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.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
WELL . . . .It Wasn't The Fuse ! ! ! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
Inverter/Charger on ABISHAG is located in the "In-Law Apartment" of a cockpit locker, wherein among other things, I am current storing the Storm Jib - a moderate sized sail, think six or so bed pillows, the Cruising Spinnaker with its furler - think four(4) rolls of insulation for your house and fifty pounds of weight and the life jackets(4) in their bag. All of that had to be removed first before I could climb into the locker and then the flooring had to be pulled up - it is built to be removable - one section at a time to follow the wires from the inverter to the battery banks. Doing so, I found a fuse buss. It was unmarked but it had to be the fuse I was looking for. It removed it and took it back into the cabin and put it on the meter . . .which seemed to indicate that it was "good." It would have been better - cost wise -if it had been bad. It is a gas-filled ceramic concoction and you can tell be looking - unless it exploded - whether or not it was good except by the meter. I called Don the Magic Electrician in Mystic to confirm my find and (sadly) he did. SOOOOO . . . I had good battery, good connections, good fuse, all the switched on and the inverter charger still didn't work. I asked Don what that meant and he gave me the bad news, the problem was in the inverter/charger. He tried to lessen the blow by saying it might just be a bad board or something simple like that "but the only people who work on that type of inverter/charger is Brewer's Marina down in Westbrook."
I called them today and their local "magic electrician" said it would be better and less expensive to just get a new one. "Replacing one of the electronic boards would cost ....after bench testing and labor . . . . about $400. . . . and that's if it is a simple repair problem." Ouch! However, and this is a BIG "HOWEVER", the replacement would actually cost LESS than the repair! ! ! ! ! Evidently when I was looking at the possible replacements when the problem first reared its ugly head, I was looking at that wrong type of item . . . .a very, VERY EXPENSIVE wrong type of item. It's not that I have the money for it yet, but at least I am breathing a lot easier over this problem. According to the people from Brewer's, since there is already an Inverter/Charger in place, and the new one is basically company's new and better and updated version of it, it should be possible to move the wiring from one to the other and everything will work without missing a beat. Now, you just know it won't be that simple, but then again, it just might! We shall see! ! ! !
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
Sailing was glorious though the winds were very, very light and the post sail maintenance was potentially expensive . . . .$9 ceramic-gass-filled fuse verses a One Marine Unit Inverter/Charger. Well, it is just part of the funny and the cost of boat ownership. It could be worse but hopefully it won't be . . ever. I can't really worry about such things as it takes away from the peace and joy God sends in the sailing.
Inverter/Charger on ABISHAG is located in the "In-Law Apartment" of a cockpit locker, wherein among other things, I am current storing the Storm Jib - a moderate sized sail, think six or so bed pillows, the Cruising Spinnaker with its furler - think four(4) rolls of insulation for your house and fifty pounds of weight and the life jackets(4) in their bag. All of that had to be removed first before I could climb into the locker and then the flooring had to be pulled up - it is built to be removable - one section at a time to follow the wires from the inverter to the battery banks. Doing so, I found a fuse buss. It was unmarked but it had to be the fuse I was looking for. It removed it and took it back into the cabin and put it on the meter . . .which seemed to indicate that it was "good." It would have been better - cost wise -if it had been bad. It is a gas-filled ceramic concoction and you can tell be looking - unless it exploded - whether or not it was good except by the meter. I called Don the Magic Electrician in Mystic to confirm my find and (sadly) he did. SOOOOO . . . I had good battery, good connections, good fuse, all the switched on and the inverter charger still didn't work. I asked Don what that meant and he gave me the bad news, the problem was in the inverter/charger. He tried to lessen the blow by saying it might just be a bad board or something simple like that "but the only people who work on that type of inverter/charger is Brewer's Marina down in Westbrook."
