30 May 2021 | Sawmill Point Marina, Wilmington NC, USA
24 May 2021 | Wilmington Marine Center, USA
23 February 2021 | Cape Fear Yachts
20 December 2020 | Cape Fear Yachts
11 December 2020 | Cape Fear Yachts
09 September 2020 | Wilmington Port, USA
09 September 2020 | Wilmington Port, USA
05 February 2017 | Pte Miri Miri, Raiatea, French Polynesia
05 February 2017 | Raiatea Lagoon, French Polynesia
05 February 2017 | South end of Raiatea
01 February 2017 | Baie Vaiaeho, Raiatea, French Polynesia
01 February 2017 | Baie Vaiaeho, Raiatea, French Polynesia
31 January 2017 | West Side of Raiatea
31 January 2017 | West Side of Raiatea, French Polynesia
31 January 2017 | West side of Raiatea
30 January 2017 | Marina Apooiti, Raiatea, French Polynesia
30 January 2017 | Marina Apooiti, Raiatea, French Polynesia
28 January 2017 | Marina Apooiti, Raiatea, French Polynesia
27 January 2017 | Marina Apooiti, Raiatea, French Polynesia
Up the mast
02 December 2012 | Prickly Bay, Grenada
On a boat it is good to have dual purposes for everything.... So up the mast I went. The main objective was to change out the block (pulley) that carries the Halyard (line that pulls the sail up the mast) for the Spinnaker. This was one of the only blocks on the boat that we had not changed yet since we bought the boat. The old one was showing some wear and as we are now turning down wind, I want to have confidence that the block will not blow apart...
The other purpose of the climb was to make sure we had a secure way of going up the mast while at sea. Since we are in prickly bay... there is a good swell rolling in so the boat is rolling and this would simulate a gentle swell at sea. We tried several configurations and ended up with a static line run up tight to the mast with two climbing ascenders, one connected to a climbing harness and the other to some loops for my feet. Up I go like an inch worm, standing on my feet and pushing my body up... then sitting in the climbing harness and pulling my feet up. Repeat... tight to the mast, I could grip the mast with my feet and grab on to the mast or shrouds to keep my self from swinging as the mast swung back and forth.
I hope I never have to do it at sea... and I think we have a system that gives enough control.