‘your’ condition isn’t the most severe!

The problem with being called late is that it was ‘drummed’ into us men at a pre-treatment briefing that we had to arrive READY to go. That is, with a full bladder. So, added time is like trying to squeeze another half pint in before actually going – but you can’t! It is bleeding well stressful…

The empathy of the staff though exceeds all expectations (whatever they are) and a smiling face asks if all is okay, are you alright (No, I’m in pain actually…) and if you need to ‘go’ leak a little and drink a little more… I have had to do that twice!

Ah, but when you are called. Bliss. You move into a ‘waiting zone’ and as the previous patient comes out you go in. The greetings from a duo or sometimes a trio of smiling caring faces causes an immediate relaxation sensation coursing through ones inner self: once on the ‘slab’ it would only be 10 minutes before the relief would come!

I admire the band of (mostly) happy ladies at Southend, they’re a Godsend, from whatever religion they adhere to, and I bless them all, ‘cos they raise my spirits…

Enjoying a pint down at The Billet, in Old Leigh at the end of a week of treatments … cheers!

Link to previous blogs…

Ditch-crawler settles into his radiotherapy sessions…

Finesse 24, Snowgoose

I have learnt that Snowgoose has not yet been sold yet. There was interest from a chap who contacted for advice, but he decided against.

She’s a nice looking boat. She’s out of the water … her owner lives in Guernsey and is listed with the Finesse Group but with no contact details.

Snowgoose was built in 1973 and will be have a Mahogany hull with either Rock Elm or oak ribs.

Price has been dropped: she is stacking up charges!

See: https://lancashire.boatshed.com/finesse_24-boat-252521.html?utm_source=newsnow.co.uk

Our maintenance of Whimbrel has continued whilst I have been ‘popping off’ to Southend Hospital for daily sessions of radiation for my prostate cancer treatment. I finished getting the bad areas around the cabin sides and rubbing band coated a sufficient number of times then on Good Friday afternoon (after doing a Walk of Witness in Hadleigh) we hard sanded the cabin sides and Christobel washed down several times … we were ready to varnish.

Sanding the cabin sides…

A few days earlier we had enjoyed a couple of ‘on the tide’ sails which makes foregoing on sailing on days such as we’ve enjoyed for nearly a week over Easter ‘acceptable’ for one has to, like marriage have some give and take!

They were lovely sails in gentle breezes and sunshine. Sailing out of our creek I spotted a grebe and out across the Leigh Flats a seal popped up behind us and swam along in our wake … I was just too late with the camera. Hey ho. The Brent geese are still very much in residence and won’t be gone until end of May or even early June, but although it is mid April now, I haven’t spotted any terns yet. I expect the next time Whimbrel has the chance to venture forth, they’ll be on ‘their’ favoured perches around the creek’s entrance and atop mooring buoys…

Sailing along the Chalkwell shore towards Old Leigh.

Sailing into the creek … note, old mains’l and new jib set.

The wind being kindly entering our creek on the last of our two trips, we sailed onto the mooring dropping main, just off, and sailed on under jib. I then removed the old mainsail which has been in use since the ‘new’ sails went back for guarantee servicing at and bent on the serviced ‘new’ one. It has still to be stretched in anger though!

Old mainsail  spread out for folding and bagging.

Cabin sides washed ready for a white spirit wipe for varnishing…

On the Saturday of the Easter weekend after ‘slaving’ down at our yacht club rebuilding a finger jetty mooring, we motored over to Maldon for lunch and a walk round. I found a fellow Finesse 24 in ‘Cardy’s’  Yard ready for the water – her sides resplendent in new paint, having been stripped back by her owner during the winter. Everywhere one looked, owners were working away round hull sides, under bottoms or around thew decks! Over in The Downs Road yard the new Thames sailing barge Blue Mermaid was in the floating dry dock – a final scrub up and paint before setting off on her sea trials…

The Blue Mermaid in dry dock, rigged and ready to go…

Spring came early in my parts and it’s strange to see the fluffy seed heads of dandelions  in such great numbers – even ‘bald’ ones! My good ship mate is certain that my head is much like a dandelion seed head – full of fluff. She loves me really! But although spring has been relatively mild with long dry spells here, around the yards and especially in my own club, plenty of owners have left outfitting late. I’ve always wondered why … work and family commitment pressures, or, just lacking in that ‘let us get on with it…’ spirit.