I called them today and their local "magic electrician" said it would be better and less expensive to just get a new one. "Replacing one of the electronic boards would cost ....after bench testing and labor . . . . about $400. . . . and that's if it is a simple repair problem." Ouch! However, and this is a BIG "HOWEVER", the replacement would actually cost LESS than the repair! ! ! ! ! Evidently when I was looking at the possible replacements when the problem first reared its ugly head, I was looking at that wrong type of item . . . .a very, VERY EXPENSIVE wrong type of item. It's not that I have the money for it yet, but at least I am breathing a lot easier over this problem. According to the people from Brewer's, since there is already an Inverter/Charger in place, and the new one is basically company's new and better and updated version of it, it should be possible to move the wiring from one to the other and everything will work without missing a beat. Now, you just know it won't be that simple, but then again, it just might! We shall see! ! ! !
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
Sailing was glorious though the winds were very, very light and the post sail maintenance was potentially expensive . . . .$9 ceramic-gass-filled fuse verses a One Marine Unit Inverter/Charger. Well, it is just part of the funny and the cost of boat ownership. It could be worse but hopefully it won't be . . ever. I can't really worry about such things as it takes away from the peace and joy God sends in the sailing.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
In Seatle, it's 105 and no rain! What's wrong with this picture???
SHIP'S LOG:
Successive downpours sort of wiped out the sailing on Friday. Well, not sort of but actually. When one is actually voyaging, rain and storms are a part of what you get. If you are sailing, you just deal with it. If you are at anchor, you settle down with a good book and a glass of rum and enjoy the indolence. If you are ashore, however, hauling another load of stuff to the boat through the rain and out on a launch ride just isn't enticing. It is just wet and is usually avoided. And so it was yesterday.I'll have to wait and see what Saturday brings! There is of course no end to the list of little things that need doing, but hopefully they will all be put off, delayed and deferred in favor of sailing.
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
I am looking for a week of sunshine and 12-15 knots of wind . . .from any direction. I am not sure what the coming week will bring but then, who really cares. It is summer, ABISHAG is in the water waiting on her mooring, my knee is all better . . .what more could one ask. I am really looking forward to one good, long day of sailing where the only sound is the wind in the sails and the water against the hull. And I think that God will provide that opportunity this week! ! ! ! ! !
Successive downpours sort of wiped out the sailing on Friday. Well, not sort of but actually. When one is actually voyaging, rain and storms are a part of what you get. If you are sailing, you just deal with it. If you are at anchor, you settle down with a good book and a glass of rum and enjoy the indolence. If you are ashore, however, hauling another load of stuff to the boat through the rain and out on a launch ride just isn't enticing. It is just wet and is usually avoided. And so it was yesterday.I'll have to wait and see what Saturday brings! There is of course no end to the list of little things that need doing, but hopefully they will all be put off, delayed and deferred in favor of sailing.
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
I am looking for a week of sunshine and 12-15 knots of wind . . .from any direction. I am not sure what the coming week will bring but then, who really cares. It is summer, ABISHAG is in the water waiting on her mooring, my knee is all better . . .what more could one ask. I am really looking forward to one good, long day of sailing where the only sound is the wind in the sails and the water against the hull. And I think that God will provide that opportunity this week! ! ! ! ! !
Friday, July 31, 2009
Sailing, Sailing, Over the Bounding Main! ! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
Who knew that it was going to be such a beautiful day? The morning was pouring rain and all I planned to do was haul the various tech manuals for the boat systems down to the boat and spend the day hunting for the infamous "fuse' to the inverter. However, when I got down to ABISHAG, the sun was out and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. A perfect day for sailing . . .a least a short trip as I still need to do a few things, but as a friend of mine once said " a little something is better than a whole lot of nothing." It was one of those put the helm over and head for Bermuda days!
