Since buying Escapade, Martin and I have learnt so many new things and developed a range of skills that we would never have imaged we would need to.

Sewing

First project
New curtains

Those of you who know me well, know that I have never been particularly into the more traditional household skills of cooking and sewing, but, on the boat, needs must.

So, I took the plunge and invested in a second hand sewing machine. This was to open up a whole new world…

Starting with simple things, I have had a go at rectangular bags for clothes storage and then moved on to some curtains for the back cabin. Next on the list are curtains for the saloon and hatch covers. When I get brave, I will make some winch covers (harder because they are cylindrical!).

Then Martin has a list…a pedestal and wheel cover and also  one for our dinghy. They may have to wait a while!!

Bread Making

The current lock down situation has been ideal for practising provisioning for three or four week passages; what to buy, where and how to store it and being inventive with ingredients when we can’t get exactly what we want.

I have also had the chance to start bread making – once I could buy the ingredients!

I was quite impressed with my first attempt.

Yummy

Mast climbing

This was one I have been putting off as I was little nervous! I am not good with heights and will never walk on glass floors in high building – it makes my stomach turn just thinking about it. But, it did need doing.

We have been watching the riggers when they go up the mast and taken their advice on harnesses and lines. So the time came to try it ourselves. For the first time, we chose a calm day with no wind so the mast would be fairly still. We checked the lines, fittings and harness and Martin started winching. I didn’t actually have to climb , just sit back in the harness and be slowly raised up.

The top of the mast is about 20m above the water, so you get a good view from the top!

Up...
Up...
Up!