Dandelions are well ahead of the season…

Now a boating friend who owns a Finesse 24 came out of the water for a wash and brush up with the full expectation of getting back in after three weeks. Well, it hasn’t gone to plan: he found some spongy deck up forward … now he’s thinking of having the fore, side and poop decks stripped off and renewed. I’m sure I’ll have more on this (with the owner’s permission) in good time. While the owner mulls over this for a short while, he has carried out a little research into where to get longer rigging u-bolts from. I tried some while ago and failed to get responses from places.

The standard units available at the diameter fitted to a Finesse 24 aren’t available with a long enough bolt beneath the deck plate. I measured up when I was looking … a firm has come back and said, ‘No problem …’ The cost is about twice that of a standard 8 mm x 100 mm bolt beneath plate unit from a chandlers. My reasoning – I wanted to fit the u-bolts onto hard wood deck pads, thus alleviating problems of ‘crush’ of the plywood decks. I even made up a set of pads for one side and roughed out another, before laying the work aside. So thanks mate…

Even after 35 years of ownership, things can be done to improve the boat!

My sketch of u-bolts needed…

And of course, charts need to be checked, updated or renewed. I knew Whimbrel’s two sets of East coast charts had been superseded by freshly printed updates, so the ‘Kent’ set has been purchased and updated with the few changes that have taken place and the Essex/Suffolk set are on order.

Chart corrections…

Now, here is a plug:

As the various chandlers have closed down in the south of Essex, I have used ‘Barry’s’ at Dauntless Boat Yard for bibs and bobs over a number of years. May ere away, however, I’ve always found that have ‘that’ bit that no one else does. They will order from a catalogue or from wherever Barry gets ‘his’ stuff. I wanted the Suffolk chart, it wasn’t in stock. ‘No worries’ the lad said, adding, ‘when do you want it?’ Telling him I wasn’t in a hurry. He said, ‘One to two weeks and I’ll give you a call…’ Grand!

The beauty too is that the packs are a good £7 less than the Imray price … plus the delivery charge that would have been stuck on.

So, before you order on line, check out with the friendly team at Dauntless Yacht Centre…

See: http://www.dauntlessyachtcentre.co.uk/

I have the corrections ready…

And at the end of this week, tomorrow, I’ll be half way through my external beam radio therapy . Yippee!

Good ‘spring cleaning’, launches and first sails everyone.

Prostate Cancer update four…

I began my radiotherapy sessions on Wednesday just gone. I have been a little  worried about this due to the ‘dire’ warnings, but I did get through the ‘bracky’ without a hitch, so … but the why and wherefores do not always meet with sense and sensibility…

The day before this, I managed to get out for my first sail since my brachytherapy operation. It was quiet, peaceful and good for the soul. Wind was light, but did increase to get the boat going along at three knots or so … Whimbrel’s mate was with me – nice.

Running out of the creek…

The first was a bit ‘traumatic’, well fraught really. I was a little late being called forward and then on the scan which takes place first, it was found I had some wind (!) and had to ‘get rid of it’ before proceeding. I did this and waited and waited, my bladder filled three hours earlier beginning to want to burst. (Bladder has to be full or nearly so for treatment – forces ones ‘bits’ into ‘right’ place…

The machine…

I was then told I was after the next person … I went to the loo (sorry folks, but being ‘hospitalised’ destroys inhibitions!) and then began guzzling lots of water to fill the bladder – always a delay and only a percentage goes straight in. The normal filling time can be up to 1 1/2 hours. Come on you men, down the pub, it takes a couple of pints of beer before the urge begins…

Then the machine broke down … radiologists and their patient in tow hot-footed to another treatment room.

Finally I went in for my session too … the radiologists positioned my midriff, pulling and pushing the ‘mass’ into position to get the laser positioning right. Then one seems to stay as the unit rotates 360 degrees taking a scan. The scan is looked at. The ‘slab’ jiggles as motors fine adjust so that treatment programme is accurately directed. Then the ‘radio head’ rotates around one revolution bombarding my bits with a radioactive beam. (I joked to the ladies in our local library – nice place and caring people – about my bits glowing … I had them in fits. Christobel was aghast!).

