Tonight: enter all key phone numbers I haven't entered yet into sat phone. Express 27 sailor/medical doc friend was kind enough to give me his number if I need medical advice (this is considered OK, and is one of the exception to the 'no outside assistance' rule) - of course, most minor stuff I can deal with, with the help of the little manual I am bringing with me and which I have already read and mostly forgot or by reading the instructions on medication.
I am also doing a routing every day to get used to it (I still hate Expedition...) and I check weather info 2 or 3 times a day and start thinking about my strategy. The High seems to be becoming this weird oblong blub that extends super east...but too far out to really use that information. Not very reliable (just like the shift I waited for during my entire qualifier and that never came)
I borrowed the charts I didn't have, and they came with a nice watertight casing. I will add the charts I want to take (including Monterey, LA, etc...), places where you don't want to end up at, but if you have to, and your GPS craps out on you, good to have. Mostly I don't use paper charts, I use boat and hand held GPS
Tuesday 24 June - last projects:
- get new license plate for the trailer (the old one got stolen in Serge's truck)
- finalizing backup ram for autopilot (x5 wand borrowed from Brian) - Brian
- protect backstay (with a 'stop') so that the backstay cannot be released too much by accident, protects the rig. (Jason)
- reinforce aft cleat if I want to use it for a drogue (then led to winches)
- install 20W panel / connectors
- go through the deck and tighten every single screw (vibrations tend to unscrew things...so it is good to start with them being all tight, then every day you tend to walk around the deck and see if anything gets loose. If it is a bit rough, ok to do every couple of days. Usually, a lot of things caught early are easy to fix, and caught late a long and slow process...
- one shopping item at REI: a personal stove to heat up water quickly. It seems to work faster that my gimble stove (better for soups, pasta, etc...) and that little thing could be used in the cockpit or companionway if weather permits. Sounds like a great little thing to have around coupled with a thermos bottle to keep that tea hot all night.
- Also buy spare gas for gimble stove
- Also physical therapy for the shoulder
Wednesday 25 June - start loading up:
- Buy spare batteries
- Final survey of the keel (Captain Rick)
- Hoist Trysail and check everything cool there
- Hoist storm jib and check everything cool there
- try drogue / para anchor set up and check everything cool there
- Attach pennant line to tack of twin sail (to avoid chafing against pullpit, advice I got from Skip)
- Set up boat with
- Spare lines
- Storm sails
- Spinnaker net
- personal safety gear
- Night time set up (mats, sleeping bag, cushions)
- cooking utensils including gimble stove
- tools and spares (including charged up drill and drill bits)
- Enter some waypoints into hand held GPS
somewhere between 26th and 27th of June, there is a trailer delivery to Matson Oakland...
Thursday 26 June - splash boat and take her to CYC
- Pick up last pharmacy items (some periodic medications can only be picked up a few days before end of month)
- Splash the boat
- Install the dodger
- Set up external halyard (so I don't have to go aloft while at sea if I need it...not just a matter of comfort but a matter of speed...if you are using a halyard, a sail is not
- Rig up 'steering' line around the boat for a just in case scenario. Not connected to tiller
- Rig up second downhaul for twin sail (not connected, just try it out and make sure I have enough line for it, and see how I will lead it back)
- Set up radar reflector up in the rig
- Set up bilge pump handle
- Bring sails
- Pick up liferaft (Nathan)
- Set up main and one head sail
- Sail the boat over to CYC by 6pm - flake the main around the boom and leave the lines in place
- Order Commanders routing #1 (it is allowed to get this information before the race)
- Pizza in the evening with the group apparently
- Provisioning (Nathan's help)
- Charge up all electronics
Friday 27 June - load up final items
- Order Commanders routing #2
- Skipper's Meeting
- Aloha Lunch
- Divvy up the food into the right buckets
- Load up food and water
- Load up floating hospital (that would be my first aid kit)
- Set up spinnaker lines and pole
- Load up liferaft
- Bring up entertainment and comfort stuff
- Bring all electronics/comms devices
- Bring all navigation aids
- Bring grab bag
- General safety items (heaving line, fire extinguishers, etc...)
- Say good bye to the kitties
- Set up cameras, etc...
Saturday 28 June:
- Get weather information one last time through WiFi
- Do final routing morning of
- Take personal gear to boat including toiletry
- Choose headsail for start and first phase of race based on most current conditions
- Hoist main and sail out of the harbor - this seems to be the only way Elise can leave the dock
- Check in with race committee
- Start
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