The glorious end of October marked the arrival of the much awaited Iolar, the new family cruiser, coinciding with the last wisp of summer. Prior to its legal possession, two breathtaking weekends were joyously spent in sea trials on the enchanting coast of Pembrokeshire. These trials exemplified the interesting process of the handover by Dale, accompanied by 'rough-water tuition' from the illustrious Mike Reynolds. Resultantly, the winters and springs were a seesaw of short scale trips in the thrilling anticipation of a long tour.

Next on the agenda was the intricate task of topping up the fuel tanks in Falmouth. This posed as an important aspect of speccing the cruiser. Fueling up rode on largely diesel, contributing to generators and heating. Every other facet relied on electricity such as induction hob, electric oven and two fridges. The added lithium-ion batteries significant enough to run the boat silently for days, charging at the move or through generator. This maiden exploration was finely balanced with seasons of calm and storm, hobbies of sea explorations and experiences of onboard life, summing up into a delightful, adventurous sea journey.