April 5: Anchored off North Bimini. Winds have subsided after a fantastic sailing day yesterday, reaching 9 knots under sail with our new Code 0 Big Blue. Perfect day to go up the mast to fix our broken mainsail halyard, which occurred during our Gulf Stream crossing.
Brenda and I had to work closely as a team, with her handling the lines and power winch, hauling me up the 73 ft. high mast, and back down. Slowly :) back down. I used a mountaineering harness, tool belt, and carried a replacement halyard with one end attached to a big lead fishing weight. The idea was to get to the top of the mast, carefully feed the weighted line down the inside of the mast, and then hook the new line through the halyard portal near the base of the mast. It worked, but not without a few bumps, including a fishing boat speeding by with a wake that left me holding tightly to the mast, giving the captain a hand signal that needs no interpretation.
Living on a sailboat requires us to learn how to fix things that break. Brenda has quickly learned to use a SailRite sewing machine to repair everything from sails and helm covers, to our cockpit enclosure. My basic skills in fixing mechanical and electrical problems have been enhanced by investing time in watching technicians work on Pandion during our haul out last summer, and when we needed work done back on Marco Island.
Like all cruising couples, we have a working list of boat projects that gets attention when the weather is not suitable for doing other fun things like snorkeling, diving, fishing, kayaking, or exploring new places with Newt (our dinghy). Yes, Bri and Keely..."she turned me into a newt!"
Brenda and I had to work closely as a team, with her handling the lines and power winch, hauling me up the 73 ft. high mast, and back down. Slowly :) back down. I used a mountaineering harness, tool belt, and carried a replacement halyard with one end attached to a big lead fishing weight. The idea was to get to the top of the mast, carefully feed the weighted line down the inside of the mast, and then hook the new line through the halyard portal near the base of the mast. It worked, but not without a few bumps, including a fishing boat speeding by with a wake that left me holding tightly to the mast, giving the captain a hand signal that needs no interpretation.
Living on a sailboat requires us to learn how to fix things that break. Brenda has quickly learned to use a SailRite sewing machine to repair everything from sails and helm covers, to our cockpit enclosure. My basic skills in fixing mechanical and electrical problems have been enhanced by investing time in watching technicians work on Pandion during our haul out last summer, and when we needed work done back on Marco Island.
Like all cruising couples, we have a working list of boat projects that gets attention when the weather is not suitable for doing other fun things like snorkeling, diving, fishing, kayaking, or exploring new places with Newt (our dinghy). Yes, Bri and Keely..."she turned me into a newt!"
 |
| View of North Bimini from top of mast. |
 |
| Looking down at Brenda on Pandion from the top of the mast. You can see our solar panels from here. |
That’s quite a view Gary! Hope you don’t have to make that trip too many more times! - Curt
ReplyDelete