End of May

Drying out after arrival Falmouth

Hi all, As May comes to a close it sees us still in Falmouth, there have been storms here all week and now they've calmed a bit but today 29th we have a strong wind warning again here in south west. This time waiting is not being wasted, there are a couple of annoying deck leaks we are fixing, also a mod to the solar charge and shaft charge circuits which gives more versatility of choice. Another trial 'temp mod' is for down wind sailing, we've fitted a new haliyard from the spares cupboard to the fwd mast head, aquired an ali dingy mast, and are making a couple of whisker poles to pole out the big jib, and spare big jib set flying. The sheets from these will be attached through sheet leads directly to the tiller, its a known way of doing it from the past, we will see if it works on guiding light. Roy lost his glasses yet again! and is blind as a bat waiting for specs to be made!  A diet of Cornish Pasties, Cornish Cream Teas, Guinness, Falmouth isnt a bad place to wait. The 'Bosun's Locker' chandlery have been helpful in our mods also 'Oddies Pub'. As to leaving, the 'UGrib' site is showing its ok for next week, we monitor this every day, so maybe 2-3 or 4 of June could be good for Biscay and our next port La Caruna.

Roy-Sue-Dick 

 

Latest Update

Hi all,

We arrived in Falmouth yesterday morning in glorious sunshine at 07.45hrs after a really good sail down the Irish Sea, wind was force 5 to 6 for most of it but it dropped down and we had to motor round Lands End in a flat calm. The trip was very good but leaving Holyhead we got mixed up in a tide race off shore and took a huge wave on deck, this soaked our forward sleeping quarters which became untenable, all fixed now and we are adjusting things so it can never happen again. Sue produced gourmay food in difficult conditions, you carnt beat sitting down having savoury mince, mashed potatoes and fresh bread, and fruit salad all with silver service, this while the boat blasts along at 7knots sailing her self !!

Roy Sue Dick

On our way

Hi all, Well folks we are on our way at last, we left Holyhead at 1950hs on Wednesday night armed with a favourable forcast for Thursday through to the weekend, present Position: 52,46.24N , 5,25.50W Speed: 5 knots, Course: 166 deg. very sunny wind light from the west. More info later.
PS. Holyhead Lifeboat men are friendly guys.
Roy-Sue-Dick

May Update 4

Hi All, Just to let everyone know we are still waiting for the wind to drop and change direction, latest forcast is midnight Wednesday so we have to wait a little longer.
Roy-Sue-Dick

May Update 3

Vessel name: Guiding Light
Position: 53,19.18N , 4,38.63W

Hi all,
Well the winds are not looking good for us to leave any time soon. The boat is now ready to go with most equipment and stores stowed away, finding the right positions for everything is a pain and will be adjusted as we find the need. This wait has given time to get round to fiddley jobs we wanted to do in the sun but they are getting done now. Next possible departure is towards the end of next week, we will keep you posted.
Roy, Sue, Dick

May Update 2

Heading for Ireland after the storm 2100 hrs

We left Liverpool at 11am on Sat 9th May heading for Holyhead again, ran into some heavy weather over 35 knots of wind, but by 2100hrs it had calmed and we headed for Ireland, only way to go because of the westerly wind. It took 21 hrs to reach Holyhead at 0800 hrs on Sunday 10. Open day began at 1300 hrs and many friends and relatives came to see us and wish us well on our voyage. We wish to thank all of you it was much appreciated. The boat handled the storm with no problems and has given the crew confidence in its capabilities, we all worked well together and can let all followers know we will continue to sail with the same safety and respect for the open ocean on our travels.

We will now be storing Guiding Light ready for our departure any time after the 16th May weather permiting.

Roy-Sue-Dick

May Update 1

on passage to Liverpool

Hi all

Well, the visit and open days to Liverpool have been a success, a lot of friends paid a visit over the bank holiday to wish us well on our trip. The Marina Bar at Brunswick Dock were very good hosts as well and we did enjoy Sunday breakfast. The weather has closed in this week so our plan to go to Holyhead has been cancelled, we will probably be leaving Liverpool on Saturday 9th now. NB our planned open days in Holyhead will be decided this week, may mean a delay in the departure date as well.

Roy-Sue-Dick

April Update 2

Hi all
We are now on sea trail legs, just the three of us, first Holyhead to Beaumaris, for an overnight stay which we did yesterday (dingy training), and today 29th Beaumaris to Liverpool Marina. We left Beaumaris this morning at 08:15 hrs and arrived at the Lock gates in the river Mersey at 15:00 hrs, we had one incident on passage, that being the painter line on the dingy parted! this halfway up the Mersey in the channel! This meant an impromptu training exercise of manoverboard and recovery under sail, we performed the broadreach away-tack-broadreach back feather/stall, third time success! After lock in and mooring we had a very nice well deserved 'Pint'.
The wind on passage was from the East-Southeast force 5 gusting 6 in rain squalls, this meant a broad reach all the way, so we had a good sail dipping the lee rail at times and reaching over 9 knts with the tide behind us. All crew performed well and a pat on the back well deserved!
Roy, Sue, Dick.

Guiding Light at Holyhead

click to enlarge

April Update

Hi all, we had some good weather during March and April and we made very good progress, so we are pleased to tell you of our launch yesterday 14 April at 14:33hrs, Guiding Light looked a picture, we then took her to Holyhead Marina arriving there at 19:12hrs. All went very well, as there was no wind we motored all the way, I still have a small problem with the fuel line, and will renew this shortly. So the first leg has been completed. We had one guest aboard for this very first leg, that being 'Isabelle' who is 12 and is Sue's niece, she said she enjoyed the trip even though the wind was very cold, and all though she had done nothing much she hadnt got bored, the highest praise I could have wished for. 

Roy-Sue-Dick-Isabelle.

March Update

We are now preparing the hull, old antifouling off, prime and 3 coats of new. Launch date is fast aproaching and all is still going well and on schedual. This particular Post is to test communications and make sure that posting via e-mail will work well when on passage.

Roy 

 

The Begining 2009

Guiding Light is a 1936 Gauntlet 12 ton Cutter. I have owned her since late 1993.
She was restored in 1994 a lot of this work being done by myself in Southampton UK.
Her call sign and signal letters are GKGG her off No.165091
Registered home port of Beaumaris, Anglesey.
In mid 2008 I decided to undertake an extended voyage in this yacht.
Anglesey uk to New Zealand, and back, to see how far it is.
To this end preparing the yacht has been on going, various additions and renewals to her equipment list etc. and a lot of engineering updating, I am on track for leaving the UK early May 2009.
This blog will allow myself and my Crew to Post the progress of the yacht
Roy Boughton (owner Skipper).

The Yacht is presently ashore at Gallows Point Beaumaris