On to the more mundane! To begin the search for the fuse, I had to empty out the "In-Law Apartment" . . . . . the locker in the cockpit that is big enough to crawl into, which houses the battery banks and the Inverter.Out came the sails and the life jackets and the extra lines etc,etc, etc . . . . .I am going to have to get neater in-laws. Opening the housing for the battery banks, I found the cables that ran from the Inverter to the batter terminals. No fuse evident. You know it couldn't be that simple and in the tradition of English electric system designed and installed by LUCAS Electric of Great Britain, know also a "Lucas, Prince of Darkness . . . anyone who has ever owned an English car will understand that reference . . . . I first ran back the "BLACK" ground cable just to see if there was a fuse on that. No joy there. Then I tried to trace the "Black not RED! ! ! ! ! " positive power cable ( a real sign of LUCAN influence) and found, well I'm not sure what exactly. It could be a fuse, a fused inline, a fused block . . .it was impossible to say because it was covered with a frosted plastic cover that I couldn't remove and didn't want to break by forcing it. My best guess is that this is the golden prize so to speak but I am going to have to wait for Don the Magic Electrician to let me know what I am dealing with. He was busy and since he helps out for free, I didn't want to push it.
I did reset the wind vane in proper working order. The drive system looks a little off centered, like it's been twist but before I fool around with it . . . .a lose a bolt or two overboard, I will see how it acts underway. I checked out the windlass ( it brings the anchor rode up and down . . . .very handy when one sails a lot by one's self) and while the switch that operates it works, the solenoid actually, the windlass doesn't. Another day of tracing wires with a meter coming up.
I mended a tear in the mainsail with Mighty Mendit, flogged on TV by the late Billy Mayes. It seems to be working just fine! Thanks Billy! I greased all the turnbuckles with PT BLaster, a penetrating oil, in preparation for tuning the rig. The amount of sail and corrosion on them makes it pretty clear that they haven't been done in a while.
The weekend will be for sailing . . .weather permitting. Please permit!!!!!!!!
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
ABISHAG is becoming more homey and hopefully fairly soon will be home. the lack of real sailing days isn't even a problem . . .at least not yet . . . as just being on the boat that the mooring is glorious. The sounds, the smells, the sights . . .all of it is fantastic. It makes all the crap I had to deal with in Black Rock worth it. I am praying that God provides me, and all the local sailors, with a few more days like yesterday. What a joy! !! !
Who knew that it was going to be such a beautiful day? The morning was pouring rain and all I planned to do was haul the various tech manuals for the boat systems down to the boat and spend the day hunting for the infamous "fuse' to the inverter. However, when I got down to ABISHAG, the sun was out and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. A perfect day for sailing . . .a least a short trip as I still need to do a few things, but as a friend of mine once said " a little something is better than a whole lot of nothing." It was one of those put the helm over and head for Bermuda days!
On to the more mundane! To begin the search for the fuse, I had to empty out the "In-Law Apartment" . . . . . the locker in the cockpit that is big enough to crawl into, which houses the battery banks and the Inverter.Out came the sails and the life jackets and the extra lines etc,etc, etc . . . . .I am going to have to get neater in-laws. Opening the housing for the battery banks, I found the cables that ran from the Inverter to the batter terminals. No fuse evident. You know it couldn't be that simple and in the tradition of English electric system designed and installed by LUCAS Electric of Great Britain, know also a "Lucas, Prince of Darkness . . . anyone who has ever owned an English car will understand that reference . . . . I first ran back the "BLACK" ground cable just to see if there was a fuse on that. No joy there. Then I tried to trace the "Black not RED! ! ! ! ! " positive power cable ( a real sign of LUCAN influence) and found, well I'm not sure what exactly. It could be a fuse, a fused inline, a fused block . . .it was impossible to say because it was covered with a frosted plastic cover that I couldn't remove and didn't want to break by forcing it. My best guess is that this is the golden prize so to speak but I am going to have to wait for Don the Magic Electrician to let me know what I am dealing with. He was busy and since he helps out for free, I didn't want to push it.
I did reset the wind vane in proper working order. The drive system looks a little off centered, like it's been twist but before I fool around with it . . . .a lose a bolt or two overboard, I will see how it acts underway. I checked out the windlass ( it brings the anchor rode up and down . . . .very handy when one sails a lot by one's self) and while the switch that operates it works, the solenoid actually, the windlass doesn't. Another day of tracing wires with a meter coming up.
I mended a tear in the mainsail with Mighty Mendit, flogged on TV by the late Billy Mayes. It seems to be working just fine! Thanks Billy! I greased all the turnbuckles with PT BLaster, a penetrating oil, in preparation for tuning the rig. The amount of sail and corrosion on them makes it pretty clear that they haven't been done in a while.
