A question of provenance

When you bring your new Golant Gaffer alongside for the first time, all fresh and shiney, be prepared....she will turn heads and attract all kinds of questions which is nice that folk show appreciation. Yesterday as a large yacht moored up behind us on the pontoon, the owner approached cast his eye over Satellite and asked about her restoration.... we explained she was built by us.. next question 'Did you buy a kit ?'....... No she was built from plans.......man looking at hull, Did you buy the hull ?... No she's cedar strip and epoxy........man casting eyes over coachroof..'Did you make the fibreglass sections yourself ?..........Oh well you can't win them all.......

Later in the day, as dusk set in, another gentleman scooted over to say hello and that he had the plans to build one but hadn't started yet. We wish him all the best when he does.

Also we had a visitation from D's family. The younger element having fun bouncing up and down on deck and flicking all the switches which is essentially what sailing is all about I feel.

Today is finally the day of celebration with 30 friends and further family coming to celebrate with us.

pause.....

We are now home again having had a truly lovely day with friends and family. We are so grateful that they were able to make it as it brought us together with friends we had not seen for a while as well as our incredibly hospitable newer sailing friends. 

They were so hospitable in fact that we came away with a number of things to affix to the boat. Two friends were not able to attend as they had other commitments but they were very kind to send us a name plaque with Satellite's OGA number and her name.

Also we have a new clock..very nice...

Plus an excellent folding down washing up bowl and two fab Union Jack mugs (see below) and a lovely stropped block with Satellite's name on it. Ah and as you can see that's the wine cellar sorted.

The stropped block is pictured below and as you know, I like a bit of ropework and this has a nicely made rope grommet which has then been whipped to hold the block and a brass thimble. We were very touched by this and think a suitable use for it will be to support the 'Bucket of Declaration' (see earlier post).

Also there were some really nice cards  which I appreciate, not being an artist myself.

One of which was very appropriate (with the exception that she is not spritsail barge) but I guess there are not many cards for builders of Golant gaffers.

It seems I have been waylaid by all things shiny and stringy... so how about the boat itself ? I took a few pictures in a quiet moment but have yet to really document the final result.

The (pointy) End...

Waiting game

Well, best laid plans and all that. Last Sunday we were due to celebrate with friends and family the fact that we had made it however weather intervened and in the face of snow, ice and a biting easterly wind keeping temperatures close to freezing, we decided that we would forestall and move our 'party' by a week. No one wants to stand on the pontoon discussing the niceties of boat building whilst essential bits of them fall off and roll from the pontoon. Enough said. Anyway, after an afternoon of phoning round we have succeeded and are looking forward to seeing everyone soon.

Oh dear...

But not wishing to be idle in the meantime, I had a bit a time on my hands and what did my thoughts turn too ? well 'string' of course ! Actually to be more accurate, rope. I had still to finalise the arrangements for the cruising chute and so I set to and created a halyard for it. This is going to run through a small low friction eye and as such, a tapered splice has potential to get stuck in the eye and so, rather than attach a nasty white plastic 'stopper' I decided to pack out an area below the serving and then dress it with a nice turk's head which I think will do the job. We will see. Obligatory photograph (showing serving, Portuguese sennit to aid the release and turk's head as an ornamental stopper).

Wet bottom

The last few weeks have rather drawn out as we awaited today. There have been a few jobs to do preparing the trailer to take the spars and finishing off a few bits and pieces. But today, in between frequent heavy downpours, we launched. I think now is the time say a huge thank-you to a long list of people, D, for staying the distance and calmly working through the build. I knew when we committed to this build that it would be completed, I had no concerns that we would end up with a half finished shell at the bottom of the garden where some folks' dreams start and finish. Also to T and S (they know who they are) for their support and for sharing their learning from their built, I am sure Satellite is a better boat for that. And finally to all our OGA friends who showed interest in what we were doing, particularly M who rendered much practical assistance and hospitality at critical points along the way. Oh good grief this is sounding like the Oscars, but seriously it has meant a lot to us to have you all rooting for us. Thank you.

Whilst this blog was set up to share the process of building in real time for anyone else who has a plan to do this, it does not end here. We will have a debrief and share the things that work well and the things we would probably do differently. 

In the meantime here are the pictures. Below shows the wood and leather holders for the spars fixed to the trailer.

Here is M applying seizing wire to various shackles (nice job). If you ever need your shackles seizing, she's your woman. Behind the boat is the enormous fork lift truck which was used to launch the boat.

Here she is being lowered into the water by the huge fork lift which makes her look like a toy.

Here she is on the water with an engineer commissioning the engine which went like a dream.

Once she had the boom, gaff and jib added, we took her off down river to her mooring.

I have to say that I am feeling a bit overwhelmed so I think its time for a lie down after having been awake half the night like a kid waiting for Christmas.