"Sailing,Sailing, Over the Bounding Main . . . . "

SHIP'S LOG:

While there wasn't much in the way of wind, at least early in the day, the sky was clear, at least early in the day, and the sun was shining, at least early in the day, and the sailing was glorious. True, unless you were sailing a small boat, I mean really small, it was more drifting than sailing, but it was out there, moving with the wind. When there is a day like that, it makes for what you would call "languid sailing" . . . everything happening in a very slow and graceful manner, and it is very relaxing. It can cause some problems, especially around the mouth of the Thames River in New London as one has to dodge ferries and submarines and other assorted motorized craft. And Wednesday was a perfect example.

Usually, Tuesday is the day for regular submarine transiting, but perhaps because of the two Russian subs reported to be somewhere off the east coast, the Navy may be back to playing the cold war game of follow the sub. And still, as it has been since 9/11, you are not supposed to be within 1,000 yards of any naval vessel, except when there is restricted navigation . . .such as 500 yards distance puts you 100 yards up on the beach. To make up for that, since subs have little in the way of exterior defensive capabilities . . . aside from torpedoes and cruise missiles, they are escorted by Navy/ Coast Guard/ Local Police in small boats armed with enough firepower to start a war and a discourteous attitude. These guardians buzz around, ordering boats to keep their distance and inserting themselves between the sub and any "potential terrorists." It is a funny things to see, as it always seems to happen, that sometime during their escorting duties, when darting between the sub and other boats, or racing back into their position afterwards, or making a sharp turn, that one of the "guardians" gets launched overboard much to his, and his boatmates', embarrassment.

You would think that being associated with the sea, at the very least with coastal experience, that these "guardians" would grasp the fact that a vessel under sail, especially in light wind . . . Wednesday about 5 knots maybe . . . doesn't move very fast and can't change course rapidly even if the captain wanted to do so. Yelling and threatening does not help the situation as I politely informed the "sailor" on the megaphone. Thank goodness the crew wasn't trigger happy! O well, it is part of the joy of sailing in the Thames. O, for the good old days, when sub crews tried to see how close they could get to you from behind before you discovered they were there. More than once my first indication that a sub was behind me was when I could here the radar operator telling the bridge crew over their loud speaker just how far it was from their boat to mine!

About 1PM, the wind began to shift and increase as a front approached which would blow out the hot and humid weather of the last few days. Unfortunately, this change would be heralded by great winds but some really nasty thunderstorms. So back on the mooring, I took the time to tick a few items off the never ending projects list.

First up was to devise a better way of securing the CQR anchor that rests in the bow roller. the previous owner simple left the chain of the anchor in the gypsy on the windlass ( the gypsy is a slotted wheel on the windless which grabs the chain so it can be pulled up or let down by the windless). It doesn't seem a bad idea but the windlass, though designed to pull the anchor up and down, is not designed or constructed for constant pressure or tension. Indeed, after you have set your anchor, you are told to secure the anchor line to a cleat designed to hold it and not leave it on gypsy(I have know idea why the call it a gypsy) of the windless. So to hold the anchor secure, I affixed a line to a small hook, attached the hook to shaft of the CQR anchor and tied the line to a cleat installed in the anchor well(storage locker). Project #40,273 Done!

Next up was to run a control line from the wind steering system at the stern of the boat to the cockpit so that when under sail, with the wind steering system steering the boat, course adjustments could be made without have to go to the stern and adjust the vane. Not a bog deal but creating the endless loop of line need was a little testy. Trying to splice a line that small, especially when it was braided, is more trouble than it's worth. So, in homage to the late, great Billy Mayes, I used "Mighty Mendit" to join the two ends together. The stuff actually works great.

I also removed a bracket that once held some piece of electronic equipment in the cockpit, along with the connecting wire that once made it work. It must have been an impressive piece of electronics as the previous owner had removed it and the connecting cable must have a a dozen wires inside, indicating lots of data and functions going on. Unfortunately, I didn't remove this bracket soon and it has poked a hole in the clear vinyl "windshield" of the dodger. @#$%^&!!!!
Another project. Removing the bracket was a pain as he had attached it with screws(easily remove by unscrewing) and nuts & bolts ( which needed to be accessed by removing the "dashboard").There are 25!!!!screws that need to eb removed to remove the "dashboard" and so it was 1.) remove 25 screws; 2.) Remove the dashboard; 3.) unbolt the 2 bolts; 4.) reinstall the dashboard; 5.) screw in 25 screws! To complete the task meant to mix up some epoxy and fill in the holes left behind. Actually, the project won't be done until I sand down the epoxy and gelcoat it. And then there is the hole in the dodger, but that's another day.

MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:

More "stuff" made it onto ABISHAG and there is a lot more that could come, but I will have to weed and cull that pile. It is looking a little more like home but I still whack my head from time to time and run into various pieces of furniture and cabinets. Ia m not sure why but the hip feels better onboard than it does ashore. With the incoming storm and the rock'n'rolling nature of the Thames River, bailed from the boat and went ashore for the night. Yes, Yes, I know and when it's necessary, I have no problem, but it wasn't strictly necessary . . . . and if you would like to spend the night pitching & rolling & yawing & rocking, I will be glad to let you have the fun.