I talked the radiographer into taking this picture on my camera … also told her about those men who had listened to my tale and responded. She said well done to all…

Before beginning my ‘sessions’ I had got hold of a length of 8 mm diameter mild steel rod to make up a punch for ‘tapping’ down the centre plate on Whimbrel, after a ‘stone’ has got caught between plate and ballast keel … this has happened a couple of times in the last decade. Once around the Walton Backwaters after going onto Stone Point for a scrub. Titchmarsh Marina’s yard let me borrow a rod to fix the problem. The other happened after a ‘scrape’ over a shingle bank in the Crouch by Bridgemarsh Creek when my sister and two friends were aboard for a week’s pottering – it was my fault! On the latter occasion, the plate didn’t free easily, but eventually went as we tacked up stream…

I vowed to get a proper punch of good length. The top of the plate can be felt by the rod through the lift wire slot – after removing a covering wood top piece.

So, over the first period of my radiotherapy, I got on with putting a punch together!

The bits at the start … wood and metal!

Rod with rough shaped wood hold…

Close up of wooden end.

Rod after first coat of anti-rust paint and handle with varnish…

I have now completed the first ‘week’ – only three, but it is a start. Only twenty more to go. I’m assured that a level of ‘unwellness and tiredness’ will creep up towards the middle of the treatment, but I’m beginning not to worry about it too much.

We plan at present to get away for a couple of nights over on the River Medway over the early May Bank Holiday. I know it’ll do me good… The boat will have a dirty bottom and the varnish work will not be completed – so what!

My first impression of the radiographers I have been in contact with is a ‘caring, protective and positive’ manner. It inspires confidence and I have even begun to ‘joke’ with them – not that they understand my comments about lining up the port, starboard and midships marks…

Hey, what the hell…

Previous blogs…

Ditch-crawler has his brachytherapy operation…

For some while now I have been stripping back areas of varnish that have succumbed to damp. Some were ‘attacked’ back in the warm days enjoyed in February – a dodgy exercise – which I got away with. All other areas have now been sanded back and a gradual build up of coatings applied. More are needed before Christobel and I sand the whole of the cabin sides ready for its biannual varnishing. One of my ideas was to get the ‘heavy’ stuff done before I went into hospital and head into my radio treatment … fortunately the weather has been kind and that desire has been largely achieved.

Chaffing bar to rubbing band.

Back in January I fitted chaffing bars to the rubbing band in way of the aft fairleads. I’d done this to the forward pair many years ago, but after ‘falling over’ a length of bronze which once protected the stem of some old boat, I had the material to repeat the exercise – only taken thirty odd years! They do stop moorings from cutting into the wood though…

The ‘regular’ work began with a window which needed to come off for resealing.. The varnish does tend to degrade around the window edge as well and when one is off I tend to sand back the coatings and reapply. I have a temporary cover for the windows when panel is off. At that time I’d gone round and stripped back degraded varnish and sanded with a coarse grade, leaving open to air until ready to progress further…

Completed window resealing and varnish work. It looks patchy, but does fade in time. It’s varnished wood! note the beading breakdown…

Most of the areas of breakdown seem to happen around the beading along the bottom edge of the cabin sides, sometimes the same area year after year! The boat does have areas which have an oilier piece of iroko – beads mainly. One senses the advent of a complete strip off approaching. Another

Finesse at my club has been out for the winter. The owner has competed quite a lot of repair work and has also stripped off the cabin sides back to bare wood – the initial coats glowed with that deep iroko colour… Aboard Whimbrel, we’ve had that discussion – paint and varnish stripping … when, sometime in the future. The chap is up to six coats as I write!

Two areas of varnish stripped back and coating build up in progress…

This last weekend one of my Finesse neighbours was lifted from the water for the annual wash and brush up. The owner said to me, ‘I’m doing the three forward keel bolts…’ adding, ‘got a man coming in from J-Star Marine.’ There has been a run of information about keel bolts on a Finesse facebook site, perhaps this was a memory jogger! I have two more that I’ve never had out on Whimbrel, so it is for me too…

When I strip back these little areas I always mark up on the deck or cabin top, adjacent, the numbers of coats applied. A few are no good. eight to ten I always consider a minimum.

