Winter III

Well, here I am the starboard side all washed, cut & polished as only the skipper knows how.

It would appear that due to the fact that my Skipper has been busy since Christmas and also picked up a flu type thing followed by a stomach bug, I'm to remain here till April, giving him time to work through his usual winter list plus the additional 'would like' items he added to it this year.

With the Hull completed, he'll set to on the deck bringing two of my panels back to his garage to have the star-shaped stress fractures rubbed back and the panels re-sprayed with Flow & Clearcoat, to bring back the shine he so desires.

Items on the list are the new control panel in the Cockpit with new tachometer and a dual digital oil Pressure and water temperature gauge that changes colour as the limits are reached.  So, for example, purple when the below the desired range i.e. cold, then green when achieved the optimum levels and red for over, so a simple glimpse will tell you how my engine is doing.  This is a bit of a hangover from Skip's rally days.

Then there's the big item on Skip's 'would like' list, the fitting of the bracket, strengthening of the bulkhead and the D ring on the deck for the J3 staysail. Not to mention the D ring fitted up the mast to take the new halyard and mouse line.

Then there's the servicing of my engine with new oil and filters, not done for a few seasons as I'd not really travelled that far.