Bringing my blog back to life.......
Wow, the last time I entered a something on here was in 2019, and here we are the first day of April 2024
2020
I think it is a year many of us would like to forget, with lockdown, face masks and social distancing, it didn't stop us from having the workshop open, numerous boat collections, along with managing a boat delivery to Jersey to catch up with my "Jersey Buoys"
The highlight for me was my 50th birthday, when six days later I become a Nanny again to a beautiful grandaughter Jessie, although I call her "Myrtle Turtle"
We also took an order for a new D22, the first one which become the MkII, she will be going to America when she is finished.
No boat show this year, so I managed to go sailing for a few days.
2021
Lauren is back to work, and I have my little Myrtle on a Monday with me working from home, I have to say, the customers are brilliant if I am giving Myrtle a bottle and I ask if I can call them back, this is what I love about the Drascombe community.
March - A new Company is formed. Dick Pizey and myself purchased the moulds for the nesting dinghies from Nestaway Boats, so as we can not call them Drascombe, we started a new company called Adventure Boats UK Ltd, and within a week we had received our first order.
In April it was a road trip to Suffolk to deliver some goods to a customer and then on to Norfolk where we recovered a Dabber onto a trailer and bought her back to the workshop for a full refurbishment.
The workshop was kept busy with plenty of refurb, and the first of the Adventure Boats were built ready for testing.
Hannah and Dick testing the 9ft Clinker
In June Hannah managed to launch Lugger "Luwi",so it was down to Ashlett Sailing Club for her to launch and have a quick sail with DPIn July we managed a small gathering of fellow Drascombes at Weymouth, where we had around 40 owners joining in. I was fortunate to take the new D22 and slept on her for three nights which was great fun, now I know why Stewart designed her.
In September, we were back at Southampton Boat Show exhibiting three Drascombes, a Longboat, Lugger and a Dabber, where we come away with three new boat orders, it felt like the olden days.
In October I took Myrtle down to Lymington where I met some fellow Drascombers and got Myrtle kitted out with her own life jacket and had a quick motor up the Lymington water, at 14 months old she seemed to enjoy it.
In December, on the shortest and possibly coldest day of the year, I manage to twist the arms of Brad and Dick to join me at ASC to get some photos of the nesting Pram and Clinker dinghies on the water, who could say no to me 😃
9ft Nesting Clinker 8ft Nesting Pram
2022
We exhibited at the first Boatlife boat show with both Drascombe and Adventure Boats, a new show which could grow if more sailing boats and equipment stands were present. On a positive point, Dick sold his first Adventure Boat.
2022 was the 50th Anniversary of the Drascombe Dabber
In June we were back at
Falmouth Classics, and the opportunity to show the 9ft Nesting Clinker, its not a boat show, however it is a very good social for us where we spend a couple of days with really good friends Brad and Bob.
A beautiful sky over Falmouth Harbour
With a weekend away with Lauren and the children at Alton Towers, birthdays through out the summer and then a I spent a few days on the Isle of Wight, where I sailed over and had a few days sailing and enjoying some down time. Lauren and co joined for a game of crazy golf and some lunch which was lovely.
Then time to get ready for Southampton Boat Show, which is generally the highlight of my year, where I spend ten days meeting and talking to owners/potential buyers and meeting old friends.
We have a good group of exhibitors around us, and there is always someone to have a laugh with
We rounded off the end of the year with plenty of work to keep us all busy.
2023
Sometimes things never go as planned, and for me I had to make the hard decision to liquidate Churchouse Boats, not something I wanted to do, but I had too. I will be honest and say I had sleepless nights and more weight on my shoulders than I needed, so with the help of a business man and some fellow Drascombe owners, I liquidated CBL and was able to start again as Drascombe Boats, all legal and above board, but most importantly no customer was without there goods which they paid for, regarding the suppliers, we are working together and they are continuing to support me with the new company, something I will always be grateful for.
I had the baptism of my little Myrtle Turtle on Easter Sunday, which was a lovely family gathering.
My beautiful daughters
At the end of April, while out celebrating my nephew Andrews birthday, Hannah face timed me from France with the news that Lewis had proposed to her and she said YES, certainly a surprise for me, and I am a very happy mummy.
Lewis and Hannah 🥂
I have to mention Rags, my faithful friend who has been by side side through good times and bad and I wouldn't be without him.
Rags and the bluebells
At the end of June I manage a weekend away with Hannah, Lauren and the grandchildren to
St Leonards where they enjoyed swimming, visiting Dorchester and playing crazy golf.
September we were back to
Southampton Boat Show where we were back again exhibiting near our good friends Ian and Sandy from
Highlander Boats, we spent every evening eating out at different restaurants and our favorite dessert bar
Here is the list of where we enjoyed eating
Jessie and Kyle reading the DAN Adventure Boats and Drascombe
Back from the show and back to the usual routine of grandchildren after school on Monday, followed by Monday night mayhem with the family, back to dog walking Rags and then Hannah and Lewis set the wedding date for July 2024, so it looks like we are going to have a busy year next year.
2024
After a lovely family Christmas and New Year, its back to the office, I manage a couple of days away to Glastonbury, which was lovely, as I visited Wells Cathedral a place I last went too when I was about 3 years old.
February and March have been busy with boats going through the workshop, as well as brokerage boats being sold.
Now as we go into April, my aim is to keep this blog going, when I visit a place or attend an event, I will post some details on here, it will be a combination of work, family and Rags.
So for now, thank you for continuing to follow me.
