Claudia and Perry have been renovating their gaff cutter “Torhilda” for the past eleven years. Perry has been working at it full time for the last twenty-four months.

Early this year she went into the water for the first time in many years and today, after months of mast building, rigging, re-rigging and sails being lost by courier companies they finally cast off for the last time from Burnham-on-Crouch. This extended cruise will take them and their boat to their new home in a small anchorage in Wales. Along the way they will compete in the Round the Island race from Cowes and visit Looe, where Torhilda was originaly built in 1933, and take part in the Festival of the Sea in Brest (apparently that's in France).

Claudia has recently completed her first illustrated book, which is a Logbook for sailing children of all ages. If you ever wondered how to cope with seasickness or just what you should give a fat sailor then this is the book for you. To find out more about the log book have a look at their web site: www.starfishbooks.co.uk

I will be joining Torhilda and the her crew for the Round the Island race this Saturday and will report back on Monday so be sure to have at these pages next week.