The weekend will be for sailing . . .weather permitting. Please permit!!!!!!!!
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
ABISHAG is becoming more homey and hopefully fairly soon will be home. the lack of real sailing days isn't even a problem . . .at least not yet . . . as just being on the boat that the mooring is glorious. The sounds, the smells, the sights . . .all of it is fantastic. It makes all the crap I had to deal with in Black Rock worth it. I am praying that God provides me, and all the local sailors, with a few more days like yesterday. What a joy! !! !
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
I Got A Sunburn! ! ! ! ! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
It was actually sunny yesterday and working on deck produce an honest-to-goodness sunburn! It must be summer!I actually had to take the time to untangle the anchor line which had more kinks and twists and turns in it than a spastic colon. Most of those who don't boat don't realize how careful you have to be with lines to keep them straight and running free. A unintended loop or twist and foul a line an make a situation dangerous and it pays to take the time, when you are re-coiling lines and storing them to make sure they are ready to run free. Embarrassingly, I didn't do this Sunday after the race with the anchor line. It just got stuff back into the anchor locker and was now a twisted, kinked-up mess. It literally took an hour to unwind, untwist, unkink the line and re-coil it. It was then put very carefully back into the anchor locker, ready for instant use the next time the hook is to be dropped.
Strange day weather-wise. It alternated between very foggy and bright, clear skies. The only down side was that when it was bright and clear there was no wind and when the wind began to blow, it blew in a blanket of fog. Sailing in the Thames River area in the fog, what with the ferries, tankers, barges, and the odd submarine, can be a bit nerve racking on a clear day, it the fog it is absolutely frightening. I never did get off the mooring. I had to contend myself with maintenance work . . . like the anchor line.
The inverter, a device which magically coverts 12 volt DC power to 110 volts AC power ( so that you can run home appliance . . . like the micro wave and the blender on the boat) has decided to take a vacation. It worked fine last week but now it is non-functioning. I was hoping that it was merely an internal breaker that was trip but resetting the breakers on the inverter produced no joy. Neither did resetting the GFI's - Ground Fault Interupters - those little red & black button you see on your outlets at home - that keep you from becoming a human charcoal briquette. So I called Don the Magic Boat Electrician from Mystic Shipyard. Don seemed fascinated with the electrical set up on ABISHAG - it really had him shaking his head - and volunteered that any time I had an electrical question that I should call him. So I did. He walked me through the list of all the stuff I had already tried and a few additional steps, and it came down to two last options: 1.) that somewhere on the wires from the battery banks to the inverter, there was another fuse or breaker that had blow and needed to be replace or reset, or 2.) the inverter was dead and need to be replaced. I didn't have time to check it out yesterday for sure but anyone want to hazard a guess as to which option it is going to be? Hummmmmm?
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
Another great day on the water. It doesn't look particularly good for the rest of the week, but what the heck, it is summer. Unfortunately, I developed a crick in my neck sleeping a a draft last night so I am sort of tilted to the right. God seems to like to toss these little things in every now and then just to keep me on my toes. Nice to know that he is thinking of me, though I can think of a number of other ways he could do the same thing. Still in all, it is nice to be thought of.
ABISHAG is taking on a more homey atmosphere as more and more "stuff" gets transferred back aboard. I must now begin the process of mentally moving abaord as well. It is a very different mind-set and it takes a bit of time but I look forward to it. Nice, sunny, days of 12-15 knots of wind would make it a lot easier.
It was actually sunny yesterday and working on deck produce an honest-to-goodness sunburn! It must be summer!I actually had to take the time to untangle the anchor line which had more kinks and twists and turns in it than a spastic colon. Most of those who don't boat don't realize how careful you have to be with lines to keep them straight and running free. A unintended loop or twist and foul a line an make a situation dangerous and it pays to take the time, when you are re-coiling lines and storing them to make sure they are ready to run free. Embarrassingly, I didn't do this Sunday after the race with the anchor line. It just got stuff back into the anchor locker and was now a twisted, kinked-up mess. It literally took an hour to unwind, untwist, unkink the line and re-coil it. It was then put very carefully back into the anchor locker, ready for instant use the next time the hook is to be dropped.
