Current Position: 28 47.476’S 32 04.958’E; Timezone: UTC+2; SOG: 0; COG: N/A; TWS: ?; TWD: ?; Distance to Waypoint (Richards Bay): in a slip at ZYC; Total Miles Sailed: 15574 nm; Engine Hours: 314; Estimate Fuel: 60+15+50;
Comments: Tomorrow after the winds are going to settle down. That will be a good time to raise the mainsail and measure for the reefing line. In the morning I will fabricate the pendants that I will use to secure the reefing points to the boom. My Makita drill burned out yesterday, so I will be searching for a replacement. I was told Bolt Centre had good prices and it is near the Standard Bank, which I need to revisit. I woke up at 5:00, right at sunrise. It blew hard all night but is the wind is relatively light now, but gusting periodically. It is grey and cloudy, typical weather after a southern front. There was a 7’ tide last night. I was told by my neighbor that several of the boats were grounded and heeled over. The mast of one of the sailboats was practically tangled in the rigging of their neighbor. After my tea, I started my day by organizing and cleaning the cabin, which was an absolute disaster after getting into almost every storage locker for parts and tools. I made quite a bit of progress organizing the cabin, then did two loads of laundry (including the small pillows, which were filthy), the ran errands (hardware store, bank and grocery stores). I have practically given up trying to get into my SA bank account. I spent another hour in the bank and got nowhere. When I got back to the boat, the wind was billowing 12 and gusting 18. The leech of the sail was pointed directly into the wind and I quickly raised it to measure the second reading line. It is 12’ when fully cinched and about 41’ when the sail is fully deployed. I should get 60’ of rope (18m). I made two soft shackles out of Dyneema that were covered with Kevlar tubing (firehose) and attached them to the two grommets of the first and second reefing points. I replaced the second reefing line with 65’ of 8mm (an extra 20’ or so) should I need to cut some off later. I am now going to make a short piece of 10mm double braid that will be looped around the boom and clipped into the soft shackle. After relaxing the reefing line, I shouldn’t have a chafing problem anymore. I noticed when I was taking the mainsail down that one of the baton pockets that I resewed in Tahiti is in need of a minor repair. I will stitch it by hand tomorrow. I was invited to a celebration at the ZYC at 19:00 and was presented a bottle of champagne, something they do every Wednesday for all visitors.
Comments: Tomorrow after the winds are going to settle down. That will be a good time to raise the mainsail and measure for the reefing line. In the morning I will fabricate the pendants that I will use to secure the reefing points to the boom. My Makita drill burned out yesterday, so I will be searching for a replacement. I was told Bolt Centre had good prices and it is near the Standard Bank, which I need to revisit. I woke up at 5:00, right at sunrise. It blew hard all night but is the wind is relatively light now, but gusting periodically. It is grey and cloudy, typical weather after a southern front. There was a 7’ tide last night. I was told by my neighbor that several of the boats were grounded and heeled over. The mast of one of the sailboats was practically tangled in the rigging of their neighbor. After my tea, I started my day by organizing and cleaning the cabin, which was an absolute disaster after getting into almost every storage locker for parts and tools. I made quite a bit of progress organizing the cabin, then did two loads of laundry (including the small pillows, which were filthy), the ran errands (hardware store, bank and grocery stores). I have practically given up trying to get into my SA bank account. I spent another hour in the bank and got nowhere. When I got back to the boat, the wind was billowing 12 and gusting 18. The leech of the sail was pointed directly into the wind and I quickly raised it to measure the second reading line. It is 12’ when fully cinched and about 41’ when the sail is fully deployed. I should get 60’ of rope (18m). I made two soft shackles out of Dyneema that were covered with Kevlar tubing (firehose) and attached them to the two grommets of the first and second reefing points. I replaced the second reefing line with 65’ of 8mm (an extra 20’ or so) should I need to cut some off later. I am now going to make a short piece of 10mm double braid that will be looped around the boom and clipped into the soft shackle. After relaxing the reefing line, I shouldn’t have a chafing problem anymore. I noticed when I was taking the mainsail down that one of the baton pockets that I resewed in Tahiti is in need of a minor repair. I will stitch it by hand tomorrow. I was invited to a celebration at the ZYC at 19:00 and was presented a bottle of champagne, something they do every Wednesday for all visitors.