WINTER WORKING

Every winter we organise working parties on alternate weekends. Pudge and Centaur are usually berthed on the quay at Maldon alongside our lighter Sailorman, which also needs loving care and attention.

If you can lend a hend you will be made very welcome.

Every winter we remove the sails which are collected by James Lawrence Sailmakers who store them at Brightlingsea and carry out repairs as required. To remove the sails means lowering the masts and removing most of the rigging. All the ropes and wires are taken on board sailorman for inspection and repair. Wires are rubbed down with wire brushes and dressed with boiled lindseed oil. There are servings to be replaced and tarred and all the blocks are oiled and repainted if required. All the removeable equipment is taken off the barges and checked and serviced over the winter. On the barges major winter restoration projects are undertaken when we have funding.

There are endless lists of jobs to be done on both barges as well as work to restore Sailorman. In the spring all hands are needed to repaint the barges as well as rigging out and fitting out for the new season. Anyone who wants to help can come along, if you can please let us know you are coming. Accomodation on board is available and we organise catering too. Many people attend regularly and working parties are a great chance to learn new skills, lend your expertise to our efforts and make new friends, so please come along and help!

Kevin Burtonshaw looks worried as Pudge's decks were weeks behind schedule and the 2003 sailing season drew ever nearer. Thanks to a massive effort by Kevin and his team the job was finished.

Tim Jepson is the supervisor on Centaur and Peter Boss is overseeing the major works on Pudge. If you would like to lend a hand with the winter work parties please telephone or email David Gibson especially if you have specialist skills so that a job can be planned that will utilise your skills best. There are all sorts of jobs available to suit all skills. Under 18 years old, you are welcome if accompanied by an adult and we have written parental consent to your attendance.