Have Ye Seen The White Whale?

It’s definitely feeling warmer!

There’s finally an end in sight to those long days of dreaming – or careful planning as I prefer to think of them.

The varnish has had another coat carefully slopped on.. the engine is serviced.. the lifejacket that inflated itself inside the locker is re-armed.. so it just needs the temperature to go high enough for me to be able to feel my fingers after 10 minutes on deck and we’re OFF !!!

But those long winter nights huddled round a solitary candle weren’t wasted!

My literary alter ego, Captain Ahab (see likeness below), has been busy publishing three new books.

Firstly there is a Ship’s Logbook that has room for all the usual things we must include, but also sections for comprehensive passage planning notes like Tidal Gates and Ports of Refuge, along with their VHF channels.

Then there is a log to record those Outstanding Events that happen to us all, but the details of which can easily be forgotten or over elaborated in our fevered imagination (it does happen to some others apparently!). There is a place to record who else witnessed the event – so stories of White Whale encounters will either need to be factual, or conspiratorially agreed with the crew before making landfall!

Finally, a Boat Service History Record to provide a reminder and a history of everything that needs doing and has been done, from when the engine oil was changed to when you last checked that the emergency tiller actually works.
There are a total of 80 items to be checked, plus room to add your own items.

So – quite a productive winter.. but I’m now looking forward to actually filling in all three of those books and setting sail to new adventures as soon as possible!