March 16, 2014 - exciting news...going racing!!

Well, it looks like we are going racing again! Hank as enter us in the Southern Straits 2014 Race.

Starts on April 18, 2014 and finishes on April 20, 2014. Hank has enter us in the short race circuit, as my handicap rating is too high to enter the medium or long course. We did this course last year... took just under 24 hours.

Short Course

     (Distance approximately 53NM)
     Start Line Dundarave Pier (West Vancouver),
     to Entrance Island (leave to Port),
     to Halibut Bank (leave to Starboard),
     to Point Atkinson (Finish)

We will have a seasoned sailing crew:

 Al Rothenbush, Vernon Pahl, Graham ? and Hank as my skipper.
 All crew have sailing vessels of their own, who have sailed in all  sorts of weather... the good, bad and ugly... so I feel confident I will be in good hands. :)

Right now, I am still in my winter attire, so Hank will have to reinstall my sailing gear. In addition,  Hank as lot of other preparations to do... getting me race ready...

Check list:

1. Get my certification of insurance (this year we are using "Navis insurance company")
2. Get my 2014 PHRF BC handicap certification.
3. Need a completed crew list prior to April 17, 2014
4. Re-install all my safety gear and check all expiry dates, i.e. flares, fire extinguishers, etc.
5. Hank to arrange for my haul-out to clean my bottom... hopefully with a repaint as well.
6. Safety orientation and practice drills
7. Shake down cruise.

If anyone is interested you can access the race webpage to read all about the race....

http://www.wvyc.ca/default.aspx?p=DynamicModule&pageid=374919&ssid=298666&vnf=1

Below is my updated Safety Schematic.

February 27, 2014 - Throttle cable repaired!

It has been some time now... just sitting here at the docks waiting for Hank's to return to fix my throttle cable.

As always on a boat, a simple fix takes lots of time. First finding the right cable clamp to fit over the cable (a trip to the local marine hardware store), another person to help (Richard Grass), and the right tools to install.

One person to install the clamp (Richard) and the other (Hank) to "play" with my throttle control lever. Trying to install a cable clamp with only one hand (no room for the other), was a bit tricky and time consuming... but they got the job done.

They were going to use lock nuts, but the nuts were the wrong thread count, so they had to use lock-tight... hopefully this will work and keep the clamp from coming lose.

Once installed, Hank started my motor and checked out the control... all works just right!

Well that was about it... nothing else to say, except I need to get out for a sail! Dam weather!

Till then

Tarka out.