Strange day weather-wise. It alternated between very foggy and bright, clear skies. The only down side was that when it was bright and clear there was no wind and when the wind began to blow, it blew in a blanket of fog. Sailing in the Thames River area in the fog, what with the ferries, tankers, barges, and the odd submarine, can be a bit nerve racking on a clear day, it the fog it is absolutely frightening. I never did get off the mooring. I had to contend myself with maintenance work . . . like the anchor line.
The inverter, a device which magically coverts 12 volt DC power to 110 volts AC power ( so that you can run home appliance . . . like the micro wave and the blender on the boat) has decided to take a vacation. It worked fine last week but now it is non-functioning. I was hoping that it was merely an internal breaker that was trip but resetting the breakers on the inverter produced no joy. Neither did resetting the GFI's - Ground Fault Interupters - those little red & black button you see on your outlets at home - that keep you from becoming a human charcoal briquette. So I called Don the Magic Boat Electrician from Mystic Shipyard. Don seemed fascinated with the electrical set up on ABISHAG - it really had him shaking his head - and volunteered that any time I had an electrical question that I should call him. So I did. He walked me through the list of all the stuff I had already tried and a few additional steps, and it came down to two last options: 1.) that somewhere on the wires from the battery banks to the inverter, there was another fuse or breaker that had blow and needed to be replace or reset, or 2.) the inverter was dead and need to be replaced. I didn't have time to check it out yesterday for sure but anyone want to hazard a guess as to which option it is going to be? Hummmmmm?
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
Another great day on the water. It doesn't look particularly good for the rest of the week, but what the heck, it is summer. Unfortunately, I developed a crick in my neck sleeping a a draft last night so I am sort of tilted to the right. God seems to like to toss these little things in every now and then just to keep me on my toes. Nice to know that he is thinking of me, though I can think of a number of other ways he could do the same thing. Still in all, it is nice to be thought of.
ABISHAG is taking on a more homey atmosphere as more and more "stuff" gets transferred back aboard. I must now begin the process of mentally moving abaord as well. It is a very different mind-set and it takes a bit of time but I look forward to it. Nice, sunny, days of 12-15 knots of wind would make it a lot easier.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Sailing Weekend! ! ! ! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
It took Friday and Saturday to get ABISHAG ready for her job as the "WEATHER MARK BOAT" in the 2009 Governor's Regatta on Sunday. It was mostly clean up and arranging things in the boat so that it wouldn't look as though a tornado passed through. Getting the boat up to speed and really ready to trip, doing all sorts of little jobs consume a lot of time but with not much effort. That is a good things as my right knee isn't feeling well. It seems slowly getting better and, though it hurts, the good point is that it makes me forget about my hip. Strangely, the outlets that run the 110volt tools and chargers have stopped working. It took me two days to figure out that perhaps one of the local thunderstorms that have been passing through the area, somehow trip the circuit breaker in the inverter. Hopefully correcting the problem will be as easy as flicking a switch to get everything back to where it should be . . .a new inverter is 3 marine units and I really, REALLY don't have them.
Being a "Mark Boat" for a sailboat race can be both a lot of fun and a total bore. You got out to the area where the race will be held hours before the start of the race and wait as the race committee monitors the wind to see if it is clocking around in one direction or if it is oscillating back and forth. When the have a handle at that, they will send the "weather mark boat" . . . . in this case ABISHAG . . . dead up wind for a couple of miles and once there, we dropped a large, very orange tetrahedron tied to an anchor. This mark will be raced to and round twice by the fleet. After dropping the mark, the mark boat anchors a 100yards off the mark and watch the boats as they round the mark to make sure 1.) the go around the mark; 2.) that no one hits the mark; 3.) if a boat hits the mark, make sure that they do the penalty turns required; 4.) take note of any contentious incidents between boats rounding the mark in case they is a penalty challenge so that we can provide evidence for the hearing following the race.
