My new Storm 17 “Touchwood” has been launched.
We had a launching party at Stewartby Sailing Club on Oct 24th with approximately thirty family and friends attending.
It was a great way to celebrate the conclusion of what has been an all consuming and rewarding project. The day went well with lots of appreciation of the work involved and of the lines of this lovely looking design. It is quite a change from the usual plastic racing dinghy that makes up the majority of the fleet at this inland flooded clay pit.
The weather was not ideal for a first sail. Very windy and getting very, very windy!
At one time there were four up to windward with only a petite friend to leeward. She chose a good time for a first sail too. The landing was not very controlled so the paintbrush will have to come out again. Not much.
I need to thank all the contributors that have posted their photos and accounts of building the Storm 17. They were a great help. I hope to meet some of you at the events that I can now bring the boat to. The Seafair-Haven2010 festival is one I plan to attend.
One dream is to catch a few mackerel and to pull up on a sandy beach and get the barbeque going. Roll on next summer. In the meantime I have to cut a great big hole in my lovely boat to fit an engine. You need courage just to fit a drain plug!
Happy sailing
Bill
