Preparations are coming along toward a 3-day sea trial starting this Friday, May 7. The plan is JD, my sailing partner from Beaufort, SC to Bermuda and Bermuda to Nova Scotia will drive from Athens, GA to Beaufort on Thursday evening. We'll turn loose the dock lines around noon on Friday and sail up to Charleston, arriving Saturday in time for lunch and a walk around. Then we'll depart Charleston and spend Saturday night at sea, returning to Beaufort Sunday evening.
Right now, the weather looks fine although we could have a thunderstorm on Saturday. We'll deal with it just as we would at sea.
JD will be bringing all of his gear, though we might not take it all on the trial. The goal is to go through what his has and identify anything else that is needed. Synthetics are key to avoiding mildew and allow for quick drying.
The last items for the boat were installed yesterday. The main item was an extension of the keel to overlap the bottom of the rudder. This is intended to keep crab and lobster trap lines and fishing nets and other debris from getting tangled between the keel and the rudder.
Last night I made a plexiglass companionway cover that we'll use at sea in the rain. This will allow us to be able to read the instruments that are on the swinging panel in the companionway from the cockpit while keeping the rain out of the cabin.
The boat has been compounded and waxed and looks good. It is raining today, and the boat is suspended on the launching machine while the keel extension sets up. Tomorrow (Wednesday) we plan to step the mast and install the radar and wind generator and test the electrical system, then launch on the high tide in the afternoon. Thursday, my rigger (Greg Pittrizzi) and I will take her out to synchronize the systems, set the wind gauge compass, and ensure that the various systems are talking to each other in a coordinated way. We'll also test the charging systems.
Other things that are still on the list of "To Do's" today are I need to scrub out and sanitize the water tank and its pipes and then fill it. Also, on the inside, I need to check out the stove and install the holders for the propane portable heater. Additionally, I'll be installing a system of nylon straps to keep our gear and the sail inventory from sliding around while we are at sea. These are among today's tasks.
