Catching Up on Boat Chores

Just so you don't think we've only been playing and have forgotten our boat chores, I thought I'd catch you up a bit. The list, though manageable, changes daily with what we can manage to fix versus what breaks. The list is, of course, always longer than the time available or allotted.  

As you'll remember, when we were leaving Kettering, a minor accident knocked out the deck washdown faucet leaving a hole on the foredeck where the faucet should be. David has re-installed the faucet and repaired the deck area. While rooting around in the chain locker, however, he found that the chain pipe needs replacing … a job that will wait for Adelaide. The head problem which occurred on the same day as the faucet decapitation, was a minor adjustment and all is well in that department … thank goodness, we hate head problems (on the boat or on the body).

The new outboard engine has been broken in. David wants a new cover for it to protect it from the UV and salt. We had one for the old engine, but he's looking for a new design that incorporates a lifting harness, so that the cover can remain in place all the time.

He's made a pattern and I've gotten as far as pinning and cutting it out. It's on the to-do list for when we have power to run the sewing machine. I'll do a “how-to” blog in the future on constructing the outboard cover. It looks like it'll be a clever, convenient design and pretty easy to sew.

Jacklines had been removed when we left Cups last winter and now they've been re-installed. We make these ourselves out of webbing and buckles purchased from Sailrite. We replace them about every two years and use the old jacklines as hoists for homemade courtesy flags as well as retaining straps for on-deck fuel jugs. David also replaced the lanyards on the lifeline gate pelican hooks which were worn and frayed.

David's been working on some dinghy repairs. The velcro straps which hold the oars in place have failed. How does velcro fail, you ask? It doesn't adhere to itself any more. How does this happen? UV, salt water? We have no idea. We just know the velcro's not working any more and it's a pain. It's not easy to resew new strips of velcro on because they're attached to Hypalon rubber straps which cannot be removed. He's working on installing some twist-locks which we hope will do the trick. There's also a pesky leak in the dinghy which he's trying to track down. It's small, but bothersome.

The last batch of beer has aged its two weeks and we've begun drinking it. After all those chores, we needed some refreshment.

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Days and Ways to Celebrate

A daily list of mostly obscure holidays and fun ways to celebrate them.

Puzzle Day

Crossword, jigsaw, logic, mathematical, Sudoku, anagrams, word searches, ciphers, Rubik's cube...Pick your favorite and have a go

Up Tasmania's East Coast

 

The 40 mile passage to Maria Island was cold and raw, but benign. It's easy to forget it's summer here since the temps remain cool for the most part. We left Port Arthur and headed down the bay just after dawn. We could see the Tasman Island Lighthouse perched atop the ragged cliffs of the island far above us. Built in 1906, Tasman Island Light sits solitary, ~900' (278m) above the sea, making it one of the highest lighthouses in Australia. The southwest swell kicked up the sea and we had a washing machine of a ride until we rounded Tasman Island and then set our sails and headed north. The following seas and southerly winds worked in our favor for a quick ride up the coast.

Rafts of sooty shearwaters floated in our path and took off in unison as we approached. Prions hovered over the waves and a shy albatross circled above them looking for breakfast. Dolphins made a quick appearance as did sea lions, but they disappeared too quickly for photos. We spotted smoke intermittently on the treed hills ashore; the bushfires remain unchecked in some areas.

Had the day been clear, we could have spotted Maria Island much sooner, but with the smoky haze still clouding the air, we didn't spot it until we were about 15 miles away. This mountainous little island has served as a penal colony, a limestone quarry and farmland and it's now a National Park in its entirety and we were headed there for some hiking. Mount Maria at 2,333' (711m) dominates the view.

We anchored on the island's west coast in Chinaman's Bay, popular with cruisers for its comfortably shallow anchorage, white sand beaches and access to bushwalks. Unfortunately, by the time we anchored the wind was blowing near 30 kts which made the task of launching the dinghy more like flying a kite. We decided to wait. The forecast called for more of the same for the next three days, but backing to west and southwest. After a fairly calm night, the wind increased again by early morning and we opted to head across the Mercury Passage to the little town of Triabunna. Maria Island would have to wait.

