Engine box, steps and sole bearers
It has taken me a while to get accustomed to the new working regime since starting the job with Gordonstoun. I started on 18 March, towards the end of her winter refit period, and we (the permanently contracted crew) were living in the school and commuting daily to Inverness marina to work on Ocean Spirit.…
It’s been too long, but not without cause
I cannot believe, as I sit here writing this, that it is a full six months since my last post. In that time there has been loss, achievement, change, and most importantly some progress! In the latter part of 2023 I lost a much-loved aunt, an equally loved and respected godfather and, also to which…
On-deck works continue
I left you as I was just about to disappear for another fun week on board VIC 32. This was followed another week later by a short relief stint on board Tenacious. I had a lovely couple of weeks there, joining in Arendal in southern Norway, and ending in Blyth. The weather wasn’t amazing, but…
In the Doghouse
I’ve now been home almost a month since returning from the chilly wastes of Svalbard (where all the Polar Bears hid until they saw my plane leave, then started dancing on the ice for my shipmates) to the soggy wastes of Argyll, and since then have made some good progress in some interesting projects. First…
The Interior Fit-Out Commences
It has now been several weeks since I sat my Master Unlimited oral… and unfortunately failed. It has taken some time to reconcile myself with failure, as it is not something I am accustomed to, but shit happens, and I have the opportunity to resit whenever I can secure another slot for an exam (don’t…
Normal Service will be resumed in due course
Once again I am conscious that I’ve gone a long time without posting on here, and that when I do, therefore, my next post will be a long one. In order to shorten it ever so slightly, I can reassure my millions of avid readers that I am still alive and reasonably well, although, having…
Unexpectedly Long Leave = Lots of Progress
I last updated you in late July (or was it early August? A while ago, anyway), and had done lots of little bits, fitted the centreboard, painted the hull and made progress with the preps of the interior for the installation of the foam insulation. I was expecting my next leave period to be a…
Progress update – things I’ve done since May…
Yes, as is my wont, I’ve left it far too long again since I last updated this blog. Whilst I’m busy in Bristol refitting the Fridtjof Nansen, I’m only allowing myself short leave periods to do stuff at home, have holidays and progress with Serchthrift, so whilst there has been notable progress since May, it…
Bulkheads and cleating continue (and power tools conspire against me)…
Once again it has been a long time since my last update – what was going to be a 6-week trip on Pelican before returning to the UK and a possible job-change, turned into a marathon 3-months, with the final month spent preparing the new Seas Your Future vessel, the schooner Fridtjof Nansen, for her…
NOW WE CAN REALLY GET STARTED!
Greetings from warm and sticky Costa Rica, as I and the crew of Pelican of London await the return of our Ocean College students from their adventures ashore. As I write, sitting in the open air bar of the marina which has been looking after us for the past few weeks, it is strange thinking…
