This is a sight I have been waiting for, my first sail in Maggie IV.
Crossed Tweed Bar and went out for a couple of hours to check everything out on the boat.
Very happy with it all, as I want to become confident in "single handing" soon.
The Navic wind vane worked like a treat.
Profurl 320 self furler - smooth as silk.
Seldon In-Boom single line reefing - perfect, although only two reefs, I would have preferred three - it's on "the list".
Raymarine tillor pilot.
This is the one where I got exited after thinking single handing was going to be very hard.
On the return trip back up the Tweed I dug it out and plugged it in, sailing right in to the wind - upstream, motor running.
I could drop and furl the sails by myself and keep on course while getting ready to pick up the mooring.
Home made hard dodger - bloody marvelous, although I'm sure some of the purists will say it spoils the original lines of the boat.
I don't care, it will keep me out of heavy weather in the cockpit.
Hardest thing to get to grips with? Making three cups of tea with some heel and a little bit of swell!
Average speed over three hours - 4.5 knots in light winds.
Max speed - 13.7 knots surfing down a wave, returning over the bar two hours before low tide. A wee bit of excitement there.
Not many changes and repairs required, a few small things but nothing serious.
All in all, very happy with my boat!