Getting ready to go...
I am in La Rochelle preparing Margaret Anna for the
transatlantic delivery...it will be a few more days of preparation. No
matter how many times I've done this, it is amazing how much work it takes to
get boats ready to cross an ocean!
Perhaps I've been a little spoiled by
OceanPlanet...after the occasional problems we had in the Around Alone or
Vendee, all the onboard systems and rigging are now really sorted
out. So on this boat, we've been
bouncing between rigging and navigation systems, starting with a new
Iridium antenna and a bluetooth GPS. Still on the nav list is getting the
radar and backup laptop working.
Today I also spent a good hour up the rig
installing a new headstay/furler. Tomorrow if the wind dies down, we
can install the genoa and solent jib. On this boat there are NO jib
halyards...so you go through an unusual procedure to install the sails:
1) Hoist a jib (and me) up with the spin
halyard, and lash the head of the sail to the top of the furling
stay.
2) Zip up a special luff "sock" that goes
around the stay and has zipper going the entire luff length.
3) Lash the tack of the sail to the furling drum to
get the luff tension, and...finally furl up the sail.
4) Hope that you never have a problem with the
furler, because getting the sail down is not easy!
Next day now (11th)....didn't finish the update
yesterday, here I am again! One of the jibs is up, new endless
furling line installed 1/2 the diesel is loaded...that's the tip of the
iceberg but you get the idea.
Well....got to run! Will send more news
before we cast off! |
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