Oliver Travels Part 2

Oliver Rofix arrived at St Katherine Docks Marina, London, on Friday, 28th October, after sailing ‘Jolly Olly’, his Vailiant 18 around Britain*. When I first saw his boat I didn’t think she was a Valiant, but sure enough she is, and probably the best fitted-out of her class. She was extensively renovated and refitted by Olly and his supporters.




From photos posted here you can see a lot of her gear. Starting at the bow, there’s a Delta anchor by Lewmar, a furling Genoa, a stainless steel kingpost, two mooring cleats, a pushpit and a u-bolt fitted to the stem. The deck is overlaid with Flexiteek simulated planking. She has a substantial fore hatch, perhaps by Lewmar. Her mainsail is stowed in a lazy jack system, made by Jeckells. For protection from spray and wind, there’s a smart and practical spray hood with a large flexible window for forward vision by Suffolk Sails. There are instruments in the cockpit mounted beside the companionway for measuring things like water depth, wind speed and boat speed. Bolted to the aft deck and above the transom there’s an ‘A’ Frame for mounting antenna, of which there are at least two, possibly for radio and GPS navigational equipment. Inside the boat there are several pieces of electronic gear, including an Icom M505 transceiver. Mechanical propulsion would appear to be an internal Saildrive engine; the boat also has a backup engine in the form of a small Suzuki outboard.



Olly did well by recruiting at least 37 commercial sponsors for his fund-raising circumnavigation. They gave generously of equipment, money, time and effort to help make his mission a success. Well done to them and especially to Olly for raising money for the Anthony Nolan Trust.


Text for the Day

Matthew 6:3, 4 ‘But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.’



Links


*Oliver Travels

http://bills-log.blogspot.com/2011/10/oliver-travels.html


Olly’s Website

http://www.olivers-travels.co.uk/index.php


Jeckells Sails

http://www.jeckells.co.uk/


Suffolk Sails (Spray Hood)

http://www.suffolksails.net/


Flexiteek Decking

http://www.advancedmarinedecking.co.uk/en/flexiteek-decking-system.html


Bolenda Engineering (Stainless Steel Fittings)

http://www.bolenda.co.uk/


Raymarine (Electronic Equipment)

http://www.raymarine.co.uk/


Icom

http://www.icomuk.co.uk/


Saint Katherine Docks Marina

http://www.skdocks.co.uk/marina/


Suzuki GB Marine

http://www.suzuki-marine.co.uk/


Lewmar (Don’t think they sponsored Olly, but he had a Delta anchor, one of their products)

http://www.lewmar.com/


Valiant 18 Bilge Keel Yacht

http://bills-log.blogspot.com/2010/09/valiant-18-bilge-keel-yacht.html