Out Again

So with my skipper turning up on a couple of occasions, first removing the main sail from the mast and storing it in my saloon, then turning up a few days later to do the same to the jib, I should've known something was happening.

With the wind gusting quite strongly, my skipper, complete with back muscle issues, still managed to unclip my main from the mast, which involved climbing the lower part and releasing it all in the flagging Lazy Jack bag, before spilling it on the deck and hurriedly dragging it back to the cockpit and finally down below.  This is no mean feat given the amount of material involved, still he managed it at the cost of a pair of glasses that, due to the rain the sleeves of his coat caught his face removing the glasses from his nose and smashing in two on the floor.

Several days later with the wind still gusty he returned to drop my jib too, sending that down the hatch in to the Master cabin.   Still a job done.

More recently my skipper returned with the crew and moved me from my pontoon in the Medina to the Yacht Haven, where I spent the weekend before being lifted out and stored on the hard once more.  The Medina mud hosed off before being placed in my resting place over winter. Skipper soon arrived to inspect my prop and hooked me up to shore power and had the dehumidifier running, waiting to pack the sails away in their bags before setting up the oil filled radiators.  Then starts the work on his list.  Already I've given him another task by separating the work top from the top of the fridge.  No warning that there was an issue I've just peeled one item from the other, I'm sure its a simple task for him to complete.

My hull has been jet washed removing the gloopy mud that is the base for the very fine weed that gets a hold and produces very whiskers.  Once I'm out and sailing along this mud soon lets go. For now the additional Copper Coat my skipper added last year is clear to see and lessens the effect of the mud.

However, my anodes are shot to pieces but may have been slowed by the additional 'manual' one fitted in the summer.  At least it may have stopped the prop from being damaged further, this will be removed and taken away for further discussion with the specialists. The softer Aluminium sail drive has pitting on it too and this the skipper is going to coat in the left over epoxy resign from the Copper Coat, but of course without the Copper being mixed in.  Then once hardened apply a paint on anti-fouling.

Both sails are now off, packed and ready to go to the mainland to be laundered and serviced.  So with three months I'll let you know how many and which jobs he manages to complete.