The riggers were here in full force. Brion Toss was up the mast threading new lines down the inside of the mast. We now have a new Main Halyard--raises the main sail on the boom plus a backup in case it breaks. A new Genoa Halyard-big sail at the bow- and a back up. A new halyard for the jibs--smaller sails that are set to rigging about 5 feet before you get to the bow. They are used primarily for really big winds when you don't want lots of sail up. For long distance cruisers( all in good time) it is a necessity. Plus a spinnaker halyard for that really BIG sail that always looks so pretty on boats--lots of colors. Ours is a rainbow design of colors.
He also ran the new "running backstays" that will control the mast bend when the jib is being used. It can put a big bend and strain on the mast unless the backstays hold it in place. Brion replaced a big wire that had been set up to do the same thing. This system allows us to better control the mast and the sails. They hook to the mast about 3/4 of the way up it--just under where the jib sail meets the mast when it is raised so that the mast can't bend.
Brion used the good old fashioned way of getting lines down inside the mast--lead fishing weights attached to a thin line that goes into the top of the mast and is fished out through slots in the mast near the deck. We have 6 slots on ours and used 5 of them to get the job done. We have lines going all over the place. I'll have to put labels on them for a while so I will know what goes where. They came by this morning and attached several new cleats to the mast so that the lines can be attached properly and don't stand out too far from the mast like it shows in the picture.
We have a new winch attached to the mast just under the boom. It is for hauling in the lines that will reef--make smaller--the main sail when winds get really out of control.
Lots of new toys for us to use and learn. Brion even set up the lines that control the boom (main sheets) in one big loop so that hauling in the lines and the boom will be much faster and much easier even in big winds. No reason to strain ones self when it is not necessary.
No Jack the electrician yesterday. Not sure why but he will show up in his own time. Some times it's better to just ride the wave than try and swim through it.
It was just to cold and damp to do my blog this morning so I waited till now to get it done. It's much warmer here in Safeway, plus I can get some shopping done.
Got to go, I have a workman at Zephyrs rudder post ripping out the stuffing so it can be repacked.
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