The Mast is Stepped

Tuesday 4^th March 2025

0000 hrs

Lat: 50° 24.04' N   Long: 004° 16.92' W
Trellugan Boatyard, Cornwall

With the boat being booked for launch on the 5^th of March I was down at the yard for a few days before making sure the engine ran and to clean the worst of the green algae that covered the decks.

On starting the engine we discovered that the work done on the water pump, replacing one of the lip seals had not fixed the problem, but was liveable with on the short journey down to the mooring. I also discovered where the fuel leak was!  Again liveable with for the trip to the mooring, but will need fixed before we take the boat to sea.

Given the dreich winter we have had the yard was bathed in warm sunshine and lots of people were down and preparing hulls to be antifouled and it was good to wander about the yard chatting to people and hearing of their plans for the summer. 

The mast waiting to be stepped

The yard had two jobs to do, step the mast and moved Aphrodite to the top of the slope to the river in readyness to be launched just before high water. 

Just after lunch the team arrived and I let them get on with it.  The last thing they wanted was an owner looking on while they carefully lifted the mast and positioned it on the deck.  From afar I watched the process and once they had the mast up spoke to Dan to make final adjustments to the halyard catcher so the tension was correct.

1600  hrs

The yard tractor, with launch cradle lumbered into sight and I wander off to chat with another owner. 

It took some time of toing and froing to get the cradle in the correct position, I was beginning to think that Aphrodite had taken root, as there was an awkward angle between a couple of boats that had to be negotiated.

Toing and Froing

Eventually, I heard the clatter of props falling and knew that the boat was on the cradle.  Now just the need to reverse the process, all done quietly without any panic.  Aphrodite was then moved to the top of the slope down to the river ready for launching just before High Water.  The ladder onto the boat was at the top of quite a long slope and I needed to be careful not to fall off!

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The Mast is Un-Stepped

Saturday 22^nd February 2025

Finally, after weeks of dreich, windy weather with a named storm thrown into the mix, Éowyn was particularly wild, the yard were able to get the mast unstepped from the deck.

I arrived down at the yard to see the mast off the boat and looking rather green with alge. The first job was to find a bucket, hot water and a brush and start the job of cleaning the muck off. Surprizing how long that took, but very pleasing when I finished.

The next job was to sort out the halyards, knowing I had already caused one mousing line to fall down the mast did complicate the job. Just a matter of working out how to use the existing halyard to pull a new mousing line through then use that to thread the genoa halyard through.

A mousing line was attached to the bottom of the main halyard and then drawn up the mast. The next challenge was to pull the thin mousing line out of the gap beneath the sheaves then thread the halyard round the sheave, attach it to the mousing line, feed all of the lines back into the mast and pull gently.

Flushed with success I proceed to the topping lift only to lose that line and had to repeat the 'rescue' process again! I have replaced the topping lift with a second 10mm halyard as this gives me a spare should there ever be a problem with the main halyard.

With all of the halyards safely back on the mast it was time to move to the radar reflector and attach a couple of lines from the cap shroud round the reflector then off to the other side. This is to stop any halyard from being trapped behind the reflector. Something that has happened a couple of times and is a pain in the derriere to fix at sea.

I hope all my measuring works out, but if necessary can always go up the mast and tweak it when afloat - not that I enjoy going aloft!

The final job was to sort out the deck light. Having found out what make of lamp fitting it was I ordered a lamp from Boatlamps that had arrived on the day before I down. It fitted, but was not getting any power. Time to strip the fitting and find out what was going on with 40 year old wiring. As a result I've chopped the wiring and am re soldering the connections to make it easier to fix in the future.

Flag halyards replaced as they were getting rather sun damaged and breaking up.

Just the lazy jacks to sort out.

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Updated: 24/02/2025

Heat for Old Bones

Sunday 15^th December 2024

Adding a Heater

I've finally got round to getting a Chinese Diesel Heater for the boat and some bits and bobs so it can be plumbed in to a boat. Having got all the stuff, have it laid out in the cabin ready for several holes to be drilled in the boat for exhaust output and hot air ducting into the cabin.

