Midnight Blue 4 March 2011

[Midnight Blue]

<b>I wrote this edition last week, for posting today, and this morning heard the terrible news that Pete passed away- I for one will miss his great humour, enthusiasm and good nature… </b>

Pete Foulkes at Foulkes & Sons Boatyard, who has been incredibly helpful and supportive to this new Fairey owner, suggested at the end of 2009 that I commission Bill Dunlop to help me determine a course of action for the hull repairs. I sought quotes from a number of people for undertaking the work, among them Pete Foulkes who had just accepted the total restoration of a Thames slipper launch (which when finished looked fantastic) so had to decline, someone else from a well known marina didn’t even reply and Mark Lewis at Custom Yacht Works who responded with the most comprehensive and sensible proposal ever. And over the last year Bill and Mark have been absolute godsends in terms of advice and support. Pete Foulkes also suggested Etran Marine (very helpful) to move the boat to Custom Yachts which we did in February 2010. With the boat in safe hands, Bill Dunlop immediately set to work preparing a detailed scope of works. The key starting point was to strip the many layers of old antifoul to get a good look. As the antifoul came off it fast became evident that scarfing in sections to the damaged spray rails was a waste of time so they came off too.