Launching Hi5

Every year it takes us longer: Launching Hi5 in May 2012 - finally. Hi5 got new Lexan Windows, all leaks fixed, anti-fouling paint re-newed, waxed, polished, cleaned ... everything now ship shape.

Leaving the Great White North ...

... to experience the "summer" in the Great White South. You may come with us by clicking here.

Hi5 will stay at home, our vicious guard dog Teenie will be on duty!

Something new: Walk around the boat on the trailer.

The end of summer ...

... and the animals waved good-bye.

Every year the same hope: Maybe the summer lasts longer this time. Nope. It is great to live in the Pacific Northwest, but the end of summer comes early and predictably. What's left: begging for a few sunny days in October. After that, it's game over - until late spring next year.

Sunny regatta and cruising

... the first and last of this year.

500 years of boating technology

... it was unfair: they came with guns and cannons ...

More on raising the mast

This seems to be a matter of great concern to most f-boat sailors - and it should be. However, the risk of any accident or failure during this operation is greatly reduced by simply doing it twice at the same time. One needs to rig two independent sets of lines and blocks and use two winches to lift the mast. I have done this with together with a friend and alone. Operating two self-tailing winches allows for this operation to be done without blood, sweat, or tears. Have a look at the sequence of events here. We are using inexpensive blocks (no snap-shackles, though) and genoa and spinnaker sheets.

There is no need for analysis of forces in the lines or on the blocks. It has been tried and tested many times. The magic word for success and safety is: redundancy.

When we are not sailing ...

... then we are working or travelling. This time we went up NORTH, just before the snow was about to come. Hi5 was still in the marina, see him shivering HERE.
It is nice to live in the Pacific Northwest. The sailing waters are just unreal: deep fjords, secluded anchorages, open regatta areas, moderate climate, the Strait of Georgia and Puget Sound - protected from the open ocean, and very safe environment with friendly people. O.k. then there is the rain, and sometime cold rain, and sometimes heavy rain ... and a winter season. However, this is only a question of proper clothing.

And warm clothing was required for the another adventure. Some time ago we went to the REAL NORTH 1. That was a trip! In order to show the magic and mystery we needed two more video clips: REAL NORTH 2 and REAL NORTH 3. The Canadian Arctic is just beautiful, enchanting, wild, ...