SHIP'S LOG:
After 9 months of summer, I got my first "summer Headache." I usually get them when I don't drink enough water. humid that I sweated the water out as fast as I could guzzle it and, after awhile, it was a losing proposition. Even laying down to take a short nap in what cool breeze there was out on the boat was of no help and indeed, it was from the nap that I woke up with a real tear-the-top-off-your-skull head pounder. Even getting back to guzzling didn't help all that much nor the ibuprofen.
I tried going out for a sail, more of a float actually, but it still didn't help. Still it was a sail and that was and always is a good thing.
One bad thing is that I have misplaced my wallet. It is on the oat somewhere but just where I can't find. I attribute it to the summer headache but even so, that doesn't find the wallet. It will turn up . . . eventually . . . but sooner is much better than later and so I will have to do a major search mission and soon as I get back aboard. What a pain! Then again, I hope it is lost aboard. If not, well the person who finds it will find out how true it was when old Billy wrote, "He who steals my purse steal trash!" My wallet and its contents will prove that observation more than true.
I will be working the Governor's Regatta as the Windward Mark Boat. Not a lot of work really. Once the Starting line is set, I will be dispatched 180 degrees perpendicular to it for 1 and a half miles, drop the Windward Mark in the water, and then move some yards off, drop an anchor and then make sure the Mark stays in place and everyone rounds it properly, then picking it up after the race is finished and motoring back to TYC. For this, my crew and I get a few lunch, free dockage Saturday and Sunday night, and free access to the Post Race Party and Buffet. Not a bad deal . . .unless it rains, but such are the chances one must take in the Racing Game.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
From Seattle to Beaufort, SC
SHIP'S LOG:
It was a real yuckie day. The cold and damp and breeze of the past week has been replaced by the heat and humidity and no breeze of this week, well at least for Monday. The heat and humidity I don't mind, or I should say, I wouldn't mind if we at least had a breeze. Not much of that I am sad to say but it didn't stop me from getting off the mooring and out into the river in search of some. Alas, there wasn't much there, just barely enough to move the boat and not very fast at that. Still it was cooler than ashore. It is probably the type of weather people were praying for . . . back in December and January. They had forgotten that it can really suck the life right out of you. Every gulp of water got seated out seemingly seconds later. It almost made sense to short-circuit the process by simply pouring the water over my head. The very light breeze makes for interesting sailing in the river. With the light zephers, dodging and avoiding the ferries and subs gets even more entertaining and a little more exciting. The Coasties were just as hot as everyone else which didn't do much for their attitude and if there is one thing you don't need is someone who has an attitude and a machine gun. Good people to keep far away from!
Still summer has been rather good. When we have had breeze, it has been great for sailing. And after a slow start most of the members are in the water and doing their thing. It is great to see people really relax and unwind as I am sure they are much in need of it. There has been a lot of talk about the struggle speople are having and things are hard for many. They need the time and the space and the place to let it al go if only for just a while and this is the place.
Later this week, TYC will host the Force 5 National Championship. The Force 5's are basically racing dinghies and the competition should be serious to say the least. Bob Cullen, from TYC, is a 9 times national champion and looks to get #10 here on "his home ground." Two weeks hence, TYC will host the Governor's Regatta. I will be working Race Committee that day, probably a Mark Boat. I am starting to get a bit of an itch to get ABISHAG rated(PHRF) so that I can(could) sail in some of the events, just to see what it would be like. Nothing serious are aggressive, but I would still have to put together a crew and we would have to do at least some practice as sailing a ketch in a round the buoys type of race will be more work that on a sloop. After all, more masts mean more sails. Who knows, perhaps if I can scare up a crew and we get some practice time and I get a really, REALLY good rating, she might actually surprise people. Of course, I would have to empty her of all the cruising stuff, the extra anchors, the books and charts, etc. etc. to help with the speed, but then it won't be until next year, if then. If I wait long enough, the yen will probably pass.
