SAIL INSTALLATION 101

NOVEMBER 8, 2013

LIVING AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW

Back in Grenada 6 days & we are getting back to normal.  Today was the day for putting the sails back up.  Before we left town everything that created excess windage, was taken off the boat.  If a bad storm had blown in while we were gone, the less on deck the better.  Now putting everything back is a chore.

 Early this morning a squall blew through with 48 knot winds.  First really hard blow we have had since arriving in Grenada. It did not last long & soon the sun was out.

Rod started with the main & we climbed up on the hardtop.  It's been more than 2 years since we have done this chore, seems like a long time ago.  The trick was feed the batten cars & slides into the track on the main mast, while we hoisted the sail.  Then feed the slugs on the foot of the sail into the boom.   Once they were all in & the sail was up, next came inserting the battens.  After all was in place then let it down to fold into the stack pack.  All went well smoothly & the view from the hard top was great.


NICE & NEAT

Glenn wants to know the good and the bad experiences, so here is a real truth.  Next came the jib.

While I fed the luff cord into the roller furler Rod was raising the sail, we had it all the way up before we realized it was upside down.  It did look kind of  funny with the clew up at the spreaders.  OK, I guess that's why they mark the head of the sail.  We lowered it quickly, taking the luff cord out & started over, didn't want our neighbors to comment. 

By early afternoon all sails are in place.  Life is good once more on It's Perfect.  Another squall blew through in the late afternoon & brought nice cool air with it.  The 30 knot breeze was in the high 70's instead of the 80's.  Nice way to end the day.