Saturday, July 30, 2011

Sailboat Once Again

Chipman Point, VT
43 47.97 N 073 22.55 W

Libby is smiling.  Tarwathie is a sailboat once again.  See the picture.  I'm smiling too, but my wallet isn't.

We got the job done just in time.  A front passed, and NOAA was warning about severe thunderstorms (don't they always?)   Anyhow, it made me nervous.   Strong winds coming along at the delicate moments as we raised the mast would be very dangerous.

This time we completed the process almost without mishap.  Almost?  I lost a clevis pin overboard.  First time ever for that mistake.  I do have spares on board.    Also, something broke and fell in the water from the top end of the mast.  I heard the splash.  However, as far as I can see, nothing is missing.  The Windex, anemometer, VHF antenna, static dissipator and anchor light are all there.  (It's crowded up there.)

By the way, the final vote on the mast up poll was 30 for Libby and only 2 for me.  Thank you the 2.  I note though that even those 2 votes didn't appear until after I whined that the captain gets no respect.  Thanks again the 2.   For the 30, what is the emoticon for sticking one's tongue out?

There is a sailboat named Grace here.  The locals say that Grace spent several weeks in Boot Key Harbor, Marathon last winter.   I recall hearing a Vermont boat check in on the Cruisers Net.  I meant to seek out those people and to introduce myself, but I never did.  Too bad.

By the way, re my thinner wallet.  Chip is the guy at Chipman point who runs the place.  I learned from Chip that Point Bay Marina charges 3 times as much to raise the mast and that Shelburne Shipyard charges 5 times as much.    Ouch!


The above sign was seen in Whitehall, NY.  Considering the recent flooding, it should be revised to say No Snowmobiles or Sailboats ...

2 comments:

  1. You might consider stepping or unstepping the mast at Lock 12 Marina in Whitehall. I stepped Hotspur's(33' Hallberg Rassey) mast there and I found them to be quick and reasonable, although I don't recall what they charged. You'd become a sailboat a day quicker. Or a day later going the other way.

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  2. Sorry, I stopped there last year and asked if they could raise my mast. They looked at it and said, "Sorry, that's too big and heavy for us."

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