More prepping of the boat

The last big projects before it is all sailing sailing sailing sailing...

and more sailing

that is, only when I am not sailing

 

Big solar panel install. With this puppy and the fuel cell, power will not be a problem.

Learning from the master, Jim, winner of the last edition of the race. Focus on electrical so you are able to run your autopilot 24/7 if you want to. Just drive for a few minutes here and then when you want to have fun.

Chances are, the AP and you trimming the sails is the fastest way to go.

I have focused on electrical, which for a small boat that won't be running a diesel engine in idle a couple of hours a day means powerful solar and alternative source of power 'just in case' for the night.

 

Making sure the most important piece of equipment is on board. The bottle opener for the wine.

 

Serge's lunch. Spaghetti anchor wires.

 

My breakfast this weekend. Thanks Serge!

 

The spaghetti as they are being cooked

 

Spaghetti nicely lined up with the meat

 

Gordie building the mount for the solar panel. Off the stern and out of the way.

 

Gordie and Jason working on the solar panel mount. These two guys are so talented...

 Jason working on the solar panel mount

 

More electrical work! Just the final touches.

 

Peter putting the final touches on the electrical set up, and correcting a small error on the wiring of the 2nd battery gauge (which is why it was showing as not charging)

 

Cleats for the fine tuning set up ok. Should also work if the angle is slanted down (in the evening I want to reconnect to the bottom of the cockpit)

 

And a nicer attach point for the sheet bags - these are helping me keep the cockpit nice and clean on long distance races. It is safer. If you are on the same tack for hours, you don't want your lazy sheet to be all over the cockpit...you can just stuff it in a bag.

 

The big heavy anchor and 200 feet of chain!

 

Working on the final touches for the fuel cell wiring. 

 

New strap for the horseshoe and second car for the spinnaker track so that I can easily fly the twin sail.

The emergency rudder is ready and Gordie was looking at how to fit it using the existing mount (it's got a friggin' big backing plate on the other side, you can race this thing to death even in 'spare' mode)

I think that she is pretty much ready to go!