Spellbinder has been out and about in the Solent a couple of times, when lockdown has allowed. I was joined for one weekend by Alicia, Emily, Peter and Tom, Squadron Sailing Associates, who came sailing alongside the crew of Gladeye for a tour from Gosport to Cowes and Buckler’s Hard and back. We had some good weather, fine sailing breezes and good fare both in the Castle at Cowes and in the Master Builder’s at Buckler’s Hard. Just prior to the most recent lockdown, Sue and I also went out for a day with great friends Jim and Jo, to have a fine lunch in Cowes.

Fine autumn colours

The new marina at Buckler’s Hard: it has rather overtaken this tranquil spot, but there is now much more walk ashore pontoon

Tom, Peter and Emily enjoying traditional Spellbinder fare

Sailing down the Solent into a fine sunset

With Sue, Jim, Jonty and Jo, thrashing westward. We had a more genteel sail back to Gosport under genoa alone – as is so often the case

With the weather becoming less amenable, I plan a mini refit on Spellbinder over the winter. In addition to the routine matters of engine servicing, and safety equipment checks, I have removed the genoa / staysail travellers for servicing, I am having the watermaker overhauled, I have removed the material from the navigator’s seat to get new buttons made, I am having a new zip holder placed on the new spray hood to allow for a solar panel, I need to repair an LED on the engine panel to re-show engine hours, and I shall replace the stack pack. We should be good to go next March, Covid willing.

New bolts and rubbers for the traveller system…

…and new buttons have arrived.  I will need to get the navigator’s seat reupholstered in a suitable material, but I can now replace several of the saloon cushion buttons, which have corroded.