When I bought Guiding Star, the surveyor suggested replacing the keel bolts. Once we hauled the boat out in Bristol in December 2016, it was clear he was right. Martin from RB Boatbuilding lifted out five tons of lead to get at the bolts.

Old keel bolts removed in December 2016. Some might have dated from 1907

New keel bolts in place

That was just the start of the winter work.

Joe, Eric and I repainted the hull

Relaunching Guiding Star…

It was a cold winter

I rented a workshop to varnish the spars

Martin built a spurning pipe for the anchor chain

Jay replaced almost all the standing and running rigging

Jay’s new Dyneema backstays

New running rigging

New name on the stern after struggles with a stencil

Spliced rungs for the ratlines

Completed ratlines