https://youtu.be/D1xmXn7gLVg?si=zZqLdzsgP3biCNFY

This week we've done a few things aside from reading and socializing in the hot tub. Among the tasks we made the weekly strip to the grocery store for provisions on the complementary mini bus the resort operates. We've been to the store 4 times now and it is always well stocked and clean with a good section of products. One of the things we did need is Quaker Oats oatmeal, which comes in a large round container (think of a fat Pringles chips can). But, buyer beware as they also sell Quaker Oats grits in the same sized container with the same company logo in some stores down here. Not sure what grits are like as We have never tried them so we need to be careful not to load up on them by accident as they could be gag-worthy!

https://youtu.be/pWC0sKCS5oA?si=eSmZ8INC8y4itEYr

Sam also did a couple of loads of laundry while I did boat projects. There are 3 laundry rooms each with 2 sets of washers and dryers in varying states of repair. The unwritten etiquette of laundry facilities is, at least the ones we've visited over the years, is you don't leave stuff in the machines after they are done as other people may be waiting. Well, there were 2 loads left in 2 machines that had apparently been there for quite some time so Sam unloaded them onto the table, Turns out these were loads for 2 separate guests staying in the apartments here that were being done by the staff here. When the tardy staff found the loads on the table the great Dirty Laundry Conspiracy Inquiry of 2024 was launched. Investigations continue to track down the perpetrators!

Meanwhile, back on Amaruq, I installed a selector switch on the shore power battery charger so I can switch between the starter battery and house battery when we are plugged into 110 volt ac. This allows me to direct the charge current to either battery by rotating the switch vs. reiring the charger as it can't charge both battery banks at the same time. The solar panels do a decent job of recharging the house battery bank each day as long as we have a few good hours of sunlight. With our Starlink running for 16 hours a day and 2-3 hours of TV time, both running off the house bank, the system is just keeping up with the daily power demands. When he system was originally designed and installed it was sized for the power requirements without these 2 add ons so when we get cloudy weather our solar regeneration sometimes doesn't keep up with the demand.

We also took down our genoa sail and did a few minor repairs on the sunbrella UV protective strip that runs down the leach of the sail. With the sail rolled up around the furler and forestay the sunbrella is the only thing that is exposed and protects the sailcloth from UV damage. Ours had a few wear points on it so we applied some repair tape and ran it through Lynn's Sailrite sewing machine.

The 3rd boat project was making a boom brake , which is a device that slows the movement of the boom from 1 side of the boat to the other in accidental gybe situations. An accidental gybe occurs when you are sailing downwind with the boom pushed out to the side as far as possible to catch the wind. Sometimes however, a gust of wind can catch the sail on the other side due to change in wind direction, sideways pitching of the boat due to wave action or inattentive helm control resulting in the boom arcing across the boat to the other side with great force and speed. If you're lucky, nothing bad happens but if someone is in its path, severe injuries are possible and it could result in damage to your rig and/or sail.

This situation can be avoided or controlled by use of a preventor line running from the outer end of the boom to a point at the bow and back to the cockpit which won't allow the boom to swing over very far. We use 1 of these when we sail down wind in stronger winds. This other device that will help with this is a boom brake, which is attached to the boom and provides a fair amount of friction that slows the boom down in its journey across the boat in the event of an accidental gibe. Commercial brakes are available with several different designs with very high prices. My solution was based on people who have done DIY solutions utilizing various designs of rock climbing devices called rescue 8's. These are rated for several thousand pounds of force as they are used for rescuers to descend ropes in rescue situations.

This clip shows the violent motion of an uncontrolled, accidental gybe.

https://youtu.be/eQDt1Xk74Mk?si=Q50aX5jAVz-f3tns

This clip shows a preventor in action (it's the device with the yellow rope in this video clip)
https://youtu.be/y8D89wiRxpQ?si=VD4NGf4Ql2qsFUF8

Today's photo is a shot of the type of rescue 8 I used for our boom brake. You can see it is rated for 30,000 lbs of tensile strength so it should help to control the energy of a rapidly moving boom.