Some further thoughts and highlights of the trip up here. First of all, we were in full foul weather gear for the entire trip. Boots, bibs or overalls, and jackets. Add on PFDs--inflatable life vests and a safety harness to clip onto the boat and you have our appearance. Add on a watch cap--like a ski cap only less fashionable and your done. Relatively warm and dry. Under it was fleece jackets or vests and that added an extra layer.
We had installed "jack lines" on Zephyr. This is a long piece of nylon webbing that stretches from the bow to the stern. If you left the cockpit--which Tracy did to retie the sail ties as one had come loose--you hitched your safety tether to it. It's attached to your life vest. We had hitched it to the anchor rollers on the bow and to the stern pulpit with separate attachments at the lower shrouds--wires that hold up the mast. You could leave the cockpit and go anywhere on deck with a relative degree of safety. If you slipped, you wouldn't fall overboard. At least in theory.
We stored flares and emergency equipment(vhf radio) in the cockpit just in case of trouble. If something had happened, we were relatively set. Add in some snacks--virtually not eaten, thank you sea sickness--yuck!!
According to our GPS, out trip was 300 miles long--10 more than the trip down the coast last September. It took 53.3 hours with an average speed of 5.6 knots. The trip down was at 6.5 but that was with no wind or waves. Out top speed was 211.4 knots per hour!!!! Scottie, this is Captain Kirk, I need warp speed. We're not sure where it got that speed but hey, we know electronic gadgets never lie do they?
Once we settled in and paid our fees here, we started cleaning. Salt water had gotten in and needed to be cleaned up. It never dries and can make the floors very slippery. We washed and dried as much as we could. I stripped the bed in the master stateroom since Shadow had spent his time there. He was to scared to go forward. After that long, he just couldn't hold it any longer. Need I say more? The linens needed cleaning. A trip to the local laundry room and we were good as new--sort of. The blanket had to be hand washed--electric don't you see. I like a nice warm bed to climb into. Tracy , not so much. We hand washed the mattress pad since we didn't think the laundry could handle it. After it was washed and laid out to dry, the seagulls took aim for it and scored a bulls eye. I took it to the laundry later last night since I found that they did have a large washer and drier. Unfortunately, there was a propane leak and they had closed them and evacuated the tenants of the building where the laundry was. I took it over this morning and got it all cleaned. Boy, who thought seagulls could be such good dive bombers?
This afternoon, back under the stern berth to take apart the steering assembly and redo it. Cleaned the shims--they had dropped down onto the top of the rudder post and were grinding somewhat into the top of the rudder post when the wheel was turned. That was what was causing the binding as the wheel was turning. I installed the shims and tightened the nuts. With my socket set this time so I could get a better bite on the nuts and really cinch them down. They aren't going any where.
Tracy washed down the deck after her nap. Like I said--recovery mode day. The salt water had to be washed off all the deck hardware or it will quickly corrode and gum up the hardware. The ball bearings don't take well to that stuff. Windows also need cleaning as again, the salt water doesn't dry.
We checked the batteries to make sure there was still lots of water in them and the charge level was good. The starboard set of two had been giving me false readings. One minute the gauge said 11.4 and the next, 12.95. Makes no sense. I think the sensing unit and regulator is going bad. It would explain why the previous set of batteries and charger got fried. When I tested them with my meter, they came back at 12.90.
We called the boat yard that is set to work on Zephyr and let them know our schedule. We should be there some time Friday. That's when the real fun begins. Installation of new toys--a SSB radio(like a short wave radio) and modem so we can make long distance radio calls and send and receive email and weather faxes(if you believe weather people). Plus all the electrical circuits will be inspected and revamped as needed. They are going to get up close and personal with our bank accounts!!!
Our rigger is still in Hawaii. I figure he will be back in about another week. Starting with the boatyard, if special parts need to be ordered, there will be ample time to get them in. Brion Toss, our rigger has everything he needs in his shop. As with any boat, there is no way that any boat yard will have everything it needs to complete a job. Somethings will need to be ordered. Plus, Zephyr will need to be hauled out so the radios grounding plate can be installed in the hull under the boat. Not sure why but it does --at least the "professionals"say so. While she is out, several thru hull fittings will be replaced--they leak--not much, but any is too much on a boat.
There were lots of other small things that got done--engine oil, transmission fluid, alternator belts, screws, nuts, bolts all over the boat were checked. We even reprogrammed one of the VHF radios so it will stop scanning and the battery will last longer.
We plan on being out by 7:30 tomorrow morning for the sail up the straits. At least we are going to try and sail her. Would be nice for a change. Hey, she is a "SAIL"boat after all. Would be nice to see some of that canvas flying over her.
Last nights post was a biggy. I finished at 1am this morning so if I screwed up spelling, names, grammar, hey what the heck. Tracy went in this morning and cleaned it up for me. I just spill my guts every night, she cleans them up the next day.
If I have internet tomorrow, I post again. Port Angeles is not quite the social hub of the known world. We were there last year on the way out. One night was plenty for what we could see.
Tomorrow, the adventure continues.
1 comment:
Sounds like a really nasty lesson on rough ocean sailing!! Good thing you didn't have a video from the outside to see how you hit that 211 knots!!! So glad you are safe and sound, and all cats are still aboard.
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