It sounds exciting and it is, so long as boats are rounding the mark, but that doesn't happen for the whole race. In fact, the first boat didn't even approach the mark until the race was already an hour old. It took about 30-45minutes for all the boats to round and then it was a 2 hours wait before they all came back to round again. In between there isn't much to do. If the weather is clear and you are armed with some decent binoculars, you can follow the race around the course. Sad to say, the weather alternated between foggy and hazy which limited one's vision to about 150-200yards, so watching the race was all but impossible . . . . except when the boats were rounding our mark. Aside from those moments, it was like living inside of a light bulb for all you could see. Of course, stationed near the ferry dock at Fisher's Island, we were several times honked by the ferries going in and out. Sitting in the foggy weather, you could hear boats all around, along with gongs and bells and horns and whistle marks going off like a bad nursery school band.
It wasn't the most exciting race committee work I have ever done but the party afterward was well worth it. Plus we didn't get rained on, which is always a plus. Mount Gay & Tonic!!!!!!!
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
It is hard to described how great this weekend was, sailing wise. It is funny that with all the motion of the boat, which everyone seems to think will complicate moving about on a bad hip (and knee). Truth be told, I have really not had a problem moving about. In fact, because it is a sailboat, ABISHAG has been designed with all sorts of multiple handholds all over and one moves from handhold to handhold in safety. And for some reason, the hip really doesn't hurt like it does on the hard. The weather for the coming week is not predicted to be all that great, so I will take it day by day, sailing on the good days, restocking the boat and doing maintenance work on the bad. How bad is that?
It took Friday and Saturday to get ABISHAG ready for her job as the "WEATHER MARK BOAT" in the 2009 Governor's Regatta on Sunday. It was mostly clean up and arranging things in the boat so that it wouldn't look as though a tornado passed through. Getting the boat up to speed and really ready to trip, doing all sorts of little jobs consume a lot of time but with not much effort. That is a good things as my right knee isn't feeling well. It seems slowly getting better and, though it hurts, the good point is that it makes me forget about my hip. Strangely, the outlets that run the 110volt tools and chargers have stopped working. It took me two days to figure out that perhaps one of the local thunderstorms that have been passing through the area, somehow trip the circuit breaker in the inverter. Hopefully correcting the problem will be as easy as flicking a switch to get everything back to where it should be . . .a new inverter is 3 marine units and I really, REALLY don't have them.
Being a "Mark Boat" for a sailboat race can be both a lot of fun and a total bore. You got out to the area where the race will be held hours before the start of the race and wait as the race committee monitors the wind to see if it is clocking around in one direction or if it is oscillating back and forth. When the have a handle at that, they will send the "weather mark boat" . . . . in this case ABISHAG . . . dead up wind for a couple of miles and once there, we dropped a large, very orange tetrahedron tied to an anchor. This mark will be raced to and round twice by the fleet. After dropping the mark, the mark boat anchors a 100yards off the mark and watch the boats as they round the mark to make sure 1.) the go around the mark; 2.) that no one hits the mark; 3.) if a boat hits the mark, make sure that they do the penalty turns required; 4.) take note of any contentious incidents between boats rounding the mark in case they is a penalty challenge so that we can provide evidence for the hearing following the race.
It sounds exciting and it is, so long as boats are rounding the mark, but that doesn't happen for the whole race. In fact, the first boat didn't even approach the mark until the race was already an hour old. It took about 30-45minutes for all the boats to round and then it was a 2 hours wait before they all came back to round again. In between there isn't much to do. If the weather is clear and you are armed with some decent binoculars, you can follow the race around the course. Sad to say, the weather alternated between foggy and hazy which limited one's vision to about 150-200yards, so watching the race was all but impossible . . . . except when the boats were rounding our mark. Aside from those moments, it was like living inside of a light bulb for all you could see. Of course, stationed near the ferry dock at Fisher's Island, we were several times honked by the ferries going in and out. Sitting in the foggy weather, you could hear boats all around, along with gongs and bells and horns and whistle marks going off like a bad nursery school band.
