Health Bulletin

Hello Beethovens!

It's been a long time since we've posted something on the blog but it doesn't mean that we have stayed idle! - And a HUGE thank you to Eric, Roger, Heather, Lynn, Jerry, Jason, Tom, Nathan and everyone who have helped these past few days!!

We have worked quite a bit to get Elise ready for offshore sailing and to make the trailer road-worthy again! Here's a quick recap:

1- Replaced navigation lights with LEDs. (they need less power!)
2- Replaced the leaking/malfunctioning battery
3- Installed a tricolor up the mast (LEDs) => we are hoping to make this removable so we don't carry this additional weight at the top of the mast for round the buoys racing
4- Fixed gel coat dent (after Delta Ditch Run), was superficial only
5- Install hull-through (deck-through) fitting for wires going to GPS antenna, SSB antenna, potential future loudspeakers, etc...
6- Picked position of SSB below deck and worked on mounting it
7- Purchased all required safety equipment BUT emergency rudder, additional offshore sails and spare pole. Life raft will be rented.
8- Added drogue + through-hull plug + mirror to every day safety kit on Elise
9- Varnished 2-part wooden companionway hatch board
10- Bought stove (need to install it)
11- Installed racing head (bucket...) which Roger made much more comfortable (foam rim)
12- Cleaned up bilge after some teak oil leak (Thank you Heather for providing the oil absorber!)
13- Tuned up rig (after rig was taken down) so purchased loos gauge for wire and rod
14- Purchased large(r) solar panel - will work for races such as Monterey and Coastal Cup. More power will be needed for the Pac Cup
15- fixed (again) masthead fly. The piece that I picked up just before the Delta Ditch Run and frantically tried to mount while we were sailing under spinnaker to the start line was defective!
16- Nathan donated to Elise a heavy offshore spinnaker!!!!! It's beautiful! - and it is a FRENCH FLAG!
17- Bought comprehensive chart book

On the trailer:
- Sandblasted trailer
- Primed and painted (very very blue...) trailer - needs a touch of paint underneath the frame still
- Welded new tubing to the trailer
- Bought new inner tubing on which to mount the pad
- Got new taillights

Elise is at the Richmond Yacht Club right now and the trailer is still in Roger's driveway!!!

We still need to do quite a bit of work but it is getting there!
- Halyards - we are still hopeful that we can fit those!
- Reefing line (need to run it once to make sure everything's OK and we are happy with the way we rig it)
- Replace companionway hatch board (plexiglas, completely watertight)
- Replace forward hatch (or at least the seal) since right now we tape it up when we go out to the Ocean, not a very long term solution :)
- Add cleat to foredeck to clip foreguy to - get a bigger foreguy for Ocean setting
- Install the rest of the electronics (including antennas): VHF, GPS, EPIRB
- Register boat EPIRB
- Replace traveller block
- Replace #3 "cruising" sail, the current one has been repaired but need to be retired!
- Add railing below so that crew always has a hand-hold when moving around the cabin
- Do woodwork again :)
- Long term power solution (fixed solar panels)
- Emergency rudder, spare pole, webbing, etc...

And we need to work on a refresher course for celestial navigation, find a first aid course, etc...

On the trailer front, we need to:
- Prime (primer donated by the shop who did the work) + paint bottom of the trailer
- Insert inner tubing + drill holes to maintain it in place
- Put pads back in place
- Add carpet to pads and central rest
- Wire brakes + taillights
- Buy new tires (or newer) and install

It will then be ready for a test drive!!! - and we now have a hitch just for Elise :)

The next event for Elise is the Nationals! It is a GREAT event and I encourage all of you to participate!! - and of course if you want any practice, take any course with us, or just go out for fun! etc...just let us know!