It was a real yuckie day. The cold and damp and breeze of the past week has been replaced by the heat and humidity and no breeze of this week, well at least for Monday. The heat and humidity I don't mind, or I should say, I wouldn't mind if we at least had a breeze. Not much of that I am sad to say but it didn't stop me from getting off the mooring and out into the river in search of some. Alas, there wasn't much there, just barely enough to move the boat and not very fast at that. Still it was cooler than ashore. It is probably the type of weather people were praying for . . . back in December and January. They had forgotten that it can really suck the life right out of you. Every gulp of water got seated out seemingly seconds later. It almost made sense to short-circuit the process by simply pouring the water over my head. The very light breeze makes for interesting sailing in the river. With the light zephers, dodging and avoiding the ferries and subs gets even more entertaining and a little more exciting. The Coasties were just as hot as everyone else which didn't do much for their attitude and if there is one thing you don't need is someone who has an attitude and a machine gun. Good people to keep far away from!
Still summer has been rather good. When we have had breeze, it has been great for sailing. And after a slow start most of the members are in the water and doing their thing. It is great to see people really relax and unwind as I am sure they are much in need of it. There has been a lot of talk about the struggle speople are having and things are hard for many. They need the time and the space and the place to let it al go if only for just a while and this is the place.
Later this week, TYC will host the Force 5 National Championship. The Force 5's are basically racing dinghies and the competition should be serious to say the least. Bob Cullen, from TYC, is a 9 times national champion and looks to get #10 here on "his home ground." Two weeks hence, TYC will host the Governor's Regatta. I will be working Race Committee that day, probably a Mark Boat. I am starting to get a bit of an itch to get ABISHAG rated(PHRF) so that I can(could) sail in some of the events, just to see what it would be like. Nothing serious are aggressive, but I would still have to put together a crew and we would have to do at least some practice as sailing a ketch in a round the buoys type of race will be more work that on a sloop. After all, more masts mean more sails. Who knows, perhaps if I can scare up a crew and we get some practice time and I get a really, REALLY good rating, she might actually surprise people. Of course, I would have to empty her of all the cruising stuff, the extra anchors, the books and charts, etc. etc. to help with the speed, but then it won't be until next year, if then. If I wait long enough, the yen will probably pass.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Sunday - A Day Of Rest & Quiet
SHIP'S LOG:
Today was a non-movement day. After the fireworks and partying of last night, the massive boating congestion in the river Sunday morning, the Sailing of the fourth Annual Maritime Cup Race in the afternoon, it was a nice day to be restive and quiet.
It was a clear and humid free day which pleased everyone and rather breezy at the start, which pleased the racers, and though the clear skies and low humidity, the breeze did not, disappearing about half way through the afternoon which was also about half way through the race. It's not that it disappeared completely, but it dropped to a sufficiently low value as to make it difficult for some of the larger, heavier boats to go much more than current speed. Still in all it was a nice day to be on the water whether you were racing or cruising or simply sitting on your mooring.
I have been using the Mizzen a lot more of late and decided that it would be a good time to do some maintenance on the rig. I popped and re-greased the winches that control the Mizzen Sheet. I lubed all the blocks that are part of the Mizzen sheeting arrangement. I also lubed the blocks that are a part of the running backstays that are attached to the Mizzen Mast. As is so typical as to be expected, the simple maintenance uncovered a few other things that needed to be attended to and repaired. Actually replaced.
The sheaves(wheels) in the blocks(pulleys) of the port side running backstay are frozen in place and broken. No amount of PB Blaster could break them loose, not that it really mattered as the sheaves themselves were chipped along their edges. Since there is really no way to replaces them, the whole block needs to be replaced. Same is true for a block in the Mizzen Sail Sheeting system - frozen, chipped sheave . . . replacement needed.
Such discoveries during routine maintenance, often tend to bring the routine maintenance to an end, less more stuff to be replaced be discovered. It is not that it won't eventually get replaced, it is just that it is disheartening to find stuff that needs replacing without the means to do the replacing. Sunday however, since I was at work on the Mizzen, I decided to go all the way and repair the tear in the sail I found the other day. It might sound dramatic, but it is rather simple:
1.) Find tear;
2.)Cut appropriate size patch of sail repair tape;
3.) Place flat surface under sail at tear;
4.) Remove Backing from patch;
5.) Apply patch to sail at tear. All Done!
