The lists were long and the main item was the watermaker being fitted, along with the security grills, the hoist for the outboard, a chartplotter repeater, Caframo and Hella fans, reading lights and a towed water generator.  After encouragement from Bryan at Silvers Marine, Phil decided to do the watermaker (except for electrics) himself and it turned out to be fairly straightforward, although the loss of storage space was a concern.  Lawrence of Crowhill Marine did the electrics/electronics and GH Engineering the stainless steel work.

Phil retired at the end of January and Norma started her 3-years career break.  The last day was Friday 30th January and Phil’s colleagues and Norma’s colleagues gave them superb send-offs - they will be missed.  

On Saturday 31st January we flew to Mumbai and spent four weeks touring Rajasthan cities, Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, Agra, Gwalior, Orchha, Khajuraho, Varanasi, Delhi, Darjeeling and Kolkata.  It was a wonderful way to start the post-wage-slave period.  The Indian people were delightfully friendly and helpful, with a very keen desire to be professional and to please.  We loved it.

March and April were hectic sorting the house to rent and completing work on Minnie B, as well a buying all the things we need.  A visit in early March to Phil’s family in Yorkshire was a must and most enjoyable.  

Minnie B was rubbed down and two good coats of Jotun SeaAlu applied, with triple coats on leading and trailing edges and at the water line.  She hung in slings overnight on 2nd April to finish the antifouling to the centreboard, but when we came to launch on Friday 3rd April we had to sort out the rudder which was jamming – Phil had overtightened the bearing plates when replacing the bearing pin. Note to self and other Ovni owners this is easy to do as there is no ‘stop’ position and when the rudder is folded the jaws will continue to be squeezed as the plates are tightened.  

On 9th April Phil flew to Southampton, to help Greg sail his new boat ‘Clodagh’, a Dufour 325 back to Northern Ireland – the weather turned against them when in Dun Laoghaire so they didn’t make it all the way.  Still, getting a boat onto the island of Ireland makes life a lot easier.

Our very old friends Clive and Liz came to visit the weekend of 25th/26th April and we had the pleasure of taking them for a walk in the Mournes and for a sail on Strangford Lough.  The tension on the Gyb’Easy was not right and the boom was not fully across after gybing, so when Clive released the line he got a serious whack on the nose from the rope’s end.  Not too serious fortunately.

Julia came home that evening

Phil and Julia took Minnie B round to Ringhaddy on Sunday 5th April, having a great sail past the Ards peninsula – unfortunately the wind was in the south and it was a beat.  There was some excitement when the Coastguard came on the radio calling to find a boat that someone ashore had seen by off Millisle firing flares.  We were nearby but couldn’t see any other boats and so radioed the Coastguard, but by this time they had launched Donaghadee lifeboat which came over to talk to us.  We heard them radioing the coastguard to say they had made contact and Minnie B was under sail with two competent persons on board – well, that was nice to know.

The rest of the month involved more house and boat work – it was relentless but it was our work.

Mournes with Clive and Liz - Slieve Lamagan and Ben Crum behind