Summary

Early in 2008 I bought a little, old wooden Folkboat called Valmik. I was going to spend a few months on repairs and begin sailing her around Europe, with Australia being the final destination. As my knowledge of boats improved, so did the thoroughness of the restoration. I decided to become very involved in every aspect of construction, doing almost all of the work myself: making my own sails, doing the fit out and all woodwork, splicing my own rig and wiring in the 12 volt electric circuit. Self-reliance, I suppose, is the goal. Follow the link to my photo albums for a detailed documentation of the work and some videos.

For a long time now, I have been striving to achieve my goals and begin an adventure. I had planned to complete a circumnavigation of the UK and Ireland in the summer of 2015 with my wife. Unfortunately, this will not be possible and I went back to work. Valmik is ready to sail, however, and I am finally in a position to start enjoying her for what she was designed for. Of course there is a never ending list of modifications and enhancements with a small section for repairs. I will be sailing as much as possible and documenting my adventures on this blog.

My plan is to build up to a epic solo sailing Adventure.

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Re Rigged and Raring to go

Valmik now has her mast back up and tuned with a thick coat of tar all over the standing rigging. This should keep it well protected over the next nine months. I have also finished my new hatch garage with dorade vents and am very happy with how it looks now. This will improve ventilation whilst at sea and they do not need to be closed down like my other mushroom vents, unless I get caught out in a gale. Somebody has already commented that they look like shrek's ears, and indeed they do. Click HERE for full photo album.


 Valmik still needs all of the paint work to be finished properly, as so far during the whole restoration I have done only the minimum required inside and out. There is still a long list of various jobs but they are becoming smaller and smaller, and some will have to be done on the way. It is only a little over three months now to the planned departure date, and it is all getting very real. I am reading "heavy weather sailing" for the third time, then will start with my navigation books again. Also I will read books on weather, yachtmastering and electrics, as well lots of research and chart study. I have just done my financial calculations, and it is a little bit disappointing. I will be working full time up until March and need to raise a much money as possible as I still need some expensive pieces of equipment like these, Liferaft, EPIRB, Solar panel, life jackets, flares and another 12 volt battery maybe with a little petrol generator.

I am very excited and really close now to be doing what I have been striving towards for these last seven years. It is still really scary though but I can not wait to get out there with the wind in my sails.

                                                  But hopefully not these sails too soon
Third reefed main with the Storm trisail, independent of the boom, in its own specially made groove. And the storm jib.

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