Only 12 miles from anchorage to anchorage, this short trip was the stuff dreams are made of. We were close-hauled, wind 40º off the nose, but we managed to slip along in 20-25 knot winds up and across the Mercury Passage. Once in the lee of the mainland, the seas calmed and the wind clocked just enough to allow a smooth, easy passage to the anchorage in Spring Bay. We could see the entrance to the long, well-marked channel into town, but once again the shallow channel depths kept us anchored in the bay.

Changes of plan are typical for cruisers and the norm for us, in particular. You have to go with the wind and the tides and the currents … and your whims. The winds were in charge this day. We'll see what there is to see and do in Triabunna and wait for an opportunity to visit Maria Island when the winds are more cooperative.

By the way, for anyone interested in seeing Yanks try Vegemite for the first time, be sure to check the blog on Australia Day (January 26th) as we open our virgin jar and give this iconic Australian concoction a go.

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Days and Ways to Celebrate

A daily list of mostly obscure holidays and fun ways to celebrate them.

Polka Dot Day

Yes, wear polka dots today...a tie, a blouse, a skirt. Boxer shorts count if you're willing to show that you're wearing them.

Slaying Dragons

“Do one thing everyday that scares you” said Eleanor Roosevelt. I'm not quite sure I agree. I need a break every once in awhile from things that scare me, but maybe once a week would be okay. Really what she means is to keep yourself challenged, not necessarily with life-threatening activities, just traveling into new and uncharted territory once in awhile. Don't be afraid to try new things.

Old nautical charts frequently used the expression “Here Be Dragons” for uncharted, unknown territories. When we first moved aboard, everything was new and uncharted … our lifestyle, the boat, living on the water instead of land. Heck, even the terminology was different. It wasn't the toilet any more; it was the head. Dreaming the dream of heading off into the sunset on a sailboat is one thing, but actually doing it ... well, that was downright daunting.

Enter the dragons. We define dragons as anything that causes angst. Fears and anticipation that get your heart pounding, adrenaline pumping and/or stomach churning. There were dragons lurking about the first time we took our new boat out into the Gulf of Mexico; the first time we were out of sight of land; the first time anchoring; the first time waiting for a bridge to open; the first overnight passage which included our first overnight watches alone. It was a world of firsts. Each day was a new dragon to face, a fear to overcome, a dragon to slay.

Dragons come in all sizes and shapes. It doesn't have to be a heart pounding experience. I'm not a seamstress, so when we determined in Ecuador that the cost of replacing the dodger and bimini was too expensive, we decided that I'd make new ones. The dread was palpable. I'd never done this type of a major sewing project before. What if I screwed it up? What if I wrecked all that expensive fabric? What if I failed? Take a deep breath. Think it through. Do some research. Talk out the plan with David. Start the project … then just a little further. Not right? Tear it out and do it again. Be patient. Just a little further. We ended up with a new dodger, bimini, sail cover, winch covers, hatch covers and more. Because once you slay a dragon, you get a new burst of energy and confidence.

Have we had any heart pounding experiences? Oh, sure. I can't imagine anyone living on a boat crossing an ocean that hasn't had at least one or two hairy times. Squalls come up unexpectedly and the first few times, you wonder what the hell you're doing out in this miserable weather with waves breaking over the bow. We've hit rocks and reefs, dragged at anchor, almost had a dragging ship hit us at anchor. The good thing about experiences like this is that they teach you.

We've been told “Oh, you're so brave. I could never do what you're doing.” Wrong! You could, if you wanted to. It might not be your cup of tea, but you could do it. I firmly believe, you can do most anything you want, if you want it enough and are willing to slay a few dragons along the way. Give it try. Do something that scares you today. Slay a dragon.

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Days and Ways to Celebrate

We tend to think of dragons as vicious, cruel and heinous. For many Eastern cultures, the dragon is a symbol of wisdom, power, and luck. In the Chinese culture, they're even portrayed as benevolent and kind. Not quite ready to slay one? How about creating a virtual one to take care of?