NEPHELE

This page will tell you all about my boat NEPHELE; where she came from, what she looked like when we got her out of the water, and what she looks like now.

When I first bought her she was down on Beaulieu River, at a place called Bucklers Hard. From there I took her down to Poole, where I had the main sail changed to an infurling main sail. This was done so that I could sail Nephele single handed. She was at Poole for a week, so I also had her surveyed.

After leaving Poole at 9am in the morning, I sailed her along the coast towards Brighton, reaching the Brighton coastline at 11am the following day. As there was no wind, I had to lay up there for 3 days, before sailing on to Dover, leaving at 10pm.

After sailing past the White Cliffs, and around the Thames estuary, I eventually reached Gillingham Marina at 8.30pm the following day. Although the weather was fine, I could have done with a little more wind bringing Nephele back, as it would have sped things up, but that's the way it goes!!!

So now you know how she got to the Marina, here are some photos of what I found when I got her out of the water a few days later.

 

As you can see, she needed a bit of work to get her back up to scratch..

So, with the help of some friends, a jet wash, and many hours later, we managed to get her cleaned up and ready for painting...

The mast and rigging come off, ready to be re-roped..

Some photos of Nephele being stripped, re gel-coated and primed.

Here is my Console crew hard at work...

 

 

 

 

 

My nearly finished console .......And the finished article waiting to be fitted.

 

 

 

 

 

Some pics of Nephele, who is nearly ready for re-launch now. The mast has also been re-roped and is ready to be fitted.

I am painting my Spinacre sail, with an image of Lord Nelson, as my arrival at the Isle of Wight will coincide with the Lord Nelson celebrations there.

Here you can see Lord Nelson's hat emerge from the garage!!

 

 

 

Prior to painting I have sketched in the image, and by painting it section by section, am able to move the sail over the pole, (that is doubling as an easel).

This is making the whole thing easier to complete as the sail is a huge undertaking!!

 

 

 

 

 

Now I have added more detail to his facial features, he is starting to take shape...

 

 

 

And with his eyes and mouth defined, his collar and cravat completed, and his hat finished, Lord Nelson is looking like Lord Nelson!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here Nelson gets his jacket on! I paint in his brooches and medals and then start to add the fine details.

 

 

Lord Nelson finished and completed on one side of the Spinacre sail.

Now all I have to do is turn the sail over, and do it all again on the other side!!

 

 

 

This is a photo of Nephele out of the workshop and waiting to have some sign writing done. She has now been completely overhauled, and has also had her new console fitted.

 

 

 

 

Here you can see Nephele finished complete with her singlehandedyachting.co.uk livery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nephele in the water now, and loaded. Nearly ready to set sail!

 

 

 

 

A friend gives me some help to fit a wind generator to Nephele before I leave.

This will help to keep my batteries charged on the boat, so that I can have light and power.

 

 

 

The Web site designer taking a well earned rest -

FROM TEA DUTY!!

 

 

 

 

A photo of the sun setting on the River Medway last night (07/06/2005) at about 20:30pm.

Looks like tonights sailing is going to be a calm one.

 

 

 

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