News
This page is regularly updated.
Saturday 6th. March-
Paramour is in the water!
At just after 0900 this morning we lowered the trailer down the slipway and she slipped off gracefully into St. Mawes Harbour for the first time. Beforehand we enjoyed Bacon B
utties and Bucks Fizz on what was a beautiful morning here. I couldn't have planned better weather if I'd wanted to!
I've taken family and friends out for a few spins on the boat. I need to get 20 hours on the engine asap so that she can come out for a service and then go back in for the season. She performs really well and is a pleasure to drive and I've been really pleased with today. From what people are telling me I think Paramour is going to be an added attraction in St. Mawes and I can't wait to get started. My thanks must go to Laurence and the team at XS RIBs who really have done a superb job.
Have a look in the gallery for more pictures of the launch taken by Tony.
Best wishes, Mark.
Sunday 28th. February-
Well, the storm they promised us this morning didn't turn up! It's actually a very nice day here.
It seems hard to believe that next week at this time "Paramour" will be afloat. When I ordered her at the Southampton Boat Show last September, March 2010 seemed a very long way off... now here we are!
Everything is just about done, just a few fiddly bits left. At least my favourite job of all is done- the antifouling ARGHHHH I hate it! Necessary evil though I'm afraid.
I've put a picture of our original "Paramour" in the gallery, followed by one of the new "Paramour" the day after I'd collected her. As you can see, it's remarkable how little has changed in 30 years- The toys have just got a lot more expensive and I've just got a lot older!!!
If you're bored next Saturday morning and there's nothing good on the telly, you can follow the launch on the harbour web cam- go to www.stmawesharbour.co.uk If all goes to plan it should be around 0900. Don't get too excited, it's hardly the Queen Mary and there's no Royalty coming to do the honours... unless you count my mum. Who's now on one stick she tells me! (see below if this doesn't make any sense) Mark.
Thursday 18th. February-
It's half term this week and the weather has been quite good here in St. Mawes. A few people have asked me why I don't start the kayaks now? However, the licence to operate doesn't begin until the 1st. April and this really is soon enough to get everything ready. Besides, everything stops again now until Easter really. I haven't been sitting on my hands though! The boat is coming on and should be ready for launching on March 6th.
Peter and I sanded the hull below the waterline on Wednesday and applied the underwater primer. I will probably apply a coat of antifouling on Sunday. We've done various other bits and pieces too such as applying the licence number and name, splicing the mooring warp, buying more stuff etc...
I am calling her "Paramour" and people have asked me where the name comes from; Well, it was the name of our very first boat which we kept on a mooring in Dale, Pembrokeshire in the 70s and 80s. So the name is very nostalgic for me and conjures up many happy memories of summers spent on the boat. "Paramour" means mistress or illicit lover! A very apt name for a boat I'm sure you'll agree?
I hope you are looking forward to a good summer, I know I am, although my mother is snowed in again at the moment! I hope to see you during the year either on the kayaks or on "Paramour".
I'll leave you with this thought, "A boat is a hole in the water surrounded by fibreglass or wood into which you throw money!" Happy boating, Mark.
Tuesday January 26th. 2010- 
Happy New Year! It's not too late to wish you that is it?
I'm not in St. Mawes at the moment, I have been home visiting my mother, family and friends in Ross-on-Wye. I should have been back this week, however quite a lot has been happening here. What with the snow and my mum falling over her dog and breaking her hip! Hence my decision to stay an extra week, she is on the mend though... and the dog's doing ok as well!
The good news is; I collected the new boat yesterday! Laurence, Martin and the team at XS RIBs have done a brilliant job. As you can see from the picture she's looking good on the drive, and will look even better when she's on the water in St. Mawes! I'll be towing her down to Cornwall on Saturday where she'll be going to my friend Peter's farm. There we'll be antifouling her (lovely job!) and launch day is set for March 6th.- watch this space!
Best wishes, Mark.
Boxing Day-
FESTIVE GREETINGS.
Hi, hope you are having a good Christmas. I've been out for a paddle today- working off some of the Christmas lunch! It was lovely over at Place and up the river into Froe Creek was idylic, hardly a ripple on the water. Coming out of Froe the wind had picked up a bit so the journey back was a little harder- burnt more calories though! Not many others on the water, just a couple of the fishermen and a couple of hardy Laser sailers getting knocked down a few times in the strengthening breeze. Plus the ferry of course.
Only 16 days and counting 'till I collect the new RIB so getting excited now! The new lifejackets from Crewsaver have already arrived, thought I'd order early this year to avoid the VAT increase.
Well, I'd like to wish all of you who read this a very Peaceful and Prosperous New Year and I look forward to seeing you all in 2010.
"I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky. And all I need is a tall ship and a star to steer her by"- John Masefield.
Best wishes, Mark.
PS: I was told recently by a member of the PTA that the St. Mawes School Sponsored Kayaking, back in the summer raised just over £900 for the school! I hope we can do the same next year.
