Welcome to Challenge X - 'The Captain' makes landfall at 'Reidy's Reef'

The Captain twirls his moustache and glowers at the headland. Another blasted reef! He wanted to make landfall at the shallows. He'll have to have a few choice words with that fathead First Mate of his, Smee.  That git's navigation is for the birds. Oh well, at least they are here, they are here before anybody else AND, better yet, there was not a cursed crocodile in sight.  

He draws his cutlass and points to the distant shore and roars to the crew, 'There it is mateys! Challenge Island! The land of all our hearts' desires. Prepare the jolly boats, we make for shore within the glass. We camp inland tonight and then make for our next waypoint tomorrow. I want US to be the first to find where... X MARKS THE SPOT!!'

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Welcome everyone to the 10th edition of the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge!

I can't believe it's been almost a decade since we first started this rather odd little event. Nonetheless, here we are, brushes in hand, ready to paint like mad and enjoy each others' company for the next three months. Sounds like a brilliant way to spend the season.

As many of you know, this year we have a new addition to our regular programming in the form of 'Challenge Island'. On the Island participants are invited to travel to various named locations, completing a variety of hobby challenges, as they make their way to the summit of Snow Lord's Peak, where 'X Marks the Spot'. Once there they have to complete a final nefarious unique hobby task in order to claim their prize. 

Now, how fun is that?! I'll tell ya: Heaps of fun. It's going to be a blast.

So, to kick off the event. I present to you 'The Captain' who has made landfall at 'Reidy's Reef' on The Path of the New Shiny. 

The hobby challenge at this location ask us: to 'paint up a miniature with a nautical theme, be it boat, fish, sailor/pirate or aquatic terrain. Bonus points will be awarded if this is a new project for you, or that the motive power of the model(s) is provided by sails.' 

Fair enough. I managed to dig up a figure from the 'On the Seven Seas' Nickstarter from a few years ago and found this excellent casting of a childhood favourite of mine, 'Hook'. 

Granted, it's a fast job, but Citadel's new(ish) Contrast Paints came to the rescue and helped me streamline a few steps.

My plan is to award the Captain to a worthy adventurer who makes the summit and finds where X marks the spot.

Alright, by my reckoning, 'The Captain' will give me:

5 points for a single 28mm figure, 

plus 30 points for completing Reidy's Reef 

AND since Pirates are a new thing for me and this is a prize for Snowlord's Peak I get another 30 points.

65 points off the hop?! Schweet. Now, I just need to plot my next move as I make my way inland...

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Again, welcome to the Challenge! I look forward to the upcoming entries as we head into the Holiday Season.

Let's start.

-Curt