Finishing touches - April 2009

On 5th July 2009 we shall cast off for home.... weather permitting!  Works this year have progressed apace - the boiler has been lit and the engine fired up.  The propellor turned in a most satisfactory way, churning up the muddy water of the Elizabeth dock in Maryport.  Fitting out in readiness for our voyage home, it's hard to contain our excitement.  With many small jobs still to complete, our skipper is boning up on his navigation and the rest of us are boning up on knots.  In May VIC 96 headed for the slipway for a final time before departure, for bottom scraping, anti fouling and painting.  This was her first trip under her own steam for many, many years.  Soon we'll be building up our muscles stoking her very hungry boiler.

Our journey home over the summer will take in some of the finest coastal waters, first heading north to the Crinan Canal, where we hope to meet up with VIC 32 for a weekend.  Then on to Loch Ness, popping out on the east coast at Inverness.  Crinan could be a pinch point, as although VIC 96 went through on her way up to Maryport, that was many years ago and it's not been used by many craft as large as her.  Thereafter we'll hop southwards, enjoying stops at ports as we feel like it and having a jolly good time enjoying the fruits of our labours.

The trip south will be a delight, travelling under our own steam after the blood, sweat and tears shed over the last 5 years.  The VIC 96 Trust particularly thank all those who will have helped us to get this far, especially Nando Lopez and all the staff at The Waverley Hotel in Maryport; Paul 'Sheddy'Simpson; Mike Hawkins at MP Marine; John Barber, Ship's Rigger; John Dunsmore, Ship's Keeper; John McEvoy, Pilot Star; Robin Cole, Precision Navigation Ltd, Medway City Estate; and Rob and Ray at 'Makeyour-point' for donating this website and their technical help and support - very generous and patient fellows indeed!