Author Archives: spikekalashnikov

It is 7 years since the Norfolk Gypsy’s bottom was caressed by sea water. For 10 years before that she lay rotting at a mooring. Today was a new start for her. After over a year of restoration, we launched … Continue reading →

Some will remember that I have been plagued by a sore wrist and not being able to use my thumb. Pain is the result if I try. I go to the Onna clinic and they give me painkillers but say … Continue reading →

Essentially the boat is finished. I do a few final jobs. There are only two small jobs, make lid for sea water hole thing and weld nut onto center plate winch so I can use a ratchet to raise and … Continue reading →

Regular readers will remember that my much beloved bird lens, a manual focus Tokina AT-X 300, broke when I was in New Mexico. I tried to get it fixed in San Francisco but everyone said the lens was too old … Continue reading →

I have spoken frequently of the outrageously good luck that has characterized my life. There was another example today. The boat is now ready to launch and Kiyuna san and I go off to pick up my beautiful new cabin … Continue reading →

So, the Norfolk Gypsy is a sailing boat and thus needs sails to work properly. An important part of the refurbishment is a set of new sails. Today the mainsail is bent. Sails are difficult to manage as, even in … Continue reading →

So, Kyuna san, my Sensei in all things boat mechanics, went AWOL. This is disastrous as, although I can, sand, treat wood , mess around with gratings etc, without him I cannot connect up the engine to the electrics, which … Continue reading →