Whilst Skip is pleased that his main work hasn't dropped off a cliff and in fact, he's quite busy he's able to manage his Clients such that daylight hours are still being as far as possible free to enable him to do all the things he just ran out of time previously.
The air-cooled outboard motor re-assembled and not only
looking like new but running smoothly after a quick service
The next big job on his list is the second line tidy. For those that are unsure where this fits on my deck, it is a panel that stretches from the cockpit almost to the side of the mast. The halyards (ropes) run 90 degrees from the base of the mast to a series of pulleys hidden by this panel and turn 90 degrees again and run the whole length and pop out at the back to the clutches and winches. Looking at the photo below the mast would be to the left and the ropes run to and under the little bit that just out, the deck tidy pulleys go from corner to corner and the ropes then run all the way to the door at the back of the garage.
The final big job this year is to finish the portside line tidy
Star cracks filled and rubbed down, first coat on
This is the line tidy panel in-situ
Today the Thursday before Easter the first Gel coat was sprayed on (as second above), this will be rubbed back, air blown and Acetone used to wipe clean and a second coat applied. If there's enough available a third coat will be applied and the process repeated before the Flow coat is applied. This is identical but doesn't carry the white pigment so it is clear. Skip wants a deep gloss shine to ouze from the panel. As can be seen from above due the shrouds at the side of the deck, if I happen to be rafted against another boat it is not unusual for people to trample over the line tidy to cross over. Hence it has lost its shine and suffered some damage.
I understand that my code 0 is now ready for collection if only the current lockdown that the countries are in would enable that to happen. The sail which previously had a snuffler to 'extinguish' its use, proved difficult for one person to operate and tacking with it proved to be such a long process this was only to be attempted on long runs when one or two tacks were envisaged. The new Facnor FX+ 4500 requires a torsion line to be sewn into the leach of the sail and that's now been done.
The sail is hoisted tight out of its new zipped bag and the continuous line is led aft to the mast base. This line is then pulled with Skip or whoever sitting at the base of the mast in a safe position to let out the sail, the working sheet is then pulled in and the sail is trimmed. When tacking someone goes forward to the mast and the working sheet is eased as the continuous line is pulled to trim the sail, the tack takes place. On the new tack, the sail is re-deployed as the lazy sheet now the working sheet tightens pulling the sail out and trims it, the continuous line is fed in the opposite direction as the working sheet pulls it out. At any time by stopping the continuous line the sail locked prevented from being deployed further.
Skipper has had made and fitted to the bulkhead he strengthened last year an 'L' bracket to take a new deck fitting. This is for the new J3 sail that in light winds he can hoist to complement the Code 0 and fly twin sails upfront. This stemmed from Skipper watching the Ocean racing where the IMOCA 60's had tri-sails upfront. The air between the sails is accelerated so that it creates a bigger vacuum at the back of the mainsail, which in turn produces more power.
Every year when we cross Lyme Bay either West or East on our way back the wind dies and so it takes almost 14hrs to cross and usually under engine at 5.0kts. If the code 0 and J3 are deployed in such light winds it will create a higher apparent wind which will increase until it reaches a peak, this is when the drag I produce through the water cannot be overcome any further. At his point, it is hoped that I will be travelling at 15 knots through the water even more if the tide is behind me, making the crossing in 3.5 hours.
Or looking at it from another angle a 10hr passage making 150nm reaching Newlyn from Portland in one day if the right conditions prevail!
Let's hope that the Pandemic is soon over.
Final preparation of the line tidy panel
Polishing
Check out the video of one of the final stages of the polishing processes.
