8 - 11 July 2020
Largs Marina was now fully operable but with Covid-19 restrictions still in place. The Marina reception was open of a sort. With the office closed, we met on the stairs to pick up the boat keys. Face covering to buy bits and bobs from the chandlery and the onsite Bosuns Cafe only doing take away. Fortunately, Scotts was taking pre-bookings for my evening meal. Restrictions remained in place at various ports in both Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales. In particular, the IOM was totally isolated for leisure boaters, which normally makes for a good staging post for a return to Wales.
Final preparations on Phyllis, in particular, the running rigging and a sea trial on Friday with a good friend Mike Greenwood. A short trip to Castle Bay in the lee of Little Cumbrae Island. What a good move that was, with the gaff saddle parting the mast and the gaff sail parting company at the head. Fortunately, I laced the sail on both the boom and gaff using individual loops rather than spiral lacing (which is a lot quicker) so that if one comes apart the sail is still held. The gaff saddle loss, with us being in the lee of the island presented no problem to sort out.
On our return to Largs Marina, we ate, courtesy of Mike and his good lady Norma who had pre-prepared our supper. A beer and then to slumber knowing that Phyllis was now all sorted in preparation for the sail back to Deganwy. Saturday morning and after a lift to the railway station by Mike, I returned home in time for a commitment on Saturday.
My return to Largs was on the 21 July.
See the posting after this one for this little adventure!