GETTING BACK TO SEA

Barry Perrins stands beside his 36-foot steel sloop White Shadow in a cold Devon boatyard, applying tape along the waterline for new antifouling paint. Perched on the hard, the creator of Adventures of an old Seadog faces a deadline from the hoist while battling weather delays across South West England.

Working under Sunday sunshine, Perrins balances on wobbly scaffolding to reach the upper boot top and bow. Between mixing white spirit, applying undercoat, and scraping down filler patches, every hour on the hard carries a mounting yard bill.

Cold Mornings and Waterline Antifouling on the Hard

Preparing a 36-foot round-bilge steel hull for relaunch requires heavy work. From a platform loaned by neighbor John, Perrins sands hardened fairing compound across the bow. High spots on the plating require hand-sanding before primer can adhere.

Once filler sits flush, attention turns to the waterline. Perrins gathers clean brushes, a can opener, white spirit, and undercoat. Applying two coats along the upper boot top establishes a clean line before stripping tape away, coating the waterline before temperatures drop.

Propeller Shaft Anodes, Rudder Gaps, and Weather Delays

Beneath the stern overhang, Perrins tackles running gear. The propeller shaft on White Shadow presents an unusual challenge due to its heavy 44 mm diameter. Sourcing a sacrificial collar suited to such dimensions proved difficult, requiring an expensive zinc unit.

“This was I think 37 quid. That’s like 50 bucks just for that.”

To manage expenses, Perrins modifies the setup. While two collars previously protected the shaft, he bolts a single 44 mm anode into place, cinching the bolts tight to prevent vibration when the shaft spins. Antifouling is brushed up to the collar boundary, leaving the zinc bare so galvanic current flows unhindered.

The narrow tolerance between rudder blade and hull presents another hurdle. Because the steel rudder sits close to the underbody, ordinary rollers cannot reach into the recess. Perrins uses a specialized brush to work antifouling into the slot, preventing marine growth from choking the steering gear, and coats through-hull fittings.

The physical strain of boatyard life takes a steady toll:

“When a boat’s out of the water like this, it’s called been on the hard. And living on the hard is hard, especially when you have to keep going up and down steps like this all the time.”

Social moments relieve the routine. A mariner named Jim brings his boat next to White Shadow, sparking conversation about cruising plans. Soon after, boatyard workers assist with heavy chores. Re-stowing anchor chain requires coordinated effort: Perrins stands on the foredeck flaking links side to side so the chain does not choke the hawse pipe.

Yet rain continually disrupts the schedule:

“Out of the three weeks I’d been on the hard, I’d managed to get only six days work done. That’s because of the weather.”

Travel Lift Splash and Mainsail Retirement

Launch morning arrives with urgency. As the hoist moves to lift White Shadow from timber blocks, Perrins rushes beneath the hull for a rapid painting session. With sling straps taking the vessel’s weight and the yard crew waiting for lunch, he coats bare patches where cradle stands previously rested, finishing every patch before the hoist descends.

The hoist lowers White Shadow into salt water: “And then there was silence.” With White Shadow afloat, Perrins inspects the rig.

The verdict on the mainsail is grim. Years of Pacific sun exposure degraded the cloth beyond repair. The fabric tears easily under hand pressure, showing terminal ultraviolet damage sustained from New Zealand to the United Kingdom. Perrins unbends the mainsail from the boom, retiring the canvas: “So long old friend. Thanks for getting me home.”

Re-Hoisting the Furling Genoa and Marina Safety Demonstrations

Without an operative mainsail, White Shadow depends entirely on her headsail inventory. Perrins unrolls the heavy genoa, a foresail built in New Zealand during his Pacific crossing. Hoisting the sail solo on a windy pontoon requires intense effort as the luff tape must be guided into the forestay foil.

“Feeding it in through the narrow aperture on the what they call the foil on the front is hard work. And pulling it up by yourself is even harder, believe me.”

The sail repeatedly catches in the feeder, forcing Perrins to alternate between feeding the bolt rope at the bow and sweating the halyard at the mast. A calm spell forecast for the coming two days prompts him to complete the hoist immediately despite gusty winds.

