Well I've been thinking really hard (yes it hurts:) and have come to some Difficult decisions. Firstly If I do decide to head off this year I will be rushing like mad to get the boat finished! I will also be sailing with a debt  and not much funds at all. Which also means I wouldn't have all of the equipment that I would like for a safe cruise, carefree as possible, wherever I may chose to go. It is a hard decision to make, Valmik being so very nearly ready, but I need to sort myself out financially before I Head off.  I will feel a lot better for it! And already do!-)  Almost every time I have Gone sailing so far on Valmik it has been rushed.

A Repair job that I first thought would take me a few maybe six months to finish turned into a restoration. It is getting close to two and a half years of full time work on the boat. It has also seen me flying back to AUS to sort out visa's, Twice. I have only really had a paying job for about a year and a half in this time. And am always generally indebted!

So I am planning to do some small short sailing trips this coming year, as many as possible!!
I also will be looking for a full time paying job!
I think I will go sailing up the East coast looking for this!
I will continue to slog away getting this whole thing started.

I think the Cost of a brand new fiberglass  Folkboat is around £30 000.   You can buy an old wooden one in good condition ready to sail for about £10 000.     

Rugging up for winter

Well come 3rd March 2013  it will be the fifth year I've struggled away at Restoring Valmik. Since I bought this Folkboat my whole life has been devoted to getting her "ship shape" and "sea worthy". And she is very nearly there!
I am aiming to sail around the UK starting in march and taking my time.
It will be a hard winter and I have lots of work to do if this is going to be possible.
My main problem is the costs involved with something like this. New charts for this would be around the £400 mark. I need solar panels £££, An Epirb, and the list goes on and on...
Then there is admin costs, insurance, survey, licence's and more. It's expensive this boating stuff :)

It is starting to get cold, and the daytime's shorter. And I must admit I have been getting a little lazy! Only working 8 hour days and not studying at night, sleeping for 9 hours or more! But Today I gave myself a good slapping and am introducing a new strict routine. It involves me being very boring, but getting lots of work, physical training and study done. I need to do this otherwise I will be writing something similar at the end of 2013! 

As of yet I have not added up all Spendings on valmik. I will be doing this near the end of the year!
I am guessing something like £10 000.  for materials and fittings