Once I work out where exactly in the cockpit locker it is going, I need to route the diesel from the tank and the electrics from the house battery and switch in the cabin so I can start drilling.

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Updated: 15/12/2024

Winters Work - A Moveable Feast

Sunday 24^th November 2025

A post that will move in time over the winter as I record the jobs I need to do and when I have done them.

The Mast

There are a number of jobs that I need to do on the mast. Having discussed them with the yard I've decided to have it unstepped, do the work at ground level, then get it stepped again. I can then work at my own pace and ensure that the work is done to my satisfaction.

I no longer have a head for working at height.

The Windex

The windex has a habit of 'helicoptering' on certain points of sail, it whizzes round and round, as the masthead lights give an odd airflow. Which while not critical is a mild source of both amusement and irritation.

Either I need to raise the pointer higher on the antenna or get a new bracket to move the entire antenna above the level of the lamps.

Radar Reflector

On several occasions I've had halyards get trapped behind the radar reflector, easy to do it you are single handed and not controlling tension on the line, but a real pain in the butt to get the line back to its correct place.

My cunning plan is to run a line from the port shroud round the front radar reflector, perhaps with a clove hitch round the reflector, and connect it to the starboard shroud. The idea being the halyard cannot get behind the reflector.

Lazy Jack Connectors

Currently the lazy jacks run about three quarters up the mast, go through a block that is connected to the mast via a couple of D connectors that are pop riveted on. As a result I consider the slot that the sail falls into when lowering to high and narrow.

Planning remove the D connectors and blocks from the mast and have the lazy jacks over the spreaders, perhaps in plastic tubing to prevent chafe.

Mousing Lines

I've lost one of my mousing lines!

This needs replacing. I suspect that I'll just get all the halyards in place with the mast down.

Sail Track Clean

In my ownership I've not cleaned the sail track, just added more and more silcone lubricant. Now it the time to give the track a good clean.

Steaming/Deck Lights

The bulb of the steaming light is unknown and the deck lamp is missing.

Need to record the steaming light and sort out a deck light.

Replace the Topping Lift

The topping lift is of unknown age. I've decided to replace it with a second 10mm line that I can use as a spare main halyard.

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Updated: 04/12/2024

OYT: Trip 46 of 2024 - Day 1

Sunday 22^nd September 2024

0830 hrs

I climbed on board the train for the journey east to Southampton for the last trip of 2024 on Prolific. As ever the rain was hammering down, that is sailing in late September and early October for you. Part of my journey was to be by a rail replacement bus, a first for me.

At Gillingham in Dorset we de-trained and headed for the buses to take us to Salisbury, all quite painless if a tad damp. The unexpected drive through parts of the country I'd not seen before was enjoyable, but the grey sky dampen the mood.

While waiting at Salisbury for the connection to Southampton I spotted a couple with luggage who were clearly going on a cruise and we joked about the weather that we might encounter. They off to the Mediterranean and me round the Solent.

With the bus arriving to collect us outside the station we all clambered on and found a seat. Beside me was a retired Australian General Practitioner who was doing some travelling after a life of looking after patients. We chatted in detail about how the UK and Australia dealt, or did not deal, with the COVID pandemic.

1330 hrs

The bus deposited us outside Southampton Central railway station and headed off to its final destination. I then headed down to Ocean Village to await Prolific arrive from one of her short day sails and set up the camera to take some pictures of her arriving at her berth.

Prolific heading towards Ocean Village.

1600 hrs

Once Prolific had tied up alongside I made my way down to the boat to join her. The crew would be arriving tomorrow.

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Crew: Constantinos, Lauren, Glyn, Cathy, Lima, Rose and Sandy.

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Sunrise: 0552 hrs Sunset: 1802 hrs

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Weather: Forecast valid from: 01:00 (UTC+1) on Sun 22 Sep 2024 until 01:00 (UTC+1) on Mon 23 Sep 2024

Dover, Wight

Variable becoming east or southeast, then veering southwest later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in Wight. Smooth or slight. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor.

© Met Office Synoptic Chart 22/09/2024

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