August 28, 2014

Amazingly, I actually took the boat out this week...albeit briefly. Carol and I took her across the channel to Smugglers Cove on Santa Cruz Island.  There was no wind...just a long south swell from a hurricane off Mexico, so we had to motor.  Despite the placid seas, Carol was afflicted with mal de mer, which was no fun. Fortunately, she recovered enough to enjoy the party on the mother ship (a DeFever 55) and was much better on the trip back the next day. We saw some dolphins, but only at a distance, and a lot of velella velella. There was just enough wind to try out the new lazy jacks.  They worked in that they controlled the main enough that I could wait to properly flake it until I was in the slip.  However, I added a couple of more lines to try to hold it on the boom more neatly.  I also resolved that, when I can afford it, I will replace some of the running rigging.  It's not that it's suspect, it's just that there are so many lines all alike and all terminating at the foot of the mast that it's tough to sort them out and keep them straight.  Color coded lines and labeled cleats will make it much easier.

After a day and half spent putting things away and cleaning up from the trip, it was back to stripping, sanding and refinishing the starboard cap rail.  For some reason it seems to be going a bit faster than the port side.  Might be because the sun has stripped a bit more of it.  With luck I might get it done next week.  Then I get to start on the stern cap rail.  Joy!

August 21, 2014

The main project for the week was the completion of the lazy jacks to control the main when it's dropped, especially important with a big doghouse that makes it more difficult to get to the boom.  I used an article from Good Old Boat magazine as my guide.   Because Circadian has roller reefing for the main, I could not connect the lines to fixed points on the rotating boom. Instead, I ran a baseline from the mast to the main sheet shackle on the end of the boom (which doesn't rotate) and put eyes with thimbles where needed for the verticle lines.  It's done, but final adjustments will need to wait until I test it this weekend.  (The wind was always from the wrong direction at the dock.)

I also spent a lot of time just putting things back together to make the boat seaworthy again (anchors, sheets, instruments, helm seat, etc, etc.).  I had to pump out the holding tank, get outboard gas mixed and a propane tank filled.  I wanted to do some routine engine maintenance, but it was clear there wouldn't be time.  Another week and 10 more hours running time won't make any difference.  (I did start it and run it for a while to make sure everything was operating properly).  One day was devoted to doing mast work on Circadian and a dockmate's boat.  We helped each other.  He needed help running a wire cable through his mast, I needed a belay when I went up the mast to drill and thread holes on the spreaders for the eye straps holding up the lazy jacks. (He's a former rock climber and surgeon, so you couldn't ask for a better qualified belay partner!)

It's been hectic trying to get everything done so that Carol and I can head to Santa Cruz Island Saturday for a dockmate's annual cruise-in birthday bash, costume contest, fish fry and potluck.  It'll be good to get to sea again, and fun, but probably exhausting since we have to squeeze it into a tight schedule.  Big change from last weekend when all I had to do was eat lobster to help Carol celebrate her birthday!