Finesse 24 Gypsy being lifted out at the Island YC, Canvey Island. (Picture: Alexander Ardley)

The boat’s owner has set himself a completion date some four weeks hence.

All around our club’s yard work is frantically taking place. Some have got along with things gradually, whilst, looking around, many have left to last minute: lift in season is upon them! It’ll be the same up and down the rivers and coasts. Sadly though, as has happened in recent years, some craft will continue to sit it out, awaiting the call of the sea from an owner.

One job has awaited our combined attentions. I have wanted to move the jib boom topping lift mast point down below our radar reflector. Our old one, a round edged Firdell Blipper wasn’t a problem, but a replacement Echomax causes the topping lift to catch … so, with a new fitting, the snagging problem is to be removed…

I first had to go up above the radar reflector to get the pulley block off the original mast fitting – I don’t like heights any more… ‘We’ forgot to get a picture of me up there – I wore the bosun’s chair for the operation, but decided that the harness would have been better afterwards.

Ladder ready for final part of job.

Christobel getting sorted… Note the bosun’s chair…

Jib boom topping lift on its new mast fitting … no more snagging of lines aloft!

My mate, incidentally, is so looking forward to our boat’s ‘rest’ on the club slipway to do the antifouling in a month or so too – it is creeping up. In thew mean time I will be undergoing twenty-three sessions of radiotherapy, which come to an end a little before this planned event. Will I be fit. Don’t know at present … bu there are windows down the line before ‘serious’ sailing begins.

Christobel carrying out one of her favoured activities in 2017…

The first three weeks of March were exceedingly windy and there was no opportunity to get afloat for any sailing, however, on the Monday before my appointment with my oncology experts the wind dropped and I headed down to the creek a little after 0700 … by just before 0800, I was sailing out of the creek!

Sailing seawards after turning off the Dauntless Boat Yard by Benfleet Creek Barrier.

My good mate Christobel did not come along … she stayed and got on with the housework! I hasten to add that later I did finish the job by doing the vacuuming!

Clearing my creek I beat up to Benfleet doing long and short boards. It was a bit of a grey morning, but the sun did peek through to glisten across the waterway as I turned for home.

The following day, with good conditions Christobel wanted to come along too … packing the makings of a bacon roll breakfast and some prepared fruit, we set off merrily. I say ‘merrily’ with a little caution: I was beginning to feel a little edgy about going into hospital. yes, I know one is in safe hands (hopefully!), but I’d read all the ‘dire’ warnings about the brachytherapy procedure being filled with foreboding and trepidation so many times last year, that, quite frankly, I’ve not delved back into the info since…

Ah yes, a tasty bacon roll was handed to me… 

We had time to have our breakfast before departing and the bacon was soon sizzling under the grill – a bit of a treat! Meanwhile the boat was readied for sea.

Christobel hadn’t been ‘up west’ towards Benfleet for a little while so Whimbrel began a beat west, again! We did ‘cheat’ a bit passing down the narrower waterway between ‘The Benfleet’s’ bank-side and creek fore/aft moorings, but what the blazes… Nipping forward to look back up the creek soon after our turn (leaving Christobel in charge), I took a quick picture!

Looking aft…

The boat knows what to do, so it kept on going … good job for the mate was otherwise engaged. I have to say, in her defense, I’d given no instruction, even though she was aware … but we know our boats wiles. I have been ‘told off’ for this in the past … but as I say, with her long keel…

Ah yes, a relaxed mate!

It was a grand sail together, I vowed to myself that I would be afloat again in a week … Christobel even offered on the Sunday just gone, but I considered it a little early – I must be growing up!

