Environmental
COVID-19 has changed the world beyond recognition in just a few short months. So what does it mean for Sustainable Sailing in general and how does it affect our personal Sustainable Sailing Goals? The COVID-19 just like the other global crises we face (particularly thinking of the Climate Emergency and
Cooking
Continuing from Cabin Refurbishment: Part 3 Interior Theme and Style Plans so far (layout and technical) We really love the overall layout of Vida with the small, safe, protected centre cockpit that allows for an aft cabin accessible from the main cabin and two heads compartments. However, there are a
Environmental
Continued from Cabin Refurbishment: Part 2 Approaches and Cabin Refurbishment: Part 1 the story so far and what is delaying us. We want the interior to be light, simple looking, no fuss, intensely practical both at sea and living aboard on anchor, and comfortable but without any pretensions to being
Appliances
Continuing from Cabin Refurbishment: Part 1 the story so far and what is delaying us. I'm going to generalise and say there are four main approaches to the interior of older yachts. The Minimal: don't change anything, don't fix anything that isn't
Plans
Essentially the story of our cabin refurbishment so far can be summarised as ripping out and fixing leaks :-) Now we are ready to make plans for how to make things both comfortable and nice looking. First the recap on where we are at So what has gone? * All the
Cooking
At least being at home we have had time to come up with ideas, even if we don't have all the dimensions available to fully complete them :-) So we have come up with an idea to extend our galley while giving a nod to a classic Rival
Environmental
I watch a lot of YouTube sailing channels (especially during the COVID-19 lockdown) :-) I do notice that if we are not careful then what we watch directly influences our plans, even our beliefs in what is is possible, especially they influence what we think we need. I suggest that
Environmental
So having had a big grumble in my last post, Teak decks. The worst “luxury” “upgrade” ever, it is time for the opposite. A celebration of the best upgrade you can make to your boat. The terrible pun in the post title probably gave away that the best upgrade is
Environmental
Okay, time to be controversial (and that is a sad thing because I don't think this should be controversial at all). I believe that NO yacht should have teak decks today. They are sold as a luxury upgrade, yet they are environmentally destructive, don't last long
Appliances
The need. Once we start cruising our plan is to spend the vast majority of time at anchor when we are not sailing. Partly this is to save money :-) For example, the nearest marinas to us at Conwy currently cost about £35 a night or £215 a week. A
Plans
In my last post (Deck repair question) I was writing about the inadequacies of our chainplate and particularly of the backing plate that have caused the only cracks in our deck. I shared it on the Rival Association's private FaceBook group and got some really helpful responses. It
Plans
We have some slight cracking around one chainplate (although "chainplate" doesn't feel the right description for what is essentially an eye bolt). When you look at the backing plate the reason for the crack is obvious. Two stacked backing plates and one has moved. I'
