It’s amazing how everything just comes together in the nick of time 🙂 The new pool cover arrived, smart new sunnies and specs have been ordered, delivery to Rally HQ, and we’ve enough provisions aboard to cross the Atlantic west to east. At this point it must be said that the boat looks gorgeous with its smart teak decks, the result of months of hard labour by Howard, and everything.. Read More
Bon Voyage
Saturday 18 October The crew of Second Wind are all aboard, with a countdown checklist to get underway, heading south towards Rally HQ next Thursday. There is lots to do! The list includes fitting a new pool cover for the winter back at home in Downingtown, which still hasn’t arrived, and Hope needs new glasses, which her optician is reluctant to prescribe until her eyes have settled down, so there.. Read More
Fourth of July
We had some fun over the July 4th weekend. Friday 4th saw the passing of hurricane Arthur with winds near us gusting at >35 kts. So we decided not to venture out and place a group of wedges around the mast instead (the rigger still has not returned to finish the rigging job). We departed Saturday morning in about 15-20 kts of wind and got as far as the channel,.. Read More
Thanks to Howard and Hope
We had a great time! See you soon, Lots of love, Karen and William xo
Man Overboard!!
Crew training would not have been complete without a man overboard drill, and we sensed the yacht owners were keen to try some of their new safety kit on live bait…. So Karen was kitted out with a full set of sailing gear, and inflated lifejacket, and jumped overboard, hoping to be rescued by the crew. The Life Sling proved its worth once everyone worked out how to use it.. Read More
Sun sets on the crew holiday
Back in Worton Creek at the end of our travels, on a very hot night, we drove in the Saab convertible with the top down to Rock Hall. We arrived at sunset just in time for a very messy, and most delicious crab dinner at the harbour, a fitting end to a great trip!
Magothy River
After a day figuring out the eccentricities of the slightly asymmetric spinnaker, our last night was at anchor in the Magothy River nestled behind Dobbins Island, on a beautiful calm evening, with warm water to swim in from the boat, a meal on board, and a trip up the creek in the dinghy to explore. This is what makes  holidays afloat special.
Two nights at sea and 300 nautical miles
Wednesday 11 June and we set off for Annapolis, the first stop on our journey to our planned starting point for our 300 NM passage. Unfortunately, when we arrived the forecast was for dangerous thunderstorms, flooding and lightning, and with all the new electronics on the boat, we agreed it was better to wait for a change in the weather. Annapolis is a great location for a forced stopover – two amazing chandleries kept.. Read More
The finishing touches
June 7th and the crew were all at work in Worton Creek, finishing off those “few little jobs” and getting the boat ready for our qualifying passage  – 300 nautical miles over48 hrs, non-stop. Howard would not describe as “little” the major tasks he ticked off down below in humid heat – replacing the water heater and fixing a broken toilet in the forward heads, but we are all very grateful for.. Read More
Sea Survival
Part of the safety preparation for the Caribbean 1500Â is to attend practical training in sea survival. So Hope and Howard went to the Naval College in Annapolis, while William and Karen went to Hamble in Southampton, and as part of three days of training, practised man overboard recovery, use of flares, and deploying and using a life raft in the calm, warm and safe waters of a swimming pool. We.. Read More