It wasn't the most exciting race committee work I have ever done but the party afterward was well worth it. Plus we didn't get rained on, which is always a plus. Mount Gay & Tonic!!!!!!!
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
It is hard to described how great this weekend was, sailing wise. It is funny that with all the motion of the boat, which everyone seems to think will complicate moving about on a bad hip (and knee). Truth be told, I have really not had a problem moving about. In fact, because it is a sailboat, ABISHAG has been designed with all sorts of multiple handholds all over and one moves from handhold to handhold in safety. And for some reason, the hip really doesn't hurt like it does on the hard. The weather for the coming week is not predicted to be all that great, so I will take it day by day, sailing on the good days, restocking the boat and doing maintenance work on the bad. How bad is that?
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Maybe It's A Sign?
SHIP'S PERSONAL LOG:
I got down to ABISHAG again yesterday, moving load of mostly navigational stuff down to her. I am now "charted" to run from the Maine/Canadian Border to Venezuela. That is the "BIG" picture. Truth be told, I would like to be able to leave New England in the Fall (safely) and go South (safely) and just enjoy how that feels.
More little projects completed. The radar reflector that is attached to the ensign hoist on the port spreader of the Mizzen got repaired. The "radar reflector" is basically three circular pieces of aluminum fitted together in a "ball-shape" this is "supposed to" reflect back any radar signals that hit it to its source making ABISHAG visible on radar. Fiberglass is not a good conductor/reflector of such signals and considering all the boats running around out there, it is a good thing to be seen. The "ensign hoist" is simply a line running through a small block that allows one to raise and lower flags. The "port side spread" is one of two(2) metal tubes exiting the mast through which runs a wire that helps to hold the mast upright and in place, and in this case I am referring to the one on the left side of the mast. The mizzen is the mast at the rear of the boat. Everyone clear on that? The radar reflector had been hoisted and held in place with cable ties and light line which was unsatisfactory as it rubbed against the shrouds (wires) and came apart allowing the reflector to swing crazily, making an horrendous noise every time it stuck something, which was constantly. A couple of clips, some stainless steel seizing wire and everything was put right. Hopefully this new approach will be successful and long last.
The second little project concerned the "Genoa blocks." The "Genoa"/jib/ front-most sail on the boat is controlled by a line that runs from the back corner of the sail - the clew - through two(2) blocks (pulleys), the "Genoa Sheet Block" and the "Turning Block", to the winch so that one can taken and let out the sail as wind and desired course dictate. The "Genoa" , in 15 knots of wind, puts a strain of something like 4,500lbs on the sheet and without the blocks and winch would be uncontrollable. These blocks are shackled to slides on the "Genoa track" that allow for position adjustment - you can move them around. On ABISHAG, the edge of the deck is surmounted by a a cap rail a few inches above the deck. Sometimes, when there is no tension on the sheets, the block flop over and get caught under the rail. I had to come up with a little tie up system that keeps them sort of in place, still allows movement and yet will keep them from banging on the deck or getting caught under the cap rail.It involves just a bit if light line tied to the top of each block and then to the lower cable of the lifeline. I doubt that it will last to long as the lifeline cable should saw through the light line relatively quickly, but it is easily replaceable, so who cares?
These two projects, along with cleaning up the navigation station and arranging charts and the like, plus a short nap(hey, all work and no play, your know), consumed the afternoon and as I had an evening appointment, I left ABISHAG about4:30PM, just ahead of the influx of Wednesday Night Racers.
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
The maybe "sign" happened getting onboard. As I stepped up out of the launch onto deck, I pushed off with might right leg and something happened in my right knee. I jammed it when the accident happened last week, as my right leg was pressing down, straight and stiff, on the brake when contact was made. That made it sore for the last few days but nothing all that bad. True, it would stiffen up if kept in one position for too long, but it wasn't a big deal. This seems a little bit more. Straight or bent it is fine, but getting into either position is a bit painful. The knee is stable but painful on the outside, just below the joint. I think I pulled/strained/partially tore a tendon or ligament. I went and procured a a knee support and it seems to help some, but as I said, the knee is stable, just painful, and one when I bend it for an inch or so from full extended. It doesn't hurt to walk on it so long as I don't bend it or don't full straighten it. So I'll stay off it, and the boat for a day or so, and allow it to heal up a bit. I am not sure what this is all about, what sort of message God is sending this time, but I am sure I will find out in time. Until then, its Advil, heat and elevation. AH, the joys of boat ownership!
