Dodger finished

Yesterday evening Tim and I spent an hour finishing off the dodger: Sewing in the clips for the cover for the plastipane. We particularly wanted to cover the plastipane as the Mediterranean sun really destroys it making it somewhat opache over time.

This morning very early (7:30) we went down to fit it. We're really pleased with the result. You can also see the lazy jacks we fitted over the weekend.

Lazy Jacks

The primary task today was to complete the lazy jacks for the main sail. We have been getting tired of trying to flake the sail when we drop it, and with the new bimini it got even more difficult - we had to close the bimini to flake the sail. OK, maybe it is lazy, but we believe the easy way is often the safer way.

So we went down at about 8:30 and I went up the main mast to fit two cheek blocks for the lines for the lazy jacks. The mast is aluminium, but even still drilling through and pop riveting the cheek blocks in place was hard work. I did a bit of drilling and took a pause and did a bit more and took a pause. Suddenly I realised why I needed to take pauses... each time I drilled I was holding my breath! You can only hold your breath so many times before you need a pause. Funny things we do when concentrating!

Anyway by mid-afternoon the lazy jack system was in place. The ropes are knotted rather than whipped at this stage. We had time for whipping the ends, but decided we would sail tomorrow and check that all the lengths are correct before whipping them.

Then we went back to Tim's flat and did some more sewing on the dodger. We managed to get the velcro edges round the window. That was a task and a half. We had fitted the plastipane window already and folded back the edge and used basting tape to hold in place and then more basting tape to hold the velcro in place... that makes 2 layers of Sunbrella, 2 layers of basting tape, 1 layer of plastipane and one layer of velco to sew through!

The dodger is now heavy and unwieldy, so there was me and Erika holding and guiding the dodger and Tim winding the handle of the sewing machine.  Dodger is not quite complete, but is another stage further on!

Playing boats?

5 nautical miles

Mobile phone rings at lunchtime...

'Are you playing boats this afternoon?'

It's Neil, a sailing friend who used to live here and now lives in the UK.

Our plan had been to do some work on the boat, maybe work on the lazy jacks... but... as we were walking along the quay to the mooring we realised the wind was perfect for a sail. So, changed plans immediately.

We only had a couple of hours before we would lose light so we quickly prepped the boat and were off. It was a lovely way to blow the cobwebs out after a weeks work.

As we were heading back and just getting ready for the marina, Neil's mobile rang... It was Paula, his wife... 'Can't speak now, we're just preparing to dock...' Now he'd already admitted that if we did sail while he was over here the rest of his family might turn green with envy, so what a time to call!

Great sail.

Making template for dodger

1 nautical miles

Two things for today - since we really did have no wind today - firstly to make the dodger template and secondly to try and find out how to steer King Malu backwards.

Coming out from the berth she swung clockwise again (if it were anti-clockwise this would not be such a problem in our current berth, but clockwise means we have to do a three point turn to get out). When we were in the anchoring area we tried reversing with rudder straight ahead and at other angles of steering. Whatever we did she turned clockwise. Our best idea about this is that the linkage on the outboard is slightly bent and the outboard not completely straight on to the boat. Another day we'll play with that.

We then made the template for the dodger. It will be more of a windscreen than a dodger, but will be helpful for night sailing and for inclement weather and protecting the instruments.

Gentle day sail

16 nautical miles

Watching the forecast we were not at all sure what the day would bring - gentle winds or none at all. If none at all then we would motor round to the anchoring area, swim and make the dodger template and do a few other jobs on the boat. As it was we had gentle wind of a steady 8-12 knots and we had a really nice sail out towards Cape Pila and back.

Ont thing that is puzzling is the reversing. Every time I reverse King Malu she swings clockwise. This time we found we had the boarding ladder down which was creating a drag and so that swung us round.

We put up the repaired genoa from the rips last weekend. Amongst other things we had tightened the leech rope and that meant the sail set better. Interesting these little things we are learning as we go.