It was a tranquil sail, less wind than the previous day and much more in the way of sunshine. Along the shoreline there is a definite ‘greening’ of the saltings: spring seems very much in evidence. But my time was running out, and I enjoyed a last coffee while re-coating a couple of areas of varnish work to build up coats before heading ashore, together…

A welcome coffee…

On the Wednesday, I was driven to hospital by Christobel … she was able to stay with me until the moment I was ‘taken down’ and was there minutes after my arrival on a ward some 5 hours later…

Ah yes, a post-op cup of tea…

Things are gathering pace and I’ve attended a ‘seminar’ on the next stage. Next appointment looms with the radiologists to do a dry run and get set up – I have to be marked with three tattooed dots which will be used as reference points for the machine…

I’m just pleased that the first stage has gone well, actually second, for the hormones are the grounding stage. I seem to have come through in a far better condition and frame of mind than I’d ever have thought possible – my sincere thanks to the oncology team at Southend University Hospital. xx

External beam radiation treatment is next … but more on this ‘third’ stage in good time.

Earlier blog link…

Ditch-crawler’s snake has been ‘tamed’, but now for the real stuff…

Part 3 of my prostate cancer tale…

To see earlier posts:

Ditch-crawler asks of his male fellow sailors ‘…have you been tested yet?’ Prostate cancer up-date…

I learnt last week about another chap who’d read my story and eventually summoned the courage to go to his GP surgery and ask for a prostate test (PSA). He did have a serious problem and, like me, is undergoing treatment. The chap is currently going through some weeks of radio therapy – what his actual ‘condition’ was, I do not know.

What it does show is that, like me, this problem can sliver up and bite you and unknowingly do its dreadful deed.

Be warned. Get tested…

Next week I go into hospital for brachytherapy treatment – essentially I will be injected with iridium (dust), which should neuter the beast. I will however, due to localised spread, have to undergo some weeks of radio therapy afterwards too…

During this month I have been hoping to get out for a sail: March is likely to run away as I recover. The weather has been somewhat stormy, wind wise, for two weeks now and looking ahead, I’d almost given up on a sail … however, over the coming weekend the winds affecting the whole of the British Isles abate, leaving the new week calm and balmy by comparison. Christobel has been tipped off! I mentioned some thoughts of popping off for the night … it didn’t go down very well. The term ‘Stupid Boy’ rang in my ears.

Hey ho!

My creek viewed as I walked away from Whimbrel after an afternoon sail during February…

For information and action, hopefully:

My dear sister has taken it upon herself to do a longish charity walk at the end of June and she is doing this in the name of research into prostate cancer.

It would be grand if any of you out there could sponsor her: it is a little advertised problem, yet is a bigger killer than breast cancer…

One of her sponsors has sent her a message to say that they have booked a prostate test – well done, who ever you are.

See: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/theresa-ardley?fbclid=IwAR1VxHxxgR_DlfbLdhLKytRK_bKK-dclIoKOpR7iyCQyYEl2Ya5eoWvCfFs&utm_campaign=pfp-share&utm_content=Theresa-Ardley&utm_medium=fundraisingpage&utm_source=Facebook

Last Sunday, having missed our week’s longer walk for essential reasons, we drove over to Maldon to do what we had planned – Town to Heybridge Basin and back along the navigation – only five miles. On our way back over the Fullbridge the heavens above opened and we battled wind and hail storm back to the car. Any further wandering along the waterfront was called off and we drove home.

Over the past few months, well, since the end of summer really, we have been doing seven to nearly nine mile circuits (at times) around the ridge of humpy/lumpy hills leading into the Dengie Peninsular – it has been fascinating with many beautiful spots found. At times both the Crouch and Blackwater waterways have been in view at the same time. I think the important part of it too has been being able to commune with nature together enjoying the ‘great-outdoors’ for we both know, there will be a lull in my ability to do this. But I will try!

Looking over a windswept Heybridge Creek (River Blackwater) under a moody sky…

As with walking, sailing (being afloat) is where I commune with the world in general and barring my ability to get out for a few hours before Tuesday next week, when I’m due to have my brachytherapy operation, my thoughts as I go ‘down’ will be with all that I love ‘out there’ – boy do I have some wonderful memories to swirl around my mind…

Swirls of knot, dunlin and more besides will serenade me, I’m sure…

And, of course, the love of family, the wider family and friends helps immensely – and I want to give special thanks to my dear wife Christobel, ‘the mate’, and our boy who has been a ‘brick’…