A boat sailed into TYC fresh from Bermuda which means they have to clear through US Customs before the crew can be landed. It was surprising to realize that despite the fact that the US Customs Bureau maintains an office in New London, actually the old Customs House in the Nation, there really isn't any staff here full-time. A US Customs guy had to come all the way from Newport, RI, through late Sunday Afternoon, I-95 Traffic to make sure the crew wasn't smuggling in a nuke or drugs in the US. The process was over quickly and there was no hitch, but it did engender lots of conversation on the porch, about how easy it would be to just sail in from anywhere and not check in. Who would know? This lead to one of the seasoned old guard, whose involvement with the Navy, the Sub base, EB and the City of New London, to inform us, in a very general, non-specific way, of the numerous safety precautions and electronic surveillance in that exists in and around this little strip of America. As he noted, "You have no idea what really exists under the water in the river." I always suspected that the Thames was not as wide open as it seems. What leads one to believe that it is is the total absence of visible surveillance and weapons. Believe me, I have looked but I probably don't know where to look. True, right after 9/11, a whole bunch of sandbag revetment's went up around EB and one both shores but they were rather quickly gone. "Thank goodness too as though pimply-face, 18 and 19 year olds who manned the positions with machine guns, were way too nervous and excitable.)
I am not sure whats the drill for today. Right now it is foggy again but is seems to be burning off. A Seawolf is moving up the river right now. If things go as they did last week, there will be more coming in and out. Not something you want to deal with on a foggy day. After all, there is no specific foggy horn sound for a sub. So if you are in fog and you don't hear anything, it could be a sub!
Today was a non-movement day. After the fireworks and partying of last night, the massive boating congestion in the river Sunday morning, the Sailing of the fourth Annual Maritime Cup Race in the afternoon, it was a nice day to be restive and quiet.
It was a clear and humid free day which pleased everyone and rather breezy at the start, which pleased the racers, and though the clear skies and low humidity, the breeze did not, disappearing about half way through the afternoon which was also about half way through the race. It's not that it disappeared completely, but it dropped to a sufficiently low value as to make it difficult for some of the larger, heavier boats to go much more than current speed. Still in all it was a nice day to be on the water whether you were racing or cruising or simply sitting on your mooring.
I have been using the Mizzen a lot more of late and decided that it would be a good time to do some maintenance on the rig. I popped and re-greased the winches that control the Mizzen Sheet. I lubed all the blocks that are part of the Mizzen sheeting arrangement. I also lubed the blocks that are a part of the running backstays that are attached to the Mizzen Mast. As is so typical as to be expected, the simple maintenance uncovered a few other things that needed to be attended to and repaired. Actually replaced.
The sheaves(wheels) in the blocks(pulleys) of the port side running backstay are frozen in place and broken. No amount of PB Blaster could break them loose, not that it really mattered as the sheaves themselves were chipped along their edges. Since there is really no way to replaces them, the whole block needs to be replaced. Same is true for a block in the Mizzen Sail Sheeting system - frozen, chipped sheave . . . replacement needed.
Such discoveries during routine maintenance, often tend to bring the routine maintenance to an end, less more stuff to be replaced be discovered. It is not that it won't eventually get replaced, it is just that it is disheartening to find stuff that needs replacing without the means to do the replacing. Sunday however, since I was at work on the Mizzen, I decided to go all the way and repair the tear in the sail I found the other day. It might sound dramatic, but it is rather simple:
1.) Find tear;
2.)Cut appropriate size patch of sail repair tape;
3.) Place flat surface under sail at tear;
4.) Remove Backing from patch;
5.) Apply patch to sail at tear. All Done!
A boat sailed into TYC fresh from Bermuda which means they have to clear through US Customs before the crew can be landed. It was surprising to realize that despite the fact that the US Customs Bureau maintains an office in New London, actually the old Customs House in the Nation, there really isn't any staff here full-time. A US Customs guy had to come all the way from Newport, RI, through late Sunday Afternoon, I-95 Traffic to make sure the crew wasn't smuggling in a nuke or drugs in the US. The process was over quickly and there was no hitch, but it did engender lots of conversation on the porch, about how easy it would be to just sail in from anywhere and not check in. Who would know? This lead to one of the seasoned old guard, whose involvement with the Navy, the Sub base, EB and the City of New London, to inform us, in a very general, non-specific way, of the numerous safety precautions and electronic surveillance in that exists in and around this little strip of America. As he noted, "You have no idea what really exists under the water in the river." I always suspected that the Thames was not as wide open as it seems. What leads one to believe that it is is the total absence of visible surveillance and weapons. Believe me, I have looked but I probably don't know where to look. True, right after 9/11, a whole bunch of sandbag revetment's went up around EB and one both shores but they were rather quickly gone. "Thank goodness too as though pimply-face, 18 and 19 year olds who manned the positions with machine guns, were way too nervous and excitable.)
