Dowkers - First time in 2014

I worked Wednesday with Norm and Friday with Chris to get the boat ready.  Got the new i70 installed.  Removed the ST 60 boat speed display and installed the new SeaTalk NG network.

On Friday Maurice changed the upper rudder bushing.  Steering was much tighter. Vibration was still there.

Friday I worked on getting the boat ready until 1AM, skipping supper.  I got up Saturday morning to go to Boathouse sale.

Met Daniele at the boathouse and we went to Amir for lunch.  Big Lunch. Next time skip the platter.

We cleaned the boat and set off. Norm invited us to join them for supper.

We sailed to Dowkers and we were both tired.  So we anchored and napped on the foredeck.

Norm picked us up about 6 and we BBQ steaks and Portobello muchrooms.  I bought a bad bottle of Kirkland Shiraz.  Norm had backups.

Came back to Bellum about 9 and "slept until 10 the next morning.  Missed my breakfast since I started colonoscopy protocol at 10 AM.

We sailed back to the gut, turned around, sailed a bit more and then went back to the club and changed the hinges on the starboard lazerette.  Quite a bit of work.  Daniele left and I replaced the auto bilge switch.

Weekend - boat maintaince

Maurice came to look at the vibration issue.

He thinks the problem is with the upper rudder post bushing which is wearing.  He will machine a new bushing.

Rewired much of the boat.  Replumbed the boat.  Saturday and Sunday.

Work done:

New sink in head

New faucets in head and galley

Rewired DC Panel, epoxy board behind panel

Fixed all mast and navigation lights

Bilge blower to be done

Fixed V-berth hatch so it does not fall over and tiewrap the rod so cover does not fall back.

New AC Panel

New Outlet in galley

new fresh water system and accumulator tank and stainless steel braided hoses to water pumps

LED lights in cabin

plugged shower oulet so bilge water does not return to bilge

Adjusted winch feeder arms inboard

replaced bilge pump sensor

new hinges on starboard lazerette

Sailing with Claude

 

I took the day off work to go sailing with Claude.

Weather looked great.  Light winds going up to gusts of 20 in the evening.

Met Claude at noon.  I surprised him with the new boat.

We motored to the channel, started very slowly and as forecasted, winds picked up nicely.

Nice sailing, two loops around the lake.and returned to the club at 5







I got on Naomi for the last Wednesday night race.  A group of four were looking for crew, but they were just a few minutes too late for Bellum and Naomi had 3.

McAuslan Cup and Party

Daniele were going to go to Dowkers Friday night, but a squall came in as we were preparing our departure.  We decided to put on our bathing suit and started washing the boat.

Boomer's headsail was flapping in the wind.  We called Carson and helped him and Marie re-furl the head sail.  It was a rocky night at dock.






Norm got caught in traffic and we got to a late start. Well, almost late.

As we go to the course, the No.1 looked right.

We got our head sail up and stopped the motor as we were looking for the start line. We crossed the line starboard at the pin at the same time as Wulru V.  They were port, but they were heading for the mark and we had to tack to head for the mark. But considering our unprepariness, it was pretty good.


We came in 11 out of 17.

Good party at the club. Free Beer !

Wednesday Race - Last again

Chris and I came to the club. I knew Jose was not available so Jimmy was short handed and winds looked strong when I cycled to the club.

I was with Jimmy when Alain could not make it because he was caught in traffic.  Chris was talking to Audrey and invited her to sail with us.

We decided to take Bellum out.

Course was basically one long sausage. Winds were 12 knots and went down to 8 knots.  No puffs or knocks.

Good start, but we did not tack and got knocked down when everyone eventually tacked.

We tacked too early at the windward and had to go off course.  We kept the speed up and then used momentum to get around the mark.  We were in last place.

Most of the boats ran spinnakers so we fell further behind.  Opened some beer and wine.



Wine got spilled in cockpit on an attempted gybe.

Chris, Jimmy and I went off site for supper at  Grill Barroso Rest on St. Joseph. Chris had lamb chops, I had liver and Jimmy had the Octopus.

Labour Day sailing with Daniele

Sunday was windless and a little rainy.  I was working on my RDL file.

Monday Daniele picked me up at the office and we drove to the club.  Left the harbour and tacked up the channel, doing many tacks near the Gut. 

Sailed passed AD22 when the wind died and we drifted back.  I went for a swim and then motored back.

Back at the club I swapped the shower pump with the fresh water pump and got the water system limping to let us have running water.

Simply a pleasant day.