The first three steps into Winsome’s 2016 racing season

February 21, 2016

The first step I made for the 2016 racing season was to use (my friend Ton van Groeningen holding it here; somewhat scared?) some of the outdated flares just in the first hour of 1st of January.

The second step was to inspect the entrance to Cherbourg from the shore side. I did that already on the 3rd of February and there is no way it may ever be considered as ‘outside help’ [Sonia?].

The third step was to visit with Leen Winsome at Berthon’s in Lymington. It became a complicated trip. My car was only ready at 2pm in Aalsmeer. From there we drove to Het Koetshuis to pick up sails, lifevests, anodes, reserve Spi III, Boj’s and Floris’ luggage oetc.

Friday 19 Feb
1430 departure Het Koetshuis
1830 departure P&O Ferry Calais-Dover, wind 30 knots plus
2300 Park Hotel Chichester (ladies night with lots of light, music and dancing)

Saturday 20 Feb
1000 WightLink Ferry Portsmouth-Fishborne
1115 Winsome’s Cottage
We found the Cottage fully in order, did some shopping and visited Don Hume. Luna was stored in front of his office, looking like a new RIB.

1315 De Hok

1405 departure Yarmouth-Lymington
1500 Berthon’s

Winsome was looking good and Dave Street awaited us. We loaded everything on board. Leen did the rigging of the hallyards, whilst I did other jobs inside. Since the boom was not yet fitted we decided to leave that for next weekend, when there will be more (wo)man power on board.

Then we asked Dave to come on board and make a list of our questions, remarks and observations. He will pass that list on to Robin Milledge with Cc to us.

Meantime I have sent my personal notes to Boj and to Floris.

The we discovered that the next Ferry to Yarmouth would only depart at 1900 so we made another plan:
1730 departure by Audi to Southampton
1915 departure by RedJet to West Cowes
2030 dinner at the Pier View

Sunday 21 Feb
0815 RedJet to Southampton
0900 departure by Audi to Dover
1230 departure by P&O Ferry to Calais
1700 Ghent (to pick up a new chair for Amsterdam)

We are content with the look and the condition of Winsome and of Winsome’s Cottage. The details and to-do-list stay outside this blog. So I hope that next weekend with Campbell Field will be a succesfull one. Of course I regret not being able to be present myself, but knowing that six people ‘will try to replace me’ gives me some confidence.