During the week our good little ship was gently lowered down the slipway at Alan Staley’s yard in Faversham. The mast was up with just her shrouds needing to be tensioned.

We had been over to take the final bits needed for our passage back home, when the weather permitted! I must say, it was a good feeling to see the old girl looking this way: we have all missed those winter sails … boat, mate and me! An old boy down my sailing club made a touching comment last week too: he said, “We’ve missed you down here…” Ah yes!

Cabin ready for sea…

The shipwright who did the donkey work inside the boat sidled up and nattered about his respect for the Finesse 24’s structure, he added, “She’s a fine boat … very well built” He has been astounded at the single lengths of timber used in her structure – something Alan Platt (builder) prided himself with…

Another of the yard’s staff, a lass, enjoyed a Finesse 24 some time back when her family owned one. She grinned with delight being aboard one again: it was her job (apart from me getting in the way…) to carry out a bilge inspection.

So, here are a few shots of Whimbrel’s first yard launching since her build in 1983 and launch in April 1984.

At the top of the slip when we arrived…

About to go…

Going in…

Nearly there…

Afloat…

And riding nicely…

She leaked a bit, but within a day has gone tight, Alan has told me …  “…she didn’t need any pumping this morning…” he’s said. Shrouds have been set up (they’ll need retensioning surely: they’re new) and boom is fitted.

All being well she’ll be sailed back to the south Essex shore early next week: there seems to be a week of ‘fine’ weather coming, how apt is that after the windy winter, so far…

I’m sure the creeks around have missed her swishing by, the bit between her teeth and with a trail of foaming bubbles in her wake… The brent geese better beware!