Crossing the Threshold

La Vida Dulce was launched in Gratitude at 1335 on 05-12-2010.  I think this calls for a celebration!

Just prior to launching the topsides were compounded and waxed and the mast boot, swim ladder and mast stanchions were installed.  Requiring a dude being sent up the mast in a bosun's chair, the wind speed transducer and windex were also installed.  The windex is a simple lightweight instrument that shows wind direction relative to the boat and is mounted at the top of the mast so you can see it easily from the helm.  It's basically a wind vane like you would see on a barn except it doesn't have a rooster on it. 

While the dude in the chair was up the mast he ran a line for the spinnaker halyard which I had forgotten to put on while the mast was down.  Insert sheepish grin.  The spinnaker is a lightweight sail of humongous proportions that is flown in light winds at the forward (pointy) end of the boat.  I've never used one but I've heard they can be kinda finicky.  I've been eyeballing a similar sail that's more of a combination of a spinnaker and a genoa (an over-sized jib), called a gennaker (or maybe itsa spinnoa).  It's supposed to be easier to handle which is appealing to a couple of goofs like us.  We'll see how the boat handles in light winds this Summer before any decisions are made.  I'd like to be able to sail the boat in all conditions and avoid running the engine as much as possible.  The sails we have now are the stock set from the factory; mainsail, staysail and genoa.  It may be that these are too heavy and we need a gennaker to make headway in light air.  Another item for the list.

One thing I forgot to mention in the entry from last weekend was that I painted the prop with an anti-fouling paint called Propspeed.  This is a two step paint that gets brushed on and looks like runny mustard which is pretty disappointing after seeing all that beautiful polished bronze.  The first step is a catalyzed etch primer which is then followed by a silicone based topcoat.  It's rediculously expensive, $230 for a pint, but I wanted to give it a try.  If the prop gets barnacles and crud on it then you get cavitation resulting in loss of speed.  This stuff is supposed to be the only thing out there that really works.  I'm really big on keeping the bottom of the boat clean so we'll see how this does.

Tonight I pick up Cheri at the airport at 2030 which should get us to Rock Hall around 2330.  That's early by our standards but doesn't allow for much sleep.  Tomorrow (Friday) we'll get together with John Hellwege and go over all the systems on the boat and then take her out for a sail.  I've already got that tight feeling in the pit of my stomach and with every hour it just gets stronger.  Part of that is anticipation of Cheri coming home after being gone for over a week but I gotta admit that part of it is also about the boat.  Almost everything during the last 8 months has been about getting the boat ready.  Starting right now it transitions over to living the dream.  Yikes!