Current Position: 10 25.727’S 105 40.010’E; Local Timezone: UTC+7; SOG: 0 kt; COG: N/A; TWS: 19 kt; TWD: 135; Distance to Waypoint (Christmas Island): At Anchor; Total Miles Sailed: 11071 nm; Engine Hours: 242; Estimate Fuel: 51+11+50;
Comments: I learned that the monthly supply ship arrived yesterday, the same day I did, so there is an unusually complete selection, particularly if fresh food. I examined the mainsail in the light of the day. It is worse than I thought. Almost all of the webbing that binds the slugs to the sail is failing. It is 1/2” tubular nylon webbing, which I do not have onboard. However, I have a lot of single-ply 1” nylon webbing, so my plan is to double it widthwise. This is going to be a big job, probably at least a day. The process involves sewing the webbing in a figure-eight stitch. I have not counted, but there must be at least 20. The main problem is that it is constantly blowing 15-25 kt. Handling the sail below deck would be a horror. It is a loose-footed sail, so my plan is to drop the sail pack on the starboard side, relax the back haul, slide the slugs out of the mast, leaving the clew attached to the boom, drag the luff into the cockpit where I can work on it, and last the rest of the sail to the starboard safety rail. This will keep the secured sail out of the way and let me work on it however long it takes. I will make a mockup for one, then mass produce the other pieces of webbing. I got the sail down, secured, and ready to work on it in the cockpit. Basically, all of the webbing was about to fail, so I will need to replace it all. I am starting tomorrow. I went to the visitors center and got information about laundry, shopping, etc. it is funny because the first thing a I was asked, for the second time today, was whether I had come in on the boat yesterday. I guess I gave that look now of having been on a boat for months rather that a plane for hours. I asked about a rental car and was told the same thing someone timed me yesterday … that they are booked months in advance. So I was surprised later in the conversation when the woman said to give her a minute and she would explore getting me a car. She came back a few minutes later and said she fad found me one and it would be here in an hour and that I could keep it until Friday. When the car was delivered, the person said there was a cancellation and I could keep the car until Monday. I’m not sure why, but I felt I was being given special consideration. I am excited about the prospect of exploring the island.
Comments: I learned that the monthly supply ship arrived yesterday, the same day I did, so there is an unusually complete selection, particularly if fresh food. I examined the mainsail in the light of the day. It is worse than I thought. Almost all of the webbing that binds the slugs to the sail is failing. It is 1/2” tubular nylon webbing, which I do not have onboard. However, I have a lot of single-ply 1” nylon webbing, so my plan is to double it widthwise. This is going to be a big job, probably at least a day. The process involves sewing the webbing in a figure-eight stitch. I have not counted, but there must be at least 20. The main problem is that it is constantly blowing 15-25 kt. Handling the sail below deck would be a horror. It is a loose-footed sail, so my plan is to drop the sail pack on the starboard side, relax the back haul, slide the slugs out of the mast, leaving the clew attached to the boom, drag the luff into the cockpit where I can work on it, and last the rest of the sail to the starboard safety rail. This will keep the secured sail out of the way and let me work on it however long it takes. I will make a mockup for one, then mass produce the other pieces of webbing. I got the sail down, secured, and ready to work on it in the cockpit. Basically, all of the webbing was about to fail, so I will need to replace it all. I am starting tomorrow. I went to the visitors center and got information about laundry, shopping, etc. it is funny because the first thing a I was asked, for the second time today, was whether I had come in on the boat yesterday. I guess I gave that look now of having been on a boat for months rather that a plane for hours. I asked about a rental car and was told the same thing someone timed me yesterday … that they are booked months in advance. So I was surprised later in the conversation when the woman said to give her a minute and she would explore getting me a car. She came back a few minutes later and said she fad found me one and it would be here in an hour and that I could keep it until Friday. When the car was delivered, the person said there was a cancellation and I could keep the car until Monday. I’m not sure why, but I felt I was being given special consideration. I am excited about the prospect of exploring the island.