A kerfuffle on the high seas
Rhapsode
Wed 17 Nov 2010 13:13
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09 46 N 23 42 W
Sails and their accoutrements can be quite
cantakerous at times. Take yesterday, for example. Sailing Master
Michael decided we should hoist the mainsail. Quite a simple operation,
you'd say. Not a bit of it. It would go three quarters of the way up and then
refuse to go any further. We tugged, heaved, cursed, lowered, started all
over again and it still didn't want to cooperate. And in all this kerfuffle I
lost the end of the halyard and it flew up the mast as fast as you like (it
would, wouldn't it!?).
Michael went up after it and brought it back down
telling it to behave itself.
But still the sail wouldn't go all the way (No, it
wasn't made by Virgin Sails!!!). Then, quite suddenly, the fight went out
of it and it meekly submitted.
We normally reef down to the Genoa at night. Saves
a great deal of aggravation if a squall catches us and the watchkeeper has to
shout 'ALL HANDS ON DECK'.
This morning I went up on deck and and hoisted the
mainsail again. And discovered it's problem. A line through a small block
just catches as the mainsail reaches it.
Now we know. One less cantankerous way it has to
tease us.
The sky is overcast and there is rain in the air.
With luck we'll get a nice fresh water wash down before the day is through.
MIght even take advantage of it to rinse my salty shorts.
Happy sailing,
P, M & A
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