 China Blue, junk rigged shooner, early days (Courtesy of Robert Heeley and Henry Colin Matthew Young) |
Discovering China Blue… I’m still smiling!
Warning: pictures shot inside with a wide-angle lens, giving a false impression of wide spaces.
Initial layout
First contact
Seen from behind
Some junk under the hull
In the main cabin
For the moment, I'm happy!
Discovering the galley
Discovering the saloon
Discovering the forward berth
Discovering the cockpit
Other view of the cockpit (the tiller is missing)
Ropes, before
Ropes, after
trying the harness
Aft halyard replacement
Top of the aft mast
Reflexion
Splashing
Trying a sail
The travel-lift arrives
Digger vs China Blue
Are you ready?
Lift off
Here we go
The minute of truth
She floats!
Navigation, harbours, and so on
We are just leaving Glasgow
First “wing-on-wong”!
One of the lighthouses on the Scottish coast - Can’t remember which!
One of the lighthouses on the Scottish coast - Can’t remember which!
Bangor, the waterfront as we leave the harbour
Sunset over Carlingford lough
Lambay island
Lambay island
China Blue in Howth marina
En route to Wales
Moored in Caernarfon
Moored in Caernarfon
Caernarfon
Caernarfon
We are leaving Caernarfon, Gina is still smiling...
Cloudy morning sailing
Even if our wake is not straight...
Padstow bay
Anchored in Newquay Bay
Newlyn
Newlyn harbour
China Blue in Newlyn
Foggy morning in Newlyn harbour
Land's End
In the Le Four channel
Under sails
Les Vieux Moines buoy
L'Aber Wrac'h
Lesconil
Moored in Lesconil
China Blue in Lesconil
The Grand Tas De Pois
Pointe du Raz
Pointe du Raz
Le Conquet
Leaving Camaret
Le Palais, Belle Ile
On the river Charente
Parading up the river!
People, encounters
Jacqueline and Ben
One star of the Victorian Inn
Another character of the pub
Eilin at the Victorian Inn
Karim Boyer, my french crewmate (and nephew)
Karim Boyer, my french crewmate (and nephew)
Raising the northumbrian flag!
John Minary, my english crewmate and friend
John Minary, my english crewmate at the helm
John Minary, my english crewmate at the pub!
Natalia and Marc, our new gallic friends
Natalia and Marc, our new gallic friends
Patrick and Josi, from Britany
Josi
Patrick
Things could be better...
Things could be worse!
I was the second owner of China Blue. Purchased in Preveza (Greece) sailed to UK via French canal system, then sailed all round UK, Eire, Norway, Channel Islands and Iles of Scilly. So she has worked hard and graciously. May she do likewise for Patrick.
Robert, I’ll do my best to give her wind, miles of oceans, seas and rivers. And give her enough love so she will revisit as many as possible of the places she has already sailed with you.
Thank you Robert, your voyages with China Blue increases her value to my eyes, and the respect I owe her – and you.