I'm very happy to see the foredeck hardware back in place with a fresh coat of topside paint and the new mast slot collar in place. I've just got one coat of varnish on the slot cover and coamings. I'll look for the warm days and get in a couple of coats each week with some light sanding in between. Looks pretty good, doesn't it?
The first day of sailing is not too far away. Maybe next weekend, more likely the weekend after that. Thinking about first sails today I looked by through the log to remember the first day's sail from the past few years.
From the log, Sunday, March 13, 2011
"Spring arrived, unofficially, in the mid-Atlantic about 12:30 this afternoon when a warm gust of wind out of the west seemed to blow away the clouds and Spartina sailed comfortably downwind under a single reefed main. Blue skies and warm sunshine, plenty of wind. It was great."
Friday, March 19, 2010
"Wow, what a day on the water. Today was the perfect way to start the sailing season. Not a cloud in the sky, wind anywhere for 5 to 12 mph and 70 degrees. The photo above is from when the wind kicked up a bit, I was heeled over with the rail in the water. Just a great ride."
Saturday, March 7, 2009
"The first week in March and I'm out on the river. I made it out last year the second week of March, but it was cold and grey. Back then I had three shirts on plus my foul weather gear to stay warm. Today it was 70 degrees and blue skies. It felt great!"
I'll get a few more coats of varnish on Spartina this week, start moving all the gear back on the boat. As I put all of that "stuff" back on the boat - under the thwarts, under the bunk flats and beneath the foredeck - I will check and double check to make sure I am putting only what I need to be safe and comfortable on board. Extra gear seems to find a home somewhere on Spartina. Since the boat is empty now I'll make a point of leaving that extra gear at home.
Spring is certainly on the way. I'm hearing from a lot of friends about their sailing plans for the year. The Watertribe crowd is working around the clock. And across the Atlantic another Navigator is being readied for the season. Check out this post from my friend Steve's Navigator blog.
steve
She looks great, Steve. Maybe this will be the year to sail with you.....
ReplyDeletethat varnish work is superb
ReplyDeletenow I'm feeling ashamed - poor old arwen - she needs some TLC - hope you get out at the weekend steve
cheers steve
arwens meanderings
ps thanks for the blog mention too
Steve,
ReplyDeletephotographs can lie. Varnish work is not that great, but it does look decent in the photo.
Baydog,
It just may be the year.
steve
Yes it does look good!
ReplyDeleteWish my old gal looked so "Bristol."
I actually got out for a little sail today - we moved my boat from Deltaville Boatyard and sailed across the Piankatank River into Queens Creek, to the marina where I've been paying for an empty slip for the last year.
Took a total of about 2 hours. Very nice day today, although a few knots more wind would have been nice.
A buddy of mine came along to give me a hand with the trip - we're still shaking things down. We were discussing the many advantages, as we perceived them, of a smaller trailer-sailer. Not the least of which is the lack of need for a slip and the accompanying fees...