Winter Refit

     

During the winter months, nearly all the rigging and equipment is removed from the ship, leaving just the main and mizzen masts supported by their stays.

A cover is put over the deckhouse, which alleviates the weathering effect for the half year that the ship is not in use.

Islington Wharf

The wires, ropes and other fittings all have their particular names, and so they are labelled as they are taken off the ship. This helps re-rigging in spring.

Much of the equipment removed from the ship needs to be taken apart, visually checked, lubricated, sanded and repainted or varnished.
During this last winter's maintenance, we fitted a new skylight. Actually, John did all the work, using oak and iroko (tough wood to work), and with a new perspex cover, he made a finely jointed, strong and water-tight cover. With the new skylight, the mess-room now gets plenty of sunlight, although perspex will turn opaque over time. This winter (2007-2008) the chainplates are being renewed, and improvements made to the anchor locker and the bilges.  

Leaving the quay for the summer mooring is always an good time, with a summer of sailing about to start.

It's a tight fit, and has to be done on a spring high tide. Everyone on board stands ready with a fender or a pole to guide the ship through the gap without touching any other boats.