Project Day on Arctic Tern
08 January 2014 | Francis Bay, St. John, USVI
Devi
We are anchored in Francis Bay, in the US Virgin Islands. This is a great place to hang out during a windy period because the bay is sheltered from the swells and even if the wind is howling we are not uncomfortable. The problem of discomfort comes when the boat is not lined up with the wind or the swells (waves) and the boat rock side to side. I have digressed.
Several of our friends are also here in Francis Bay and between bouts of socializing we are all doing projects. We stand by on a little used radio frequency and communicate as needed. This morning Bill from Dulce Vita was talking to Lee on Allegro about an alternator belt and asked Lee if he had a 20 mm socket, later there was talk between Far Haven and Allegro about trading movies and later still about going snorkeling. Chuck from Tusen Takk II just called and asked for coax cable ends- Hunter had them. I really had to laugh because between the five boats we serve as a small chandlery shop for each other. It is a pleasant reminder of the value of community in the cruising world. Between all of us we have a huge collection of tools, supplies and experience.
Today Hunter is replacing the starboard strips (Starboard is a heavy plastic that is UV resistant and very strong) that protect the bowsprit from anchor chain. He has to custom make each strip, which involves using a jig saw and making millions of little black curly specks of plastic in the cockpit. Of course I am called upon to hold the board while Hunter makes the cuts. By the end of the day the project will be completed and the black curls of plastic will be vacuumed up and the boat will be ready for a new project tomorrow.