I am not sure whats the drill for today. Right now it is foggy again but is seems to be burning off. A Seawolf is moving up the river right now. If things go as they did last week, there will be more coming in and out. Not something you want to deal with on a foggy day. After all, there is no specific foggy horn sound for a sub. So if you are in fog and you don't hear anything, it could be a sub!
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Welcome to Seattle
SHIP'S LOG:
well, perhaps things that could be said about yesterday is that it at least came to an end. I woke up to a fog bound Thames River, with fog so thick that it took me several minutes to literally figure out which way ABISHAG was oriented, that is which way she was pointed and which was was the TYC Clubhouse. It was serious fog and, while it thinned and thickened through out the day, it never really lifted.
In addition, all that fog, which means 100% humidity(that's what fog is, at least atmospherically) mean everything got wet, or at least damp, and never dried once it did. And in addition to the fog and humidity, there was the constant drizzling rain. It probably would have helped straighten everything out if it just poured, but it didn't, at least not until about 8:30pm. It was just a plan, miserable day, like a normal day in Seattle!
Basically, it was a good day to take a nap which I did. It was a good day to reorganize and restore stuff on the boat which I did. It was a good day to do a few minor boat projects which I did. It was a good day to waste a lot of time online which I did. The only thing it wasn't really good for was sailing which I didn't do, nor did anyone else for that matter. A good day in Seattle is usually not a very nice day anywhere else. HOWEVER, today has already started out bright and clear and with a nice breeze and is a good day in New England for sailing. Adios!
well, perhaps things that could be said about yesterday is that it at least came to an end. I woke up to a fog bound Thames River, with fog so thick that it took me several minutes to literally figure out which way ABISHAG was oriented, that is which way she was pointed and which was was the TYC Clubhouse. It was serious fog and, while it thinned and thickened through out the day, it never really lifted.
In addition, all that fog, which means 100% humidity(that's what fog is, at least atmospherically) mean everything got wet, or at least damp, and never dried once it did. And in addition to the fog and humidity, there was the constant drizzling rain. It probably would have helped straighten everything out if it just poured, but it didn't, at least not until about 8:30pm. It was just a plan, miserable day, like a normal day in Seattle!
Basically, it was a good day to take a nap which I did. It was a good day to reorganize and restore stuff on the boat which I did. It was a good day to do a few minor boat projects which I did. It was a good day to waste a lot of time online which I did. The only thing it wasn't really good for was sailing which I didn't do, nor did anyone else for that matter. A good day in Seattle is usually not a very nice day anywhere else. HOWEVER, today has already started out bright and clear and with a nice breeze and is a good day in New England for sailing. Adios!
Friday, July 8, 2011
Doin' A Little Ketching
SHIP'S LOG:
It was rather foggy yesterday but it burned off sufficiently so that one could go sailing. And I was one of the ones. The wind was light and so I took the opportunity to run ABISHAG in "full-Ketch" mode. I don't often do this because it is a little more work that I'd like to do merely going from here to there an back again. with another pair of hands it would be simple enough but by oneself, it can have me hoping back and forth all over the cockpit.
In addition to controlling and adjusting the main and the Genoa( thank goodness for self-tailing winches), running as a ketch means also controlling the Mizzen. There is a two-part tackle that adjusts the Mizzen, meaning you have one line when you are on a starboard tack and you need to use another line on the port tack. In addition, you have to set the running backstay on the windward side and release and reset a new one whenever you tack. Think in terms of the famous "one-armed paper hanger" and you will understand that it can get a wee bit busy. If I am going to run for several miles, that's one thing, but having to tack with a fair amount of frequency can make for busy afternoon. And in a heavy breezed, it can even be more so. But the light breeze of yesterday was perfect.
Having sailed around for several hours counting lobster pot buoys, I head back toward New London where I encountered GAZELLA, a tall ship from the Philadelphia Maritime Museum, making her way into the Thames. She is a three masted brig, with the main and Mizzen masts set fore-&-aft and the foremast set with square spars and sails. She is well over 100 years old and, sadly, looks it. She probably needs far more work that the Museum can afford to put into her but she is still seaworthy enough to make it here. I am assuming that she is in New London to participate in the Sail Fest activities this weekend.
