November 2023 Novara update
by Novara 12 Nov 2023 11:31 UTC
November 2023 Novara update © Novara
Goodbye Europe, Hello Africa. What a summer it has been - taking the wonderful Novara from Northwest France to Northwest Africa. We've had some adventurous sailors join us, made a dent in the maintenance list and now planning future climate action events and sailing.
Novara people
We arrived in Northwest France just in time for a glorious summer - and to catch up with family and friends. Nigel's Dad, Peter, joined us for several weeks and we had some off-boat time visiting our daughter. Paddy crossed the Biscay with us - a straight-forward passage with little wind - then Catherine, Gillian and Andy supported us in getting around the Spanish Rias and south to Portimao in southern Portugal. Andy stayed with us while we ticked off boat jobs. Seb and Fanni used their precious annual leave to be with us with the intent of getting to Morocco - but it wasn't to be and they eventually had to fly.
Novara One Planet project
Over the summer, we've gone into planning mode - and have a few climate events lined up. The first is a webinar series on climate adaptation action across communities from Scotland and the Caribbean - that kicks off next week. Please join us here to listen in if you're interested. We're also very excited to part of the EBRD's Green City Action Plan launch and associated events in Agadir, Morocco in the middle of December.
What engineering work are we doing on Novara?
The maintenance schedule in Portimao was extensive - first up was replacing the window we broke in Loch Laxford months earlier - so good to have extra light back in the saloon. Then it was the steaming light, engine maintenance (belts, injectors, starter motor), straightening safety rails that were bent in a storm in Camaret sur mer, Starlink installation, a new dinghy cover, cockpit winch, engine and anchor locker bilge pumps, engine temperature gauge, boom bracket, etc, etc - you get the idea.
Where next for Novara?
Andy is joining us for the crossing to Morocco; then it's events in Morocco during November and December, before departing for Cape Verde in early Jan.
If you have any questions, or you'd like to get involved, let us know. And if you feel like following us on Instagram or FB, we're @novaraoneplanet.
Veronica, Nigel and the Novara team @ novara.world.