Some of you may recall a certain froideur descended on Hotel H earlier this year when Tom decided it was time to buy a new boat. After weeks of being constantly worn down I finally agreed – on certain conditions – one of which was to sell Veryan, our old wooden boat. Well, the photo on the left shows her leaving Cardigan with Norman, her new and delighted owner who, with the intention of restoring her to her former glory, has entered her for the Milford Seafair 2008 classic boats craft event. I have to say after years of having a love/hate relationship with Veryan I waved the old girl off with fond memories of the good times aboard; being so sick I wet my knickers, nearly getting us mown down in the shipping lanes crossing the Channel, strip washing in a bucket, that sort of thing.
Despite her age Veryan always turned a few heads being a very pretty boat but her deep keel and her inability to take the ground – ie stand on her own two feet without water – make her difficult to sail in this part of the world where there are fewer opportunities to stay afloat in harbour. Now, once upon a time I would probably have given up sailing without a second thought but I’ve slowly been indoctrinated. Being the only yacht in a secluded bay under a starry sky is totally beguiling, being the sole witness to a rosy dawn is breathtaking and yes, I have to say that being together on the boat has given us the space and time to come up with some of our best ideas. We’ve had traumas and scares but proper adventures too, the sort that everyday life rarely offers.
So, as of last week we became the joint owners of La Reve, a fat old plastic tub, like a bigger version of something you’d stick in your bath. Pretty she ain’t, but her redeeming features are that she has proper engine, unlike Veryan which seemed to have something which would barely power a strimmer, she can take the ground and – this is the winner for me – the last owner fitted her with a gizmo which produces hot water! I can actually have a shower aboard now!
At the weekend we went for our inaugural voyage in her, which was supposed to be a trip to Fishguard. Unfortunately we didn’t make it over the Cardigan bar because some giant Atlantic rollers were breaking there so it was back for a quick jaunt round the estuary, an afternoon watching the tide go out and the wading birds dabble around in the mud (the stars of the show being a pair of egrets). We then cracked open the fizz and were rocked gently to sleep as the tide crept up again. Not bad at all.
Despite her age Veryan always turned a few heads being a very pretty boat but her deep keel and her inability to take the ground – ie stand on her own two feet without water – make her difficult to sail in this part of the world where there are fewer opportunities to stay afloat in harbour. Now, once upon a time I would probably have given up sailing without a second thought but I’ve slowly been indoctrinated. Being the only yacht in a secluded bay under a starry sky is totally beguiling, being the sole witness to a rosy dawn is breathtaking and yes, I have to say that being together on the boat has given us the space and time to come up with some of our best ideas. We’ve had traumas and scares but proper adventures too, the sort that everyday life rarely offers.
So, as of last week we became the joint owners of La Reve, a fat old plastic tub, like a bigger version of something you’d stick in your bath. Pretty she ain’t, but her redeeming features are that she has proper engine, unlike Veryan which seemed to have something which would barely power a strimmer, she can take the ground and – this is the winner for me – the last owner fitted her with a gizmo which produces hot water! I can actually have a shower aboard now!
At the weekend we went for our inaugural voyage in her, which was supposed to be a trip to Fishguard. Unfortunately we didn’t make it over the Cardigan bar because some giant Atlantic rollers were breaking there so it was back for a quick jaunt round the estuary, an afternoon watching the tide go out and the wading birds dabble around in the mud (the stars of the show being a pair of egrets). We then cracked open the fizz and were rocked gently to sleep as the tide crept up again. Not bad at all.
Comments
Blossom
I'll have one of those floating gin palaces with a liveried crew.....
Your last paragraph sounds perfect to me!
Camilla.xx
(Aways fancied living on a narrowboat actually).
Good to catch up on your blogs.