It is really great to be sailing these days. I doubt that I have had to run the engine more than 20 - 30 minutes a day and that is just to get off the mooring and clear the mooring field (and the reverse on the way in) when the sails are up and I am gone. If I could have done this on "the Trip," I would have saved a fortune!
It was rather foggy yesterday but it burned off sufficiently so that one could go sailing. And I was one of the ones. The wind was light and so I took the opportunity to run ABISHAG in "full-Ketch" mode. I don't often do this because it is a little more work that I'd like to do merely going from here to there an back again. with another pair of hands it would be simple enough but by oneself, it can have me hoping back and forth all over the cockpit.
In addition to controlling and adjusting the main and the Genoa( thank goodness for self-tailing winches), running as a ketch means also controlling the Mizzen. There is a two-part tackle that adjusts the Mizzen, meaning you have one line when you are on a starboard tack and you need to use another line on the port tack. In addition, you have to set the running backstay on the windward side and release and reset a new one whenever you tack. Think in terms of the famous "one-armed paper hanger" and you will understand that it can get a wee bit busy. If I am going to run for several miles, that's one thing, but having to tack with a fair amount of frequency can make for busy afternoon. And in a heavy breezed, it can even be more so. But the light breeze of yesterday was perfect.
Having sailed around for several hours counting lobster pot buoys, I head back toward New London where I encountered GAZELLA, a tall ship from the Philadelphia Maritime Museum, making her way into the Thames. She is a three masted brig, with the main and Mizzen masts set fore-&-aft and the foremast set with square spars and sails. She is well over 100 years old and, sadly, looks it. She probably needs far more work that the Museum can afford to put into her but she is still seaworthy enough to make it here. I am assuming that she is in New London to participate in the Sail Fest activities this weekend.
It is really great to be sailing these days. I doubt that I have had to run the engine more than 20 - 30 minutes a day and that is just to get off the mooring and clear the mooring field (and the reverse on the way in) when the sails are up and I am gone. If I could have done this on "the Trip," I would have saved a fortune!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
A Busy Day on The Ol' Thames River
SHIP'S LOG:
I had forgotten just how busy the Thames River can be when you are about a mile from the entrance as we are at TYC. You have the Block Island Ferry but that's usually only once in the morning (outbound) and once in the evening (inbound) though it seems that maybe that particular ferry isn't running any more. There is the Fisher's Island Ferry that run approximately on the hour hour and the Orient Point Ferries which seem to run constantly. The older ferries( slow and conventual)make the run in and out seemingly on the hour from both New London(outbound) and from Orient Point(inbound). Then there is the "Hi Speed Ferry" ferry(The SeaJet Catamaran) that runs about every 45 minutes. It can get a little congested in the timing is right and yesterday it was right.
Add to the mix the two outbound and one inbound 688's, with escorting Coast Guard Gunships and a Navy Dive Platform Ship, with accompanying tug, and things really got chaotic. The of course there was the research vessel from UCONN Avery Point, assort lobster boats(professional) and fishermen(definitely non-professional), along with recreational sailors and powerboaters, and it was something akin to the Walmart Parking lot before a big sale.
My own particular part in this play came when I was cruising up the river from TYC and happened to notice a 688 coming through the railroad bridge than spans the Thames. Naval vessels have a designated "exclusion zone" of 500 yards around them, a zone enforced but the Coasties in the rubber boats with the 60mm machine guns. I ducked out of the channels to port, heading off far enough not to attract unwarranted attention from the Coasties. when the sub had passed, I jibed and went back to sailing downwind upriver. After a few minutes, because the wind was so light, I jibed around and b\headed back down river. Since the wind was light, I took the time to get out of the cockpit to engage the mainsail leech line(It keeps the back edge of the sail from fluttering.) Unfortunately, in leaving the cockpit, I let the boat sail itself into irons, that is the boat sailed directly into the wind, lost almost all forward momentum, and the sails couldn't engage the wind. Basically, I was sitting there, dead in the water, a situation that could be resolved but cranking on the engine or waiting a moment or two until the boat, pushed by the wind or turned by the current, shift the angle of the boat sufficiently so that the sails could bite the wind.
