Normally at this time of year we would be very busy preparing for the dinghy show, this year  would have been our 36th appearance as an exhibitor having started at Crystal Palace in 1985.

Pickets lock (1978 to 1982) although it was not open to retailers we were there to  support  the Merlin’s  and Wembley Sailing Club,  so the O Neill’s have been a  part of the Dinghy show for over  40 odd years!

It’s so sad that the club sailor who finds and restores a dinghy to a fantastic standard  (probably  a boat he sailed in his  youth), will not be able to take it, show it,  and let all of us admire it!

Like this stunning wooden  merlin.

Finally its not about the event, it’s about the people and meeting friends!

This is the first production 5.5mtr Rib trolley ready for the galvanizers and then on to the South Coast, the second one will  be welded up early next week.

We are at the beginning of the season,  but  this is like no other season we have experienced in our lives,  nobody really knows what will happen. Normally we would be preparing for the Dinghy Show, orders would be coming in and  it would be all hands to the pumps!   Buying in  some raw materials has been tricky but at the moment it all seems to be okay.

However we are very lucky that we have work

The Dam wall is being surveyed at the Welsh Harp  they have dropped the level by 2mtrs, so a big effort  is going on to repair the slipways.

To me it just look s like the tide is going  out!

The shop is now closed but we are busy manufacturing trailer spares,  decorating our stores,  taking trailer orders for later  in the year,  returning emails, and answering the phones.

Yet another  busy day at the office Jan 2015, on this occasion the boys were there to help, how times have changed.

Wishing all our customers, suppliers, and contractors a happy healthy 2021. 

We have now completed  the process of re-galvanising some of our  rib trolleys which are used in a salt an sand environment. In spite of the fact that we use the best UK galvanisers and the zinc is very  thick, salt water (basically sodium chloride) is so corrosive, particularly as it is continuously sand blasted by the elements  throughout the year.

So we are delighted that HISC agreed to have 4 trolleys done and  for the first time we have been able to organise this process.

These are the 4 rusty trolleys                                        Re-galvanised and returned                                      Finished product which looks like new!

We are out collecting RIB trolleys for re-galvanising, it is a fact that the corrosive nature of salt water means that the lifespan of trolleys is dramatically shortened

These  four Rib trolleys will be returned in 6 days and look like NEW.

In May I really didn’t think it would  happen. With virtually no events  the likelihood was that the sailing year was over.

However, sailors will always want to get out and sail when there is wind and sun.

I took advantage of any opportunities, the 13 images selected were from over 1500 taken.

I really hope its a better year next year!

If you want to purchase one they are £9.95 from the shop or + £2.95 if posted.

Today we used our new committee boat on the Harp.

It was Brilliant!

Finally the club has a reputation of being one of the friendliest clubs in the South    WELL IT IS!