Opua: sailed
Opua: sailed
I just returned from shore, which this morning did not seem likely.
A huge low, said to be the biggest storm on the planet at present, the size of Australia or the United States, is passing south of the South Island, which is going to be battered for the next two or three days. The storm is going to drive the Roaring Forties up into the Tasman. Here in the far north of New Zealand, we are going to be on the fringe, but still have gale warnings, and have already had heavy rain beginning at 4:00 a.m, which continued until about noon. An unexpected break an hour later, caused me to decide to row in to shower and fill a jerry can with water. I treat the tanks with bleach and leave minimal water in them when I leave the boat, and when I return I like to empty them before refilling, so don’t have much water aboard.
The wind was not too strong and from the west, so I knew that once I was in, I’d have an easy row back out.
All went well and phase two of this storm hasn’t yet begun.
Between the passing of the last low yesterday morning and the approach of this one during the night, we had fine, clear weather, and I went sailing, if only for four hours.
I powered the first and last half hours, which was good for the engine. And sailed the rest under new 110% jib and mainsail in less than ten knots of wind. Made it out into the middle of the main part of the bay before turning back. Reached a maximum speed of 6.2 knots.
The new sail performed well enough in conditions for which it was not designed. I experimented with the lead. It will be an easy sail to over trim because it takes and holds a shape just from its own weight. it certainly is strong enough. Several seams are not triple, but quadruple stitched.
Assuming I don’t go back to a bigger jib, I could reduce the length of my genoa track by about half. I’m not going to, but I could.
Only overlapping the shrouds by 18” instead of 4 ½’, the sail is much easier to tack than the genoa.
After this brief trial, I’m happy with the sail. Also happy to have sailed.
The fine weather lasted long enough for a glass of wine on deck at sunset. Only the second time since I’ve returned that has been possible.
During the heavy rain this morning I studied leaks.
Before going sailing yesterday, I decided to check out my old MacBook, which I leave on board as back-up. I stow it in Carol’s clothes locker, the middle of three behind the port settee, because that is a dry locker. Or was.
When I opened it I found all her clothes on the upper shelf and the MacBook wet. The clothes on the lower shelf were dry. But I rowed everything ashore and washed and dried it. Except, of course, the MacBook.
Carol’s clothes have survived. The MacBook hasn’t.
I placed her clothes back in the locker in plastic bags.
I did not see water coming down the side of the cabin under the stanchion base this morning, so maybe I’ve already fixed it.
I did see a too steady stream of water coming down the bulkhead into the locker in the head. It does minimal harm there, but I can not see or figure out its source.
With our current forecast, I expect to have opportunity for further observation.
Thursday, September 16, 2010