Josin is now safely cradled on land for the winter. We were three who needed to lift out early, before the collective session later in the month. The crane arrived on time and was ready to lift at 08:00 last thursday, which meant that I had to wake up and get up entirely unmentionably early. Nice morning though, little wind though chilly, sunny. Very effective crane driver, and cooperative gang finished the job in record time. A pressure-wash and scrub of Josin’s hull was only a little difficult at the water line, where a stubborn growth of green weedy grass had attached itself, otherwise very little growth and no barnacles. Must have been because of the cold water temperatures this year.
The day before, wednesday, was spent removing the sails and preparing the rig for dismantling, then pottering round to the mastcrane for lifting the mast out. Same three boats, same gang, same good team. Loaded my Berlingo, in van-mode, remarkably full with sails and booms, anchors and antennes, fenders and sheets and mooring ropes. Unloaded in the carport at home with decision to sort it all out later. Was weary.
The day before that, was Josin’s last tuesday evening regatta. Sunny, good breeze from the south east and chilly, and ten boats competing. The evenings are closing in fast now, and in spite of the start being half an hour earlier than usual, the finishing line was passed in the glooming. We came in sixth, poor showing mostly due to two hopeless marker-roundings, pointing us in the wrong direction and killing all speed. Caustic and ribald comments from other boats rushing past. Not my best effort there, no. But we were not last!!
Final winterisation, frame and tarpaulin awning, anti-freezing and extra support legs, topsides scrub and polish, will be done when I get back from two weeks in the US.
Going to visit brother Peter near Charleston, who is rightly worried about their seaside house on Dewees Island being exposed to cyclone Matthew’s high winds. News this evening, saturday, is that the winds have decreased, but the major worry now being extra high tides, which will almost certainly not reach the house. Phew!
Well, this may be the last boating blog, but I may well scribble something, with a pic or two, from America in the Fall, the Appalachian mountains being spectacularly colo(u)rful apparently.
All’s well.
Josin's 2025 cruise 