Thalmia is a Westerly Fulmar with twin keels, a solid but agile 32ft (9.8m) yacht built in 1980. Derek on the other hand is an older and not so agile and maybe not so solid 72 year old. Thalmia was one of the first Fulmars to be built (sail number F25). In keeping with her age she has lots of mahogany wood finishes inside and the cabin is spacious and comfortable, even for a 6ft man like me, which was one good reason to upgrade from my previous 26ft boat. Fitted out by her previous owners with new cushions and headlining she now has a new calorifier for hot water and a diesel powered hot air heater – but no shower!
Derek started sailing just 15years ago firstly with a 14ft Wanderer dinghy, then a 26ft Sadler yacht . A shore-based Yachtmaster qualification has been backed up with well over 10,000 nautical miles practical experience, a lot of it single handed, mostly on the south coast from the Solent to the Scillies and across the Channel to the Chanel Islands and the north coast of France. In 2021 he sailed singlehanded round Britain.
On deck Thalmia has a new main sail and sail stacking system and as of 2022 a new Genoa. We also carry a Cruising Chute and a Spinnaker, though the latter has not had a lot of use, and a telescopic pole! With a good spray hood and a full cockpit tent she should keep me sheltered in inclement weather at sea or in harbour.
She had radar fitted but I had her fitted out with a new chart plotter (for non mariners think sat nav), electronic autohelm (Raymarine EV100), and an AIS transceiver (to send and receive information on my position and that of other boats), all integrated and displayed on the chart plotter to help avoid collisions! I also use my iPad which has smaller but still detailed Navionics charts to help with navigation. So all in all she is part classic cruiser and part high tech wizard. Of course, as well as a laptop as further back up, I will carry all the necessary paper charts and many pilot books.
Trouts Boatyard in Topsham have worked with me over the last 4 years to bring Thalmia up to her current standard and I am grateful for their expertise which has made up for my limited DIY skills.
Thalmia is now based in the Exe estuary on a swing mooring at Starcross Yacht Club, where I am a member.
2021 Took my sailing up to another level. Sailing solo around our coastline was a big challenge for the skipper. For the yacht, however , it was a piece of cake. Thank you for following us.
Sailing Fast
Relaxed Sailing
Cruising in style
Voyages of Thalmia 