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7/5/2026: Longest Slow Jog

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This morning, having only done weights and a 4k routine jog, I felt pressure to go large . A ride was off the books due to a stiff SWly wind, no fun riding into that. Nor is it possible really to settle into a steady grind as the gusts buffer and interrupt momentum. So a jog it was. Since starting jogging I have been more or less doing the same hilly 4k return up the road I live on. Going longer would mean doubling this or walking a steeper section further down. I wanted to settle in to a steady grind and up my mileage.  As it was cold and windy I wore tracky sacks and two top layers and a a hat to keep warmth in. Starting from the fire atation, my imagined route was to the Tin Bridge, back and across to another dead end road. This, I guessed would be 6k, a modest improvement. But as I nearedy turn around point, I wasnt feeling modest , I wanted bigger . I kept on over the river to Vacy, on a fast but not very highly driven road. Surprisingly, all the cars gave me a respectful wide...
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6/5/2025 boatwork forges ahead

So, of i haven't actually said it loud i am in the process of preparing Clancy  my NIS18 ketch for coastal sailing. So yesterday i bought bits for galley sink, a high volume manual bilge pump, a gimballed cup holder (that i had an idea might be used for a trangia stove), am AIS receiver (not in stock) and checked out foul weather gear.  Today i went off to the hardware store for 38mm hose and was able to complete plumbing my bilge pump. It's funny with a flat bottomed boat without ac bilge per se, the auction lashed on the cabin floor. Anyway it's a neat fit and will give peace of mind to know if I get ac wave through the hatch, i can clear it at 100 litres per minute. I also bought a "gash bucket", that's a slope bucket come heads. This will hold sawdust and so on. It's sorted below the cockpit and runs clear of the Sea Seat, which fouled the old heads. In the galley, I fitted a small hand pump tap and cute little stainless steel bowl. 
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4/5/26: My Little Ketch

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Phote credit:Small Craft Magazine. Sometimes I idly muse; is Clancy a ketch or a yawl?  I have it on authority of Google AI, that with a mizzen mast forward of rudder post, she be a wee ketch.  Further, without foresails, jibs, genoas, code zeroes and such, she qualifies as bring cat rigged. So, she is properly identified as a cat rigged ketch, or cat ketch.   Her masts are unstayed or  free standing, in that they have no standing rigging. Both masts are able to be lowered in their personal tabernacles.  Sail Area: Main 12.06 sq.m Mizzen 4.82 sq.m Reefing: Clancy has two slab reefs in her mainsail, and one on her mizzen.  Under mizzen alone she is designed to make slow way directly towards the wind.  
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4/5/2026: boat work

This weekend passed has been a good one with regards the refit of The Clancy, as follows:- Autohelm : my initial assessment had led me to believe a separate structure was needed to attach the Autohelm. But today's check had revealed an almost too easy fit. Drill + Goo = Done. The pin fitting on tiller was a repeat. Wiring, completed on day 2, was made easier by prewiring I'd done months ago. It was a great relief to discover this as I loath wiring of any type. Ive not yet tested to autohelm, but reckon that will be a fun thing to do when we're afloat. Its not free of power consumption like a windvane, but I cannot fit a vane on my little ketch due to the stern-sweeping mizzen boom. But I trust a with a slightly upscaled solar-battery setup, this system should be as good.  Sea Chair: A comfy chair in which to sit at sea has long been of interest. Sitting sipping coffee or dozing, while the little ship guards herself, is the epitome of cruising for me. And a quirk of the NIS1...
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2/5/2026 Selling Up, Buying Up

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Beautiful autumn morning here.  The liberating feeling that smashed me after selling a motorcycle is LIBERATING. Its also ADDICTIVE, I want to keep going. I need a car to tow my trailable NIS18. I have 2 other motorcycles, I will sell one once the one currently being modified, has run for a while. Being remote I feel a need of a second vehicle, though my bicycle is stepping up with ongoing fitness improvements.  I am undecided on whether to sell my house. This would force the purchase of a new larger boat, sale of car, any motorcycles and months of work to prepare the property.   Today I worked on Clancy & got a lot done.  a) Hanging Points by the main hatch. Added 3 saddles and a large hook for hanging oilskins, knife, sunglasses etc.   b) Tethered Hatch Boards.  c) Mounted Autohelm.   Now I just need to wire it up. d) Ordered Domes. Yes domes, two. One for each hatch.  e) Bought a Gamers Chair to be used as a Skipp...
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1/5/2026 Sell my Motorbike.

The mission for today was to deliver and sell my Homalayan. I was annpyed when, for the first time ever it refused to turn over. I knew the cause was a lose plug from a cable I had to move to fit the new battery. A two minute repair, but it irked me.  I didn't want to pass or on like that, but I had little choice. I plugged it back in and she fired right up.  The new pwner, who I thought might be Indian as Aussie as. A nice guy. I'm list about to text him to let him know of he has a problem, to check that.  I dropped by to see my sister afterwards. Good to catch up with her and with family news. She will be missing mum on Mother's Day in two days time. I felt free as soon as I left. Just me and a small pack, walking and catching the train home, walking from the station. Something about walling I love, lately my exercise routines are all full on; jogging, cycling and weights. Walking is enjoyable and done like this I achieve things, travelling to or from places I have to b...
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29/4/2026

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Sailed Ilona, Lemon Tree to Corlette : When I realised I'd left my wallet at home & had to backtrack 15k, I wondered how the rest of the day would go. I needn't have been so pessimistic. Trying the Trailer Skids: I had been frustrated with the old trailer set up. Four sets of rollers on two way tilting brackets tended to hammer the hull severely, knocking paint off, for one.     I'd followed my gut instinct to fit simple skids, two six foot long runners, topped with thin rubber wear strips. To say they worked flawlessly would be an understatement.  Rigging Up    I stripped her rig months ago & hadn't really reassembled her yet. So I rowed across the passage and anchored while I attached the halyard to the yard, & the mainsheet tackle to the boom & centreboard casing ... & got underway. Wangi Queen Vibe The "Wangi Queens Showboat" was boarding as I rowed away from the finger wharf. A few passengers had that whimsical look asxtgey eyed Ilo...
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