Koeketiene on Tour

Well, here we are then... the night before. The boat's shipshape, shore support in place and briefed, communications finally sorted, as for the skipper ... I am not so sure.

I haven't been myself these last few days. To say I've been a bundle of...

It's been a while since my last update. Not because nothing's happened - quite on the contrary. I've just been too busy to update the blog.
High time to try and make amends.

I am very pleased and relieved to report that Carly (the Pacific...

Quick update of what's been going on these last few months/weeks.

Weather-wise, we've not had a 'good' Winter. Last year, I could count on at least on or two days sailing every week. This Winter, I was lucky to take the boat out 2-3 times a...

Another area of high pressure.
Little or no wind - again.
Wind too fickle to risk setting the kite.
Better safe than sorry and opted for some drifting with sails up and a second attempt at some drone shots of the boat under sail.

Light winds (10-12kts) were forecast. Seemed like a good day to take the boat out and try to obtains some droneshots of Koeketiene under sail.

Things got to be fun, interesting and scary all within a matter of minutes.

First of...

Cold doesn't begin to describe it.
Seven layers of clothing and I only just managed to keep warm.
Exposed fingertips turned red almost instantly and blue soon after.
Wind all over the place (direction and strength).

Taking a...

I probably should have stayed at home with a good book.

Still, “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.”

Better I find out how the boat behaves in 30kts + close to my home port rather than in the middle of Biscay.

Last week I received two quotes from the rigger: one to overhaul my existing furler (would need to be sent back to Germany) or to replace it with a new ProFurl Cruising 350.

The cost of refitting/overhauling my Reckmann furler amounted to about...

Quick update:
The rigger has been and gone.
The news is not good.

First surprise of the morning: the forestay is not wire but rod rigging. Age unknown, but it would be safe to assume it’s as old as the furling gear -> 2001.

At first I believed it was just a matter of a couple of riding turns in the furling drum. Opened the thing up, got rid of the riding turns and tried to unfurl/furl the jib.
No improvement whatsoever. The jib still got 'stuck' halfway - at which point I...