Some details on the boat wot I have bought and now safely moved to Tollesbury. First a dump of pictures taken by me and the previous owner. I'll refer to the pictures in the text which follows:
I bought the boat off a delightful chap called David Hoskin, how in his 70s and a retired Royal Navy Commander. As well as numerous sea miles in RN and US Navy vessels he has sailed the Atlantic three times, once west to east which is often a nasty crossing. He has also rowed the Atlantic twice and with his team briefly held
the world record. Apparently a few hours after arriving another team which had set off after Team Hallin but crossed quicker claimed the record.
Back in early 2018 David bought Lou-Lou Belle, a 1974 Drascombe Longboat Cruiser. The boat has previously been called Ellesse D and Birdie but David renamed it after his wife Louise who is equally delightful. I shall keep the name as I like it and I have a few Louises in my life. His intention was to sail it round the UK in aid of Combat Stress. In his own words David never found anyone stupid enough to go with him so he was intending try singlehanded and if the weather held try to do the trip non-stop.
Through 2018/19 David embarked on an extensive refit and upgrade programme spending way more than I have paid for the boat. Among other things he: repaired and repainted the whole boat (there are a couple of very minor cosmetic blemishes), Coppercoated the underside and centre plate which has been serviced, replaced the sails with R&J's (Drascombe specialist) most advanced designs (David chose their high peak gaff main although I'd of been tempted by their batten roached main), of course the genoa furler is new, fitted additional watertight compartments, fitted a full 12v system with solar, purchased a chart plotter, DSC AIS VHF, handheld VHF, NASA echo sounder, uprated the trailer, the 6HP outboard dates from 2012 but is in mint condition and serviced, bought and fitted a Raymarine Tiller Pilot, purchased a 8' Walker Bay dinghy and trolley. There are numerous over mods and upgrades, the list is very long, I have it, it goes on for pages
The most bonkers bit of kit, and its shown in the photos in the raised position without wind vane, is
one of these. You buy a set of plans plus metal components and build your own. Trouble is its too big for a Drascombe LBC so David meticulously scaled it down to two thirds and apparently it works like a dream. I look forward to playing with it!
Tragically COVID lockdown, family commitments and recent ill health meant David never embarked on the trip and only managed 500nm of sea trials. I hope in the years to come I'll do him and his work justice although I don't think I'll bother with a singlehanded non-stop UK circumnavigation!
I wasn't planning on buying a boat until next year when I turn 60. I hope to start working 4 days a week (my employer isn't totally against the idea) so want to sail at least one day a week in the season. But the opportunity to buy Lou-Lou Belle was too good to miss. She won't see many miles this year as its The Current Mrs R's 50th and we already have many plans in flight.
On Saturday I towed Lou-Lou Belle back from Wimbledon, threading our way through London to the M25 was quite interesting. She's now tucked up in Tollesbury Marina boat park. Early next month David is kindly coming up to help rig her then she'll be launched. Grey Sheep OTP has kindly offered to show us around the Blackwater Estuary and I'm acquiring skills like a VHF course and license and I also need to learn basic coastal navigation. I'd also like to get some RYA tickets, not just a VHF certificate.
So that's the story so far! The 13 year old me, who went on to spend far too many seasons sailing around a gravel pit in Maidenhead, Berkshire, who read all the books and dreamt so many day dreams would be over the moon with Lou-Lou Belle. Back in the day I was a regular visitor to the London Boatshow and always made a bee line for Honnor Marine's stand to ogle the Drascombes and steal broachures. Dreams do come true but sometimes you have to wait decades.
