Several years ago I learned about a race called the Bermuda 1-2. Race single handed from Newport to Bermuda, then race back to Newport double handed. For some reason this kept nagging at me and when we were looking for a boat of our own I wanted one that would be able to go offshore safely. Fast forward to 2014 and having raced to Bermuda several times, once double handed, I decided it was time to go solo.
Last September I went outside the Bay and did my 100 mile/24 hour qualifying sail figuring I better get that out of the way before I invested a lot of time and money in prepping the boat. Thus started a 9 month project of research, buying stuff, emailing and organizing to be able to race starting June 5, 2015
Another wicked cold, icy, snowy winter put the kibosh on doing any kind of work on the boat until about March, hence the title of this post. Following is a list of most, but not all that has been done this spring.
Starting last fall at the Annapolis Boat show I bought an EPIRB; the boat show price with rebates was only about $75 more than what it would have cost me to rent and pay overnight shipping fees for the time period I needed it; a no-brainer decision. I also bought some Navisafe back-up LED nav lights. Excellent product!
Then in October I ordered new sails from Chesapeake Sailmaker in Annapolis as well as had then make up some canvas work for the boat. (roll up cloth doors so I could take the teak doors of the head and V-berth, lee cloth for sleeping in the main cabin settee, and weather cloths for the cockpit with my race number.
After the rig was pulled and the boat shrink wrapped for the winter (highly recommend this as it keeps the snow off, as well as leaves and debris!) the rigger came and did an inspection and came up with an action plan for the spring.
I helped keep the economy rolling w/ multiple purchases from various marine chandlers especially DEFENDER.
I then:
Removed the old POS traveler, installed the new Lewmar traveler
Removed the end caps from the boom and found some corrosion as well as the fact that two of the bolt holes were completely torn out of the end of the boom from a crash jibe the previous owner had. That necessitated having the rigger cut 1/2" off the forward end of the boom and me drilling new holes to attached the end fitting.
Replaced the VHF cable.... more on THAT later. Replaced the VHF antenna!
Replaced the steaming/deck light that was wonky and the deck light never worked.
Replaced the wonky stern light with an LED light. Another job that got bigger and bigger. Also resulted in the only piece of varnished teak on the exterior of the boat!
Having previously replaced most of the running rigging over the past 2 years I replaced the reefing lines, vang sheet and furling line.
Installed the new VHF radio w/ AIS and internal GPS that I bought last year but hadn't installed.(also, more on that later!)
Bought an ATN Galesail Storm Jib from Bacon Sails in Annapolis and had the sailmaker add an International Orange patch to the all white sail.
Went back to Bacon's and bought a "chicken chute", a flat cut 1.5 oz. spinnaker that's a little smaller than normal for use in higher wind conditions in case I get ballsy.
Also found a great waterproof bag at Bacon's to use as an Abandon Ship bag. Or hopefully to NEVER use.
New blocks for the base of the mast to lead lines aft.
Lots of AMSTEEL on sale at APS to make soft shackles of various sizes
A new PLASTIMO MOB module (inflatable pole w/ light and safety gear you throw over the side if someone falls overboard.) Again, hopefully to NEVER use.
A new DSC enabled handheld VHF.
Fabricated a G10 wedge to hold the batteries in place
Bought 4 new double clutches and 2 single clutches to replace the 10 single clutches on my cabin top.
Bought a "Q" flag and a Bermuda courtesy flag.
Registered with Customs and Border Patrol and got the sticker so I can clear back into the US easier.
Reserved a liferaft
Reserved a Satphone
Borrowed a whole flare/smoke bomb kit from my buddy George along w/ some other goodies
All of this obviously took lots of time to research, buy, take to the boat and install.
So that leads us to mid May. And a rotating list of NUMBER 1 PROBLEMS. This is not good because we're leaving for Newport RI in less than a week. I need to get the boat there, come home and work a week before going back to Newport for the race inspection and pre race stuff.
NUMBER ONE PROBLEM (Part one) The VHF doesn't work. Okay, must be one of the crimp on connectors I put on. Nope, they all test fine. But why do I receive weather stations, but can't hear or talk? Ask my dock mate Scott. We put our heads together and figure out it MUST be the connector up at the antenna. Up the mast I got with Carol grinding the winch to raise me 50' in the air. Seems all right but I remake it to be certain. Try out the emergency antenna and it works so the radio isn't the problem. More muddling about. Get another buddy to crank me up the mast. Finally call in a pro. Decide to pull the cable and solder a connector on. UP the mast I go. I pull about 2' of the cable out of the mast and go AWWWW $&*@&^%$(*#&$^! We're leaving in LESS than a week!
Seems that back in January when I pulled the new cable while the mast was on the rack I used the existing cable, taped the new cable to the end and pulled it through. Then, because it was winter and nasty I left just a little bit of the OLD cable sticking out of the top of the mast and the NEW cable still taped to it INSIDE the mast so it wouldn't be out in the icy, snowy, wintry crap for 2 months without a connector. Then in March when I got some connectors and the guys in the yard told me what to do, I went back to install them and walked up, crimped the connector on the cable at the top of the mast, plugged it in and was done. NOT! Never did pull the short piece of cable out and get to the NEW cable... ugh.
NUMBER 1 PROBLEM (part two)
This past Wednesday I went back to the boat (3 time in 6 days) and went out for a solo sail in gusty wind to try out some gear. Had a blast then went back to the dock to pick up crew for the weekly race. Wind was mid teens so we were seeing high teens Apparent Wind Speed going upwind. On a starboard tack I happen to look down and see a crack about a millimeter wide at the aft end of the turning block that WASN'T THERE BEFORE! When we tacked it closed up and just the usual gelcoat crazing was present. Tacked back and it opened up again. #$)%&*)$%T*)$(*%!
So first thing Thursday morning I go find JB, the yard manager and tell him what's going on. He sends his fiberglass guru, Josh down to take a look but tells me I have to do the prep work b/c they're behind schedule. So 31 years after I swore I'd never grind fiberglass again... I'm grinding the gelcoat off and prepping it for glass work. Things are progressing quickly and it doesn't appear the glass is cracked. This will be an easy fix and will be done in a couple of days. We're still leaving in LESS than a week!
NUMBER 1 PROBLEM (part three)
The sailmaker still hasn't delivered my new mainsail. The new jib looks and sails great. I see him at the marina this morning and ask if he has my new main. It's supposed to ship TUESDAY from S. Africa. TUESDAY!!!! I was supposed to have it a month ago. ARRRGHHHHHHH!
Here are a few pics...
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| The new traveler. |
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| Removing the old clutches. |
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| The new clutches in place! |
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| Nice corrosion and torn out hole... The rigger lopped off that much of the boom. |
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| My G10 block to lock the battery in place. |
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| My new "chicken" chute. |
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| Storm Jib. Actually works really well in about 20 knots AWS. Hopefully I won't have to have it live up to its name! |
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| Gelcoat ground off. No cracks in the glass thankfully. |
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| I then used some Vinylester putty to fair out the pad and soften the transition to the deck to eliminate stress cracks. |