At this particular moment, I was being approached by RACE POINT, one of the ferries that run back and forth to Fishers Island. Now I was along the starboard side of the Channel and the Ferry was on the same side, approaching my stern. Now he had the whole rest of the channel in which to maneuver and could easily do so now that the sub and its escorts had cleaned everyone out. I was in irons, sails fluttering and bobbing like a cork not quite in his path. I would presume, if he was looking out his ports, he could see that I wasn't moving, or at least not fast enough to have any real control, and that he would simply shift to port and speed by. But NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!Blast went his horn to inform me of his intention to pass to port. He could very well pass to starboard as a.) he would have hit me; and b.) he would have gone out of he channel. It wasn't like I didn't know he was there. I found out during my trip that most traffic eschews horn signals in favor of communication over the radio. It is a rare event, even in the busy Thames, to heard a horn. Most often, they are blown in a fit-of-pique by commercial vessels at recreational vessels. To make matters worse, as he slid by, his bow wave caught ABISHAG and started to turn her right into him. Thank goodness ABISHAG turns best to port and that he was a small ferry traveling at excessive speed. I was just able to horse ABISHAG around his stern and miss him.
So ends another day on the Briney.
I had forgotten just how busy the Thames River can be when you are about a mile from the entrance as we are at TYC. You have the Block Island Ferry but that's usually only once in the morning (outbound) and once in the evening (inbound) though it seems that maybe that particular ferry isn't running any more. There is the Fisher's Island Ferry that run approximately on the hour hour and the Orient Point Ferries which seem to run constantly. The older ferries( slow and conventual)make the run in and out seemingly on the hour from both New London(outbound) and from Orient Point(inbound). Then there is the "Hi Speed Ferry" ferry(The SeaJet Catamaran) that runs about every 45 minutes. It can get a little congested in the timing is right and yesterday it was right.
Add to the mix the two outbound and one inbound 688's, with escorting Coast Guard Gunships and a Navy Dive Platform Ship, with accompanying tug, and things really got chaotic. The of course there was the research vessel from UCONN Avery Point, assort lobster boats(professional) and fishermen(definitely non-professional), along with recreational sailors and powerboaters, and it was something akin to the Walmart Parking lot before a big sale.
My own particular part in this play came when I was cruising up the river from TYC and happened to notice a 688 coming through the railroad bridge than spans the Thames. Naval vessels have a designated "exclusion zone" of 500 yards around them, a zone enforced but the Coasties in the rubber boats with the 60mm machine guns. I ducked out of the channels to port, heading off far enough not to attract unwarranted attention from the Coasties. when the sub had passed, I jibed and went back to sailing downwind upriver. After a few minutes, because the wind was so light, I jibed around and b\headed back down river. Since the wind was light, I took the time to get out of the cockpit to engage the mainsail leech line(It keeps the back edge of the sail from fluttering.) Unfortunately, in leaving the cockpit, I let the boat sail itself into irons, that is the boat sailed directly into the wind, lost almost all forward momentum, and the sails couldn't engage the wind. Basically, I was sitting there, dead in the water, a situation that could be resolved but cranking on the engine or waiting a moment or two until the boat, pushed by the wind or turned by the current, shift the angle of the boat sufficiently so that the sails could bite the wind.
At this particular moment, I was being approached by RACE POINT, one of the ferries that run back and forth to Fishers Island. Now I was along the starboard side of the Channel and the Ferry was on the same side, approaching my stern. Now he had the whole rest of the channel in which to maneuver and could easily do so now that the sub and its escorts had cleaned everyone out. I was in irons, sails fluttering and bobbing like a cork not quite in his path. I would presume, if he was looking out his ports, he could see that I wasn't moving, or at least not fast enough to have any real control, and that he would simply shift to port and speed by. But NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!Blast went his horn to inform me of his intention to pass to port. He could very well pass to starboard as a.) he would have hit me; and b.) he would have gone out of he channel. It wasn't like I didn't know he was there. I found out during my trip that most traffic eschews horn signals in favor of communication over the radio. It is a rare event, even in the busy Thames, to heard a horn. Most often, they are blown in a fit-of-pique by commercial vessels at recreational vessels. To make matters worse, as he slid by, his bow wave caught ABISHAG and started to turn her right into him. Thank goodness ABISHAG turns best to port and that he was a small ferry traveling at excessive speed. I was just able to horse ABISHAG around his stern and miss him.
