A full National lock-down in England came into force for the second time during 2020 on 5th November. This was after various areas of the country went into varying levels of restrictions, but the science was warning of another peak, so, in we went…
On the day before after a period of inclement weather, it dawned clear, sunny and with a gentle breeze. ‘We’re going…’ I said, over breakfast. My good mate nodded, indicating, her too!
Creeping out of our creek we were accompanied by Brent whilst waders swirled around the marsh eastern point of Canvey Island. A seal was spotted ‘snorkelling’ aver the shallows chasing fish. Tiny grebe were about too…
It was a glorious sail, with a poke up into leigh Creek (for the hell of it) and a look at a sunken Finesse 21 which has sat mouldering for over a decade. She was once a pristine varnished little ship.
It was great to get out afloat aboard Whimbrel: we’d not had a sail for some weeks. This was partly due to being away on two holidays (one a delayed break from end of March!) and weather.
During the dry periods in late Summer and early autumn, I’d got a lot of little areas of re-varnishing done where areas had broken down – around beadings in the main.
The second full lock-down dawned with a gorgeous sunrise, as did the first back at the end of March.
Interestingly, along with various other water based activities, sailing was allowed, providing crew were from same household or a single person within the family bubble. This meant our ‘boy’ could come along too … weather and his work commitments allowing.
I had a job in hand aboard Whimbrel. The stem head fitting needed removing to discover why rusting was taking place. The boat has a rigging ‘iron’ of bronze on the front face of the stem which I use for fastening a forestay too, when needed. That done, the fitting was renewed and the boat’s second forestay tied off clear.
The condition of the fittings inside faces was ‘clean’ with no corrosion taking place, which has happened before some years ago. The fastenings, however, were in a dubious state. Nearly half had suffered crevis corrosion.
I had some spares but not enough. I also questioned whether or not they were of A4 marine quality. Local outlets were closed in any case, so, an on line job beckoned. Two sets of replacements of A4 quality were ordered – sit back and wait. Bless the world wide web!
In the meantime, when not walking for our daily exercise, the Christmas Cake and Mincemeat were made!
Finally, the fastenings arrived and the cleaned up stem fitting with the necessary were deposited aboard Whimbrel. A week of day-time tides delayed work, plus a few buckets of rain and foul high winds.
Oh, and a tube of 291i bedding compound took its time to arrive too – the company sent out another, which arrived pronto. The original arrived later and was sent back!
Time crept on, we both had a joint baking day for festive period nibbles – we might see some of our friends! Note – the scones (cheese and bacon) were made for walking lunch bites.
Finally, on a calm and pleasant day – last Sunday to be precise – we enjoyed a late breakfast (NO walking afterwards) and headed to Whimbrel to get the job started some weeks earlier, finished.
Tools prepared and walking board over the side, away ‘we’ went. Sadly, during the operation, Christobel as tool hander, got somewhat chilled. Ah, she’s a great mate!
I won’t describe the job, but follow the pictures…
The flanges of the fitting are secured with several countersunk screws either side plus two set screws I fitted some years ago. A secondary large bolt of say 8 mm would be better at foot of fitting. This has been done on another Finesse 24, Gypsy. The cable roller bolt essentially takes the loading from the forestay.
All I’d like to do now is go for a sail, as allowed by the laws passed by our august Parliament, weather permitting!