Capricorn Dancer

Believing your own truth

I am making a habit of reading my Manifesto https://capricorndancer.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=123&action=editon a regular basis, not only to keep myself grounded but also to remind me of who I am, what I stand for and where I am headed. After reading my Manifesto early this morning, I realised that in order to make it a reality, I have to believe my own truth, no matter how painful that process…

Having a new transmission installed and motoring around the marina is one thing; Testing the entire propulsion system, from engine to propeller, is an entirely different prospects. Let the Sea Trials begin!

The weather was excellent, the skies were 8/10 cloud early but by the time we prepared the boat for sea, the skies had cleared and there was a 5 knot southeasterly gusting to 10 knots. A…

Refitting and Rebuilding IIa

If you ever get to the point where you either need to, or want to, do any electrical work on your boat, Please Do Not do anything unless you have some real world experience with the conventions of electrical wiring and the safety aspects of working with electricity.

I spent more than 3 hours yesterday crawling through the bilge and around tiny spaces on Capricorn Dancer, for the simple (!)…

Refitting and Rebuilding II

As I wrote in my last instalment of the Refitting and Rebuilding of Capricorn Dancer saga, we now have a fully functional engine and brand new transmission.

Moving Capricorn Dancer from the repair marina back to her usual berth was a short but pleasant experience compared to when we first brought her south to Scarborough Harbour. The new transmission delivers more power to the propeller and…

When I was first diagnosed with PTSD, I wanted to know as much as I could about the condition. This research also included trying to find my true self.

In recent days, I have been inspired to write a manisfesto, by Erin Fado’s blog: https://youwillbearwitness.com/about/ . Erin’s explanation of what occurs when “childhood emotional neglect takes your voice away” really struck home.

I was…

Now that Capricorn Dancer is back in the water, the major business of re-fitting and re-building is about to begin.

One of the many things we discovered whilst having the new transmission and engine re-installed, is the appalling mess of the existing wiring. Not only does it look like a collection of rats’ nests, there is absolutely no consistency in colour coding!

The previous owner/s…

I recently read a post on one of the social media sites that gave me pause to think about the phrase, “If you are feeling depressed, anxious or, suicidal, just reach out.” It seems to be a very simple thing to do but, it is a phrase that has been thought of from the perspective of someone who WANTS to help, not one who NEEDS the help.

When you suffer from anxiety, depression or suicidal…

PTSD: The world in my head

A the name suggests, PTSD is not an illness, it is a disorder or, as it is sometimes known, a syndrome. This particular disorder manifests itself in so many different ways and can often be misdiagnosed and left untreated. The variability in how PTSD presents can be summarised in the following ways: individuals are different, events contributing to the onset of the disorder are different, the…

The Cost of being on The “Hard”

If you are planning to have your boat out of the water for some much needed maintenance or, due to a mechanical failure that requires the removal of the engine, for example, Make sure you are aware of all the time factors involved as this will have a direct impact on your resultant costs.

When we had Capricorn Dancer moved onto the hardstanding, a simple misunderstanding about where she should…

Hardest on our own kind

Since leaving the military and taking affirmative action to have my PTSD, and associated phobias, treated I have actively sought out other Veterans and Veteran Organisations to seek support, fellowship and a sense of belonging.

A couple of times I have believed I had found the perfect people and environments in which I could share my thoughts, fears, ambitions and find kindred spirits.

Whi…