The new season is getting closer, and I have to say—it can’t come soon enough! This winter has felt like it’s lasted forever. The dark mornings, the early nights, and that biting wind that seems to find its way through every layer—it’s been relentless. But no matter how long winter drags on, spring is just around the corner, and with it comes the promise of a fresh start on the water. Hopefully, this year will be a great one—not just for us out at sea, but in every way possible!

We’ve kept busy over the winter, putting in plenty of work on the boats to make sure they’re in top shape for the season ahead. And whenever the weather has allowed, we’ve been out sailing—it’s the best way to shake off the winter blues and remind ourselves why we love this job so much!

Right now, we’ve got two boats down at Amble for some vital maintenance before the season kicks off. It’s the perfect time for a bit of polishing, fine-tuning, and making sure everything is just right. Amble is only a short trip down the road from Seahouses, and it has a fantastic little marina with a huge hoist that lets us lift the boats out of the water and work on them at our own pace. It’s a luxury compared to Seahouses, where we’re always racing against the tide! It’s a real shame we don’t have something similar at home, but space is tight in Seahouses harbour, so we make the most of what we’ve got. Thankfully, Amble always gives us a warm welcome, so we can’t complain!

Another big job this time of year is preparing for our MCA inspection. This is what grants us our license for the season, and it’s a key reason we do so much winter maintenance. Regulations are constantly evolving—new laws, new requirements, new paperwork—so we have to stay ahead of the game. It’s a never-ending process, and while we might not always agree with every rule change, we get on with it because, at the end of the day, we need that all-important certificate to keep sailing around the Farnes.

Now, all we need is that green light from the MCA, some calm seas, good weather, and—hopefully—a fantastic seabird breeding season. Fingers crossed for all of the above!

We can’t wait to welcome you aboard this year. If you can’t make it out with us in person, don’t worry—we’ll be posting updates across our social media to keep you connected to everything happening around the Farnes. Here’s to an amazing season ahead!