Smells like teen spirit

Smells like teen spirit
Originally uploaded by Sadlr

Funny thing, your nose. I only have to smell fibreglass and I'm back in Crystal Palace at the Dinghy Exhibition. I'm 12 or 13, Dave's a couple of years younger, and we're filling plastic bags with every dinghy folder we can get our hands on.
I've been varnishing the 16m2 and the smell has me back in the garage in West Horsley with any one of a number of wooden boats, Optimist, Gull, National 12. Everything changes but varnish is still varnish.

Em's first place

Em's first place
Originally uploaded by Sadlr

We were not planning to go to the sailing club this weekend but at the last minute Em decided she wanted to sail in the Oranje Regatta and who were we to say no.
Not a lot of wind but enough to run three races. It was her first time out in her new racing Optimist 'Kwark' and with a second and two firsts she ended first overall in the Optimist B's, winning herself an Oranje Koek. Big smiles all round.

Claudia signwriting

Claudia signwriting
Originally uploaded by Sadlr

Here is Claudia deftly applying sticky lettering to the sides of Em's new Winner Optimist 'Kwark'.

Last cupboard aboard Cinclus

Last cupboard aboard Cinclus
Originally uploaded by Sadlr

There was just time last week for one last project on the Cinclus. A small but important drinks cupboard in the wheelhouse. Now Ekko and Sasja have left Groningen heading South towards Belgium, France and the sun.

First walls on WJ

First walls on WJ
Originally uploaded by Sadlr

Here is the first bulkhead panelling going in on the Willem Johannes. As you can see the insulation is a mixed media project. Mr. Jansen's sprayed foam on the hull sides and rockwool with aluminium on the bulkheads.

Laser stuff in bike trailer

Laser stuff in bike trailer
Originally uploaded by Sadlr

Took my sailing kit and Radial sail to the club by bike last Sunday morning. As you can see it was lovely weather - not much wind though. I'm getting laughed at for stubbornly putting the Radial up in less than six knots. If we hadn't just bought a 16m2 I might be looking at new Standard sails. It would probably blow 20 knots all summer if I did.

Kwark

Kwark
Originally uploaded by Sadlr

Here is Em's new [to us] Optimist. It's a Winner 9 and will go by the name of 'Kwark'. We've got five small boats in the fleet now! This one will go down to the club on Thursday evening as Em moves up into the Optimist B team.