WAITING ON THE MARIO BROTHERS

SHIP'S LOG:

It is very interesting that the Coast Guard continues to issue a notice to mariners about the current water temps. This past week, while the air temp has been in the mid to high 60's, the water temperature is somewhere in the mid to low 40's! That's almost instantaneous hypothermia and the danger will continue until the water warms . . . and I am not too sure when exactly that will happen.

ABISHAG is my first multi-masted boat. It means a bit of change in Flag etiquette. The be proper and "BRISTOL", the national ensign ( the flag of the country of registry) needs to be flow from the leech of the furthest aft most sail, which means in my case, the leech of the Mizzen sail. I could technically have the flag on a staff on the tariff rail, but with the wind steering vane, the boarding ladder, the dingy and davits it would get lost and probably wouldn't stream worth a damn. So I decided to attach a small block on the topping lift for the mizzen boom( a line that holds the mizzen boon off the deck and horizontal) 2/3's of the way up. It requires stitching and whipping the block to the topping life and running a flag halyard through it. It actually went off with out a hitch. True, I almost got to experience hypothermia first hand when a leg of the workbench upon which I was standing gave way, but I was able to say myself the dip by grabbing the running backstay. The project took an hour. Why?

Well, first of all I had to lay out all of the tools necessary to complete the project. Secondly, I had to find someway to hold up the boom when I disconnected the topping life which was holding it up. Thirdly I had to lower the boom on the support ( the work bench) extend the topping lift, measure off the proper length, and sew the block to the line. All this in a wind honking about 25knots. Fourthly, standing on the work bench doing the stitching and whipping, the leg gave way. I knew I should have tended to that 25 year old rusted leg and after about 5 minutes of scared, heavy breathing and cussing, reverse the whole process and the job was done. 1 hour! Time flies when you are having fun!

I also took the time to create some waterproof tags for the thru-hulls. There are some 10 plus holes through the hull of ABISHAG that are fixed with seacocks and even after I learn what each one is and does without thinking about it, to have them marked is a good safety matter. I was able to get my hands on a few of those plastic pieces you see on wall plaques and office doors. They have two layers of different color plastic and you carve whatever you want through the top layer and let the different color below show through. Let's hear it for the dremmel tool. It does a wonderful job and while it took a while, it went successfully. Of course the writing was a bit dull, "HEAD IN," "HEAD OUT," BILGE OUT," "SINK DRAIN," etc. Even though I am dyslexic, I didn't get one of them wrong. . . . .and there is no spell check!

Hopefully, one of the MARIO BROTHERS will be by to help me plumb the water maker. I just don't have the confidence to do it by myself and it will be good to have an actually plumber there, someone who knows which way to turn a wrench.

The list is getting shorter. The three items for the yard remain: fixing the mizzen halyard, which worked before they dropped the mast but doesn't work now; re-fitting the Genoa - I could do it myself but want them to do do it. If it gets screwed up they're responsible; changing the engine lubricating oil. After that, while there will be a never ending list of things to do, none will prevent departure. Of course, departure awaits a place to go which means a mooring back on TYC in New London. After that, it becomes a "bring me that horizon" moment.

MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:

It is amazing how things are working out. If I had actually be able to rush ABISHAG to completion back in the Fall, I am not sure how good a thing it would have been. The weather in the South was really crappy this past winter and I wouldn't have had the opportunity to really learn and understand the boat. Now, I will have the summer to cruise and get comfortable with the boat. I will have the resources to fix anything that needs fix and correct what ever problems arise. I will also have a ready supply of crew and I know these waters pretty well. I will be able to practice all the things I need to practice and get comfortable "living" on ABISHAG. It is working out very well. Amazingly so. I should feel really well prepared when I do at last head South in the Fall and I can't wait for this learned and experience to start.