So ends another day on the Briney.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Sailing, Sailing, Sailing, Sailing . . . . . . . .
SHIP'S LOG:
Well, what can I say. It is summer, the weather has been pretty good, and I am living on a sailboat. Sailing obviously is a priority. Blogging, not so much.
To update, the final fix of the ports is done and it even works! we had rain, a real "street cleaner" and the nav station and aft berth remanded dry!
I had planned to go out again on Saturday but, having everything set to go, I unfurled the mainsail, or at least tried to, and it jammed. The old problem of the main bunching up because of the loose furling rod made it almost impossible to move beyond half way out. Evidently, furling it the day before had moved the rod out of position and made the furling a complete and tangled mess. I worked on in for about an hour when I got an assist from Rich Weber. Before any fix could be attempted, the sail had to come all the way out. There was a lot of pulling and sweating and yanking and a little colorful language before we got it all the way out. Then came the fun part, trying to figure what to do. Rich rightly suggested that rather than jury-rig it once again, knowing that it would mess up again sometime in the future, possibly at a most in opportune time, it would be better to fix it and be done with it. Unfortunately, we had no idea just how to go about it.
As luck would have it, Fred, an engineer of great repute, was also available and he likes nothing better than a challenge. Consider that he joined me for the start of the trip south and was "seriously unwell" for a portion of it. (unlike Bob who never does anything half way!)
As I am sure that I mentioned before, the "D"-shaped rob, around which the mainsail furls, fits into a "D" shaped hole in the bottom of the furling unit. The only problem is that it is not fixed in place and keeps lifting out causing all of the problems. Fred, brilliant engineer that he is, decided the best course of action was to drill a hole through the sheave in the bottom of the furling unit right into the furling rod and run a set screw into place to hold the rod down. Seems a simple fix and it was but, as with all things nautical, it took longer to do than one might expect. However, when all was said and done, the fix worked just fine, as subsequent sailing made perfectly clear.
AS to the rest, it has been sailing, sailing and more sailing. I am getting back for all the miles I motored on the ICW. And it has been really wonderful. What can I say. I am enjoying the heck out of it.
Well, what can I say. It is summer, the weather has been pretty good, and I am living on a sailboat. Sailing obviously is a priority. Blogging, not so much.
To update, the final fix of the ports is done and it even works! we had rain, a real "street cleaner" and the nav station and aft berth remanded dry!
I had planned to go out again on Saturday but, having everything set to go, I unfurled the mainsail, or at least tried to, and it jammed. The old problem of the main bunching up because of the loose furling rod made it almost impossible to move beyond half way out. Evidently, furling it the day before had moved the rod out of position and made the furling a complete and tangled mess. I worked on in for about an hour when I got an assist from Rich Weber. Before any fix could be attempted, the sail had to come all the way out. There was a lot of pulling and sweating and yanking and a little colorful language before we got it all the way out. Then came the fun part, trying to figure what to do. Rich rightly suggested that rather than jury-rig it once again, knowing that it would mess up again sometime in the future, possibly at a most in opportune time, it would be better to fix it and be done with it. Unfortunately, we had no idea just how to go about it.
As luck would have it, Fred, an engineer of great repute, was also available and he likes nothing better than a challenge. Consider that he joined me for the start of the trip south and was "seriously unwell" for a portion of it. (unlike Bob who never does anything half way!)
As I am sure that I mentioned before, the "D"-shaped rob, around which the mainsail furls, fits into a "D" shaped hole in the bottom of the furling unit. The only problem is that it is not fixed in place and keeps lifting out causing all of the problems. Fred, brilliant engineer that he is, decided the best course of action was to drill a hole through the sheave in the bottom of the furling unit right into the furling rod and run a set screw into place to hold the rod down. Seems a simple fix and it was but, as with all things nautical, it took longer to do than one might expect. However, when all was said and done, the fix worked just fine, as subsequent sailing made perfectly clear.
AS to the rest, it has been sailing, sailing and more sailing. I am getting back for all the miles I motored on the ICW. And it has been really wonderful. What can I say. I am enjoying the heck out of it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
