Tideway sailing

Last Sunday we met with Ju and Julie for an afternoon of dinghy sailing at Surrey Quays' Tideway Sail-ability center. Its a small and very welcoming sailing club with an emphasis on sailing with disabled people.

Out for fun on the dinghys was Shaun (helm), Michael (1st mate), Anne (new crew) and Myself (Skipper), together with Ju and Julie who are members of the club. King and Mum came along to watch. -King as always busied himself being a celebrity and demanding attention from everyone.


My experience in dinghy sailing was limited to my first sailing lessons in toppers, so 'down-sizing' looked like a fun option. Their boats are designed to be sailed with everything in reach and a joy-stick helm. -Being used to a Tiller it confused me completely.



After we had an initial talk through the sail controls and a quick sail-bending session, we were let loose. Within meters from leaving the pontoon we came from quite blustery to no wind at all. Sailing was reduced to snail pace. I did manage to heal once though, briefly.

Anne and I was challenged by Julie to a race around the buoys. After accepting, in very minimal wind, I waited a few minutes and then said "Let me know when you want to start". About ten minutes later we had drifted our first lap. Pleased to report we won, it was close and took a good half hour to get back to the pontoon, 50meters away.


After sailing we all headed off to a post-sail-pint at the Wibbly-Wobbly-Bar further down on Greenland Dock. -Great food, and even King was welcomed; he fell asleep in the middle of the floor.


Friday night, (tomorrow), we're off for two weeks at Shoestring to get some SAILING done on her, Ju and Julie are coming down for a week, so we'll show them some REAL sailing... hopefully, weather reports say 1mph winds! I'll try to post some articles on here later once we've got ourselves sorted at the Marina's wifi.

Finished! -well almost!

At last! We've finished the re-painting... all right there is some varnishing to do on the newly stripped hatches, some woodwork to do on the cockpit and of course we have one side deck that needs the caulking finishing.... but it's 99.9% done!

We went down Thursday night, after a long drive arriving at Neyland at 4am! King and MW unpacked while I made sure the yacht was warm and beds were made.

Friday we had a bit of a relax, going out to Solva for lunch in the car, then a run on Broad Haven beach for King. -We bought him a pet life jacket from Mrs Hayne's at the Brunnel Chandlery. Then relaxed for the night.

Saturday was up early to finish painting. Port, starboard and aft decks now done, cabin roof and fore-deck re-painted for a bit extra protection and the hatches in the front and rear decks were stripped then coated in dark silkens varnish. I've also installed two moisture traps to reduce condensation while we're away, i'll let you know how that goes.

We finished the work off on Sunday morning, before driving down to Dale for a pub lunch and local ale.

Sunday after noon also saw a welcome visitor saying hello from the Yacht Omega, also moored at Neyland, and readers of this blog. -Hello!

We've bought the materials to strip and re-varnish the cockpit at somepoint, but all that can wait until we've done some sailing! Two weeks time we're down for two weeks holiday!

I did bring a camera with me but of course forgot to take any photos of the finished look -i'll get these next time. - We now have wifi aboard from OceanWave.

Just as we were packing two disasters hit, King cut his leg -now healing well, and the bilge pump electrics decided to drop out. I think the second battery is either fused internally or VERY flat for some reason, so I'm chancing no pumps for two weeks until we get there to sort it out!

The greatest ship on the sea.

Shoestring at Anchor outside Dunmore East harbour from Dominic

Since starting this site I've had some lovely emails from previous owners of Shoestring. Dominic whom I purchased her from sent me some photos and instructions on various aspects, and now reads this blog to check on her progress.

I've also had emails from Dr Ellis, who co-ownder her in 1980s with Dr Robinson, who's wife and daughter have been kind enough to send me some photocopies of her old ships logs.

Recently I've had Colin and Martin Hunt email in with stories of their exploits sailing on Shoestring and how much they admired her and are glad to see her still going.

Fortunately everyone approves of the new colour scheme and restoration work. -Note to all, still have the traditional Shoestring leaks in cabin roof! (Right above my bunk!)

It's great to get emails in from people whom sailed on her or owned her. Its something you don't get with a new yacht. There must be hundreds of little ships like Shoestring with their own histories and stories. Its probably my imagination but being a wooden yacht, and a Folkboat for that matter does lend itself to the belief that she's more unique than other boats.

Thank you to everyone that emailed in with your photos and stories. Please do keep in touch and please email more photographs if you have some. -I'll have to organise a 'get-together' cruise.

Best, Tony.

Last weekend

After too many work commitments got in the way we missed entering the Seafair! -I'll wait till the 2010 one now.

MW was working so I took the 'relief' crew. Amy and Nick. I also took King along as first dog. He loved the yacht, water, swans and generally anything that moved!



We arrived Friday evening to a warm-ish night, Amy and I made a point of finishing off a bottle of Sailor Jerry's that was in the cabinet. I also hooked up the battery chargers to the mains with our new cables.


Amy spoiling King.

Saturday morning we woke to rain and mist. We drove off to Dale for breakfast and then took King to his first time at the beach. He loved it! Trying to run and kick around, eventually pulling me into the sea with him.


Nick inspecting the ship

Nick arrived later on Saturday with his friend, we had dinner in Milford Haven then bed. Sunday, great weather; a quick look around the seafair, taking King to Broad Haven beach again, then the drive home.


King taking me for a paddle at Broad Haven beach.

A nice weekend really! -Still need to finish the painting and re-fitting but never mind there's always another weekend!

King joins the crew!

Meet King, the newest and friendliest member of Shoestring's crew!

King is a retired racing Greyhound from the Romford Trust for Retired Greyhounds, a division of the National Retired Greyhound Trust. He was well looked after and raced under the name of Bowmers King from 2001 until October 2007. He'll be visiting the yacht soon with his bed in tow to place between the cabin bunks on the floor, and during day time sailing he'll be keeping lookout in the cockpit. (Or sleeping on a bunk.)

The short video above is of a race at Walthamstow dog-track, King, (then Bowmers King) finished 4th in the race, and he is the one wearing a red coat with a number 1 on it. Despite coming fifth here, he won many races in first and second place in his long racing career. After spending more time racing than most other dogs this in no way affects his performance as a domestic pet, except he just wants to play and sleep all day! . Greyhounds make wonderful pets and apart from two to three long walks they mostly sleep all day.

If you are looking for a new dog at anytime, a greyhound may well be worth considering. There are many excellent books available together with a wealth of information on the internet.