Mv Sheena Mackay: The Adventures of Exploring the British Coast in a Converted Scottish Trawler and Living to Tell the Tale

Wendy Kerr

Oct 2012 · AuthorHouse

About this ebook

For five years the River Medway was a second home, cruising right up to the top reaches of the river in an 18ft motor boat, but soon bigger things beckoned. Robin fell in love with a very sad looking Sheena Mackay, originally built in 1932 but now neglected and really in need of loads of tender loving care, not to mention a money tree in the back garden. But after quite a few years, Sheena Mackay was ready for the water, and the start of all the adventures. Even though I was one hundred percent behind Robins dreams of sailing away, I was positively scared to death of actually doing it. So it was with great trepidation that we were now ready to do all the short trips in anticipation of saying farewell to home for a year or two. MV SHEENA MACKAY is my book about our adventures and how I slowly overcame my sheer terror. Well, maybe not totally, but I am a lot better! All the places that we have seen, from the south east coast, along the west coast to sailing around Lands End. Then up the west coast of Britain to Scotland, with all the delights of some of the Islands, passing along the Crinan and Caledonian Canals before heading down the east coast, absolutely amazing. We received several lovely comments about the way Robin had lovingly renovated Sheena Mackay and it thrilled us when she was recognised as a Zulu Scottish Trawler. My confidence in myself has grown and I am doing things that I would never have dreamt, which includes writing this book.

About the author

Wendy was born in 1946, in Folkestone, Kent. Daughter of a Royal Air Force Warrant Officer, she spent most of her early childhood moving around as her father was frequently being posted. With three sisters and one brother, she came from a closely knit family. At the age of 13 the family returned to Folkestone, where Wendy attended the local Folkestone Grammar School for Girls. In 1964 Wendy married and later had three children, Kim, David and Sharon. Wendy’s career was eventually as the assistant to an offi ce accountant in a well known Chartered Surveyors practice, where she was later to be appointed Regional Controller. After divorcing her first husband, she was introduced by a work colleague to his friend, Robin. Before too long they found that they got on extremely well and began seeing each other on a regular basis. One day Robin called to take Wendy out, and whilst talking to her daughter Kim, he said that he was taking her mum out in his boat. “Mum, in a boat“, exclaimed a shocked Kim, “she doesn’t like boats or water.” Well, that was the introduction to boating and to a complete change of life. This also included marriage to a fantastic man, and a project that Wendy hoped both sailing enthusiasts and general readers will be interested in, especially those looking for inspiration for their own big adventures.