Captain and first mate, the story of Kittiwake

The story of Kittiwake.....

Ellie 5 mins into her very first sail at the helm.

It all started last summer (2010) after a holiday in the Norfolk broads I decided to fulfil a long held desire to learn to sail. (used to be a sailor just never 'sailed'). Ellie and I had a lesson on Derwent Water, then decided that I'd have lessons and teach her when I got good enough.

Free to a good home.

So by September I'd got the bug but had no boat.

Then I found this:

The day we got Kittiwake home

After a full strip back to bare wood and a few repairs

The primer goes on

Ready to fit out

First voyage Feb 2011

Free to a good home, something called a Gull Dinghy. Sitting in Selkirk in the borders in need of a little TLC. After a 200 mile round trip I had a tatty looking but sound wooden dinghy. Well after 4 months of sanding and painting and varnishing and more painting and varnishing. We ended up with this. The Boat was built around 1959 so she's older than me, we've now had a good few outings this spring and Summer, its great to chill out floating around.

After restoration

So my next challenge will be some crazy sailing idea that involves camping, might start with a night out on Derwent, who knows whats next.