Bristol-Blue Lake Michigan Sailing Adventures

Today was a big day down at the boat.  Finally the sun is out and it is warming up.  Myles helped by pulling all the dryer sheets out of the cabin.  Wow Gain Apple Mango Tango dryer sheets have a strong odor.  Will be leaving the hatch open for a while to air it out in there.   While he was in the cabin I started sorting out rigging and reattached the spreaders. I remove these during the winter so they don't get bent.   In the process I stabbed myself pretty good with a cotter pin so I even had to find the first aid kit. Which led to a little organizing in the cabin.  While there I figured may as well look at the flares.  Time to replace the handhelds.  Myles had a good time testing the air horn. Next it was time to put the mast up and tune it in. Then I got photo Bombed. Finally the New Genoa got fitted.  

Time for the cover to come off.  Today we pulled the tarps, hopefully we are done with this snow stuff. Myles came down and helped.  6 year olds are cool.  He helped untie lines and load the support structures back into the car.  He even pulled the little tarp off the bow.   I was able to get in and open up the cabin.  I stored the cushions and sail aboard this winter.  I've never done this before but we were in the process of moving.  Everything was dry and in good shape and smelled like dryer sheets, which I had thrown down all over the inside of the boat to ward off animals.  Our total work time was about and hour before kiddo got too cold and we headed home for some grilled cheese and peep soup.  The boat looks good overall, a bit dusty and grimy but nothing a little soap and water followed up with by some wax won't fix. The smell of Dryer Sheets Pulling the last tarp off. Out of Chicken Noodle Soup.  How about Coco Peep Soup

After a week of nearly 60 degree weather the plan for today was to go pull the cover off Kraken Up.  Then Mother Nature gave us a curve ball.  35 knot winds with one and a half inches of snow.  So instead of removing the cover we just brushed the snow of again.  Hopefully it will warm back up this week. 

Time for the hand sewing.  This is the stitch by stitch stuff that adds real strength to the pressure points on the sail.  For this, sailrite has sent along wax coated Dacron thread and a sail makers needle.  The needle is like a tiny bayonet.  Three sides and super sharp, poking yourself and you're sure to bleed a bit. I use a few other tools when doing this. One of them, is my trusty sewing awl.  This is a must have in my opinion.  I'm sure you could get by with a regular awl, but this thing makes punching through finishing leather, nylon strapping and six layers of Dacron a bit easier.   I didn't bend the needle,  it came curved.  I suspect this little curve adds some strength or at least takes direct pressure off the shaft of the needle as you jam it into something hard. This is a thick brass thimble.  Last sail I made I punched right through a little tin one and into my hand. I'm not making that mistake again.  Most of the time I actually sti