We’ve been on board Yves two weeks tomorrow. Adjusting to living on a boat has been slightly traumatic, especially with Phoebe-Plum, then Lotty, coming down with a nasty virus. Character building stuff I think some people call it. It’s starting to feel like home now but we’ve yet to find a home for everything yet. Phoebe-Plum is dribbling which we think are her back teeth coming through. We will have to brace ourselves…

Matt James, the filmmaker and photographer from Plymouth University came round today and took some great images. Here are some below. 

We are on at last. Such a massive change living on a boat, even a big one like Yves. We have been blessed with lovely sunny spring days and excited children. So excited that Phoebe-Plum was up at 5am yesterday. She’s paying for it today though, still asleep at 8:45am. It’s wonderful and calm with Hector and I watching a film (Moana) and Lotty off to the shower to pamper herself. 

Welcome to our website and blog that will help friends and well-wishers follow us on our challenging trip. But more importantly, raise awareness of Evie Campbell and her far more challenging journey in the search for a critical bone marrow transplant to be able to lead a normal life. If you would like to help, you will find a donate button at the bottom of this page that will take you to the Justgiving site. Here you will find Evie’s story. Anything you can give will be very appreciated by Evie and her family.

Thank you.

Yves started to fill her bilges with water last week, leaking like a sieve. Why is nothing simple with boats?

Much investigation later, the good news it’s coming down, not up. It’s rain, not sea water. Mast seals, some deck caulking, the damned lazarette hatch and the cockpit sole. Will and his team tracked them down, and fingers crossed, she’ll be sealed by Tuesday. Nothing is simple with boats. You’d think boats wouldn’t leak, wouldn’t you?

Clockwise from top left:

 – Water coming in via the floor (sole) of the cockpit which has no effective seal

 – Tiger – Sitting in the aft single berth to catch out and scare random boatyard owners

 – Main mast being checked for the identified water leak

 – Working around the boat with the netting, here around the best outboard bracket in the world – Remember, I plan to be buried with this outboard bracket…

 – The damned lazarette hatch that is probably the primary reason for all the hard work having to replace the rotten aft bulkhead and the water damage to the boat – the rot now all fixed by the expertise of Dimetri at Will Sterling’s yard – The hatch is holding out though, despite previous work to improve it and its seal