“The day you put up the sail, it’s windy or trying to get it on. And the day you want to sail, there’s no wind.”

Rain drives him below to sort through spare sails stored in the forepeak, reorganizing canvas while waiting for the downpour to pass.

Taking advantage of downtime, Perrins visits a nearby marina hosting a safety exposition. The event showcases rescue gear, beginning with a live demonstration on correctly igniting handheld distress flares. Perrins examines a response boat operated by the fire service marine branch, an autonomous drone boat, and an underwater remote recovery drone fitted with mechanical grabbing shears.

A classic wooden Falmouth working boat provides contrast to modern hulls. The highlight is meeting active crew members aboard the Plymouth Lifeboat, evoking memories of volunteer offshore search and rescue missions.

Stowing Water, Freeing the Tender, and Departing Under Power

Returning to White Shadow, Perrins prepares for cruising. With plans to anchor out, securing fresh drinking water is critical. He wheels a shopping trolley along docks, carrying groceries and 20 L water containers. To prevent leaks at anchor, he seals each cap with plastic before screwing it down. Hauling 20-kilo jugs across the side deck tests his strength, ensuring self-sufficiency.

Next comes the tender, an inflatable dinghy nicknamed Squeaky bought in Whangarei, New Zealand. After weeks of disuse on dry land, rowlock fittings have seized. Perrins works lubricating fluid into the hinges, exercising the locks until oars click into place.

With decks cleared, departure day arrives. Perrins welcomes cousin Sally aboard to assist. Along the pontoon, a new friend named Philip assists with casting off dock lines and escorts the yacht into the fairway.

Navigating Devil’s Point and the WWII Submarine Defenses

Powering away under diesel propulsion, White Shadow encounters choppy conditions. A strong breeze opposes the falling tide at the mouth of the River Tamar, generating pronounced tidal upwellings and steep chop off Devil’s Point. Navigating during the final hour of the ebb tide reveals the volume of water rushing past the headland, requiring sharp helm vigilance amidst dense traffic.

Rather than taking the long outer channel around Plymouth Sound, Perrins takes a shortcut across the submerged bar known as The Bridge. Skirting Drake’s Island requires careful navigation past shallow ledges.

“This is a gap in old submarine defenses from the conflict back in the 30s and 40s.”

Submerged barrier remnants dating back to the conflict in the 30s and 40s leave only a narrow navigable gap for deep-draft vessels. Keeping a watchful eye on depth and oncoming traffic under sail, Perrins checks his echo sounder as it registers a clearance of 6.3 m. Spotting an illegal lobster pot buoy bobbing near the reef, he maneuvers the 11-metre steel hull clear of shallow banks.

Dropping Anchor off Kingsand Under the Full Moon

Clearing the reef gap brings White Shadow into the sheltered waters of Cawsand Bay fronting Kingsand on the Cornish shore. Spotting a departing vessel vacating a prime position within easy rowing distance of the village, Perrins circles into the wind and lets go the anchor into the sandy bottom.

With ground tackle holding firm and tender Squeaky floating astern, Perrins and his companions row ashore to Kingsand. The coastal village proves quiet; due to missed supply deliveries, the local restaurant kitchen has run out of main courses. Making the best of the situation, the crew dines on hot cheesy chips before rowing back out to the yacht.

Under the bright light of a rising full moon reflecting off Cawsand Bay, Perrins rests in the warm cabin of White Shadow, savoring the transition from the noisy boatyard to peaceful anchor watch.

“now I’m at anchor and it’s just it is like cruiser time again. This is cruising.”

Refit and Passage Specifications

| Refit or Passage Element | Specification or Observation | | Hull Design and Construction | Van De Stadt Seal 36 round-bilge steel (2004) | | Propeller Shaft Diameter | 44 mm shaft requiring single sacrificial anode | | Sacrificial Anode Replacement Cost | 37 quid (approximately 50 dollars) | | Haul-Out Duration vs Work Days | 3 weeks on the hard with 6 working days completed | | Fresh Water Storage Containers | 20 L sealed plastic containers (20 kilos each) | | Navigational Depth at The Bridge | 6.3 m sounding across submerged WWII defense gap |

Frequently Asked Questions