I got down to ABISHAG again yesterday, moving load of mostly navigational stuff down to her. I am now "charted" to run from the Maine/Canadian Border to Venezuela. That is the "BIG" picture. Truth be told, I would like to be able to leave New England in the Fall (safely) and go South (safely) and just enjoy how that feels.
More little projects completed. The radar reflector that is attached to the ensign hoist on the port spreader of the Mizzen got repaired. The "radar reflector" is basically three circular pieces of aluminum fitted together in a "ball-shape" this is "supposed to" reflect back any radar signals that hit it to its source making ABISHAG visible on radar. Fiberglass is not a good conductor/reflector of such signals and considering all the boats running around out there, it is a good thing to be seen. The "ensign hoist" is simply a line running through a small block that allows one to raise and lower flags. The "port side spread" is one of two(2) metal tubes exiting the mast through which runs a wire that helps to hold the mast upright and in place, and in this case I am referring to the one on the left side of the mast. The mizzen is the mast at the rear of the boat. Everyone clear on that? The radar reflector had been hoisted and held in place with cable ties and light line which was unsatisfactory as it rubbed against the shrouds (wires) and came apart allowing the reflector to swing crazily, making an horrendous noise every time it stuck something, which was constantly. A couple of clips, some stainless steel seizing wire and everything was put right. Hopefully this new approach will be successful and long last.
The second little project concerned the "Genoa blocks." The "Genoa"/jib/ front-most sail on the boat is controlled by a line that runs from the back corner of the sail - the clew - through two(2) blocks (pulleys), the "Genoa Sheet Block" and the "Turning Block", to the winch so that one can taken and let out the sail as wind and desired course dictate. The "Genoa" , in 15 knots of wind, puts a strain of something like 4,500lbs on the sheet and without the blocks and winch would be uncontrollable. These blocks are shackled to slides on the "Genoa track" that allow for position adjustment - you can move them around. On ABISHAG, the edge of the deck is surmounted by a a cap rail a few inches above the deck. Sometimes, when there is no tension on the sheets, the block flop over and get caught under the rail. I had to come up with a little tie up system that keeps them sort of in place, still allows movement and yet will keep them from banging on the deck or getting caught under the cap rail.It involves just a bit if light line tied to the top of each block and then to the lower cable of the lifeline. I doubt that it will last to long as the lifeline cable should saw through the light line relatively quickly, but it is easily replaceable, so who cares?
These two projects, along with cleaning up the navigation station and arranging charts and the like, plus a short nap(hey, all work and no play, your know), consumed the afternoon and as I had an evening appointment, I left ABISHAG about4:30PM, just ahead of the influx of Wednesday Night Racers.
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
The maybe "sign" happened getting onboard. As I stepped up out of the launch onto deck, I pushed off with might right leg and something happened in my right knee. I jammed it when the accident happened last week, as my right leg was pressing down, straight and stiff, on the brake when contact was made. That made it sore for the last few days but nothing all that bad. True, it would stiffen up if kept in one position for too long, but it wasn't a big deal. This seems a little bit more. Straight or bent it is fine, but getting into either position is a bit painful. The knee is stable but painful on the outside, just below the joint. I think I pulled/strained/partially tore a tendon or ligament. I went and procured a a knee support and it seems to help some, but as I said, the knee is stable, just painful, and one when I bend it for an inch or so from full extended. It doesn't hurt to walk on it so long as I don't bend it or don't full straighten it. So I'll stay off it, and the boat for a day or so, and allow it to heal up a bit. I am not sure what this is all about, what sort of message God is sending this time, but I am sure I will find out in time. Until then, its Advil, heat and elevation. AH, the joys of boat ownership!
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