| Day 844 Converted Jib and Little Things |
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| Friday, 14 August 2009 | |
 Day 844 - August 14, 2009 Winds S, 10 knots, Course NW, Speed 1.6 knots, Position 48*14n by 15*08w Converted Jib and Little Things After many modifications we have the roller furling jib converted to a hank-on sail and flying. She sets fairly well under the circumstances. First of all, the repaired bowsprit is too short and does not move the sail far enough out for a good balance for the schooner. I still feel lucky that it is just enough to work well. Because the sails are too close together there is drag in the airflow between them and this shows up in a rippling along the bottom edge of the sail. The back edge, or leech of the sail has had two complete blowouts. After the process of making those repairs of the stretched and shredded material, the back edge is not a perfect flat wing. The true test of the ability of the sail will come when the wind gets strong. I took down the roller furling unit and its headstay and now there is more room for the sail to blow through when we tack. I still have to go forward, stand on the very bow and pull the sail through to get it to the other side. I am happy it is working. Now I have the old working jib spread out in the sail temple and am making a variety of repairs and putting some new hanks on. Today I lowered some sail and we are back in our sacred side slipping mode. Years ago a part of me said I'll sail around the world three times. Another part of me said look here now, see that. I began more and more to follow the voice that felt true to me. One was a voice in me coming from a materialistic society that made me feel I must do things to conform. Another voice said to be true to yourself. Go into the unknown. Create action that throws a new light of love on your life. Though I felt that this is not what society expected or wanted me to do, I stalled the schooner into the wind and gazed down into the blue and then I looked around and felt overwhelmed with love. Remembering that "out of sight of land" seamanship comes first, I turned to my work and loved the work and rearranged our satellite tracking antenna so it was in a safer position. I washed the salt crust off of the solar panels, so more energy would come in. I sewed more chaffing gear on the big main boom preventer and contemplated how eternity lay hidden and existed in all these little things. |
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