Preparations for the LongPac

[Philpott]

Tom Boussie has loaned me his never used storm sail. It is so clean and crispy. Not easy to attach. Easy to raise because it's very tiny.

It got several comments on E Dock: "Love the color!", "What the hell?" and "Hardly seems worth the time, can't you just roll in your jib?"

I was careful not to step on it or drop it in the water, and I hope my crew doesn't have to go up there in a gale. hehehe.

 

[BobJ]

From Psychology Today:

"So what does the color mean?

Black: People who choose black as their favorite color are often artistic and sensitive. While these people aren't introverts, they are careful with the details of their lives and do not share easily with others.

White: People who like white are often organized and logical and don't have a great deal of clutter in their lives.

Red: Those who love red live life to the fullest and are tenacious and determined in their endeavors.

Blue: If blue is your favorite color you love harmony, are reliable, sensitive and always make an effort to think of others. You like to keep things clean and tidy and feel that stability is the most important aspect in life.

Green: Those who love the color green are often affectionate, loyal and frank. Green lovers are also aware of what others think of them and consider their reputation very important.

Yellow: You enjoy learning and sharing your knowledge with others. Finding happiness comes easy to you and others would compare you to sunshine.

Purple: You are artistic and unique. You have a great respect for people but at times can be arrogant."

Nothing about fluorescent orange...
.

 

[Philpott]

Other than the obvious "HELP ME! HELP ME!" I am relieved not to be psychoanalyzed by forum readers. Remember, it does not belong to me, it belongs to Tom. And it had never been taken out of its bag. Hmmmm.

 

[jamottep]

I think one reason to not use the roller furling sail during a a Gale is to avoid the case of the furling line coming undone.

 

[Philpott]

I think one reason to not use the roller furling sail during a a Gale is to avoid the case of the furling line coming undone.

But Monsieur, surely this will not happen? Again?

 

[Philpott]

In preparation for the LongPac Dura Mater senses the stress of preparation. Unwittingly she has become the source of great trepidation. Why? Because of all these emails from the authorities. Such involved planning, such tech expertise is expected. Yikes. If Bob didn't know enough to take some device out of a box, how will I figure out how to program the InReach, the Epirb, etc. And the raft! I can barely lift the smallest raft. It's 80 lbs. for crying out loud. And then there's that little black dress for DM, Bob's old sail. That's heavy, too. Why, my head is just spinning. And then! Then I receive an email from my Tactician, asking how I intend to gather weather data offshore. I didn't know that I was supposed to do that! My cabin has been a refuge. But I sense a change in the metaphorical weather.



Here is the calm before the storm.

 

[jamottep]

We can do it Webb Chiles' style. I'll have my barometer watch and voilà, weather forecasting!

 

[Gamayun]

And here is what your boat will look like after the storm has passed...

 

[Gamayun]

You know I'm just (sorta) kidding, right? The best thing about the LongPac is that you will find where all the leaks are, except that means everything will have to get aired out when you get back. I just think it's great you're pushing your sailing adventures. I'm rooting for you and Pj to win the DH race!!

 

[BobJ]

The dialog on E-dock today:
"How are you?"
"Frustrated."
"You too? My reefing line is too short."
"My batteries are flat."

 

[Philpott]

We can do it Webb Chiles' style. I'll have my barometer watch and voilà, weather forecasting!

hahaha! Thank you! You are the best.

 

[tiger beetle]

Nothing about fluorescent orange...

Orange is *FAST*!

There's a reason all the Open 60's use orange paint on their keels and rudders and foils. Wouldn't want the storm jib to clash with the keel, eh?

- rob

 

[Philpott]

Something borrowed, something new

Orange is *FAST*! There's a reason all the Open 60's use orange paint on their keels and rudders and foils. Wouldn't want the storm jib to clash with the keel, eh? - rob

Hi, Rob! So glad you could join us. Okay, I'll look around for orange paint. I don't know if you have watched the R2AK, but everyone on Shut up and Drive wore orange, and they had orange bicycle tape on their handlebars, too. Such things are de rigeuer on Envolee. Is this because the Skipper is conscious of the coolness factor? Not at all. She don't care about that stuff. The orange color is a nod to Pumpkin, her kitty waiting at home with Sergei. Maybe Nathalie will post a photo of the real kitties.



Greg Ashby texted me out of the blue: Would I like to borrow an extra 50 watt solar panel?



Um. Dunno. Let me check with my tactician.
Monsieur Jamotte's response? "It needs a controller, wiring to the battery, best with a large fuse, a place to put it, a way to solidly fix it there ..."

Um. Okay again.

After our last sail Monsieur sat me down in the cockpit and we "de-briefed". hahaha. Yeah, a de-briefing on DM.



He teaches sailing down in Redwood Shores so I guess they are very thorough down there. He also works down the peninsula, which explains some other things. The clothes, for sure, although no Patagonia vest.

Check, check, check. Called my offsite boat boy, Max Dickey, who ordered up a controller via his Amazon Prime. Should arrive tomorrow.

Greg and I crawled around in his boat and he showed me how the wires are led to the battery on the already inspected Nightmare. Then, just for good measure Chris Case invited me aboard FUGU and we crawled around inside her. Same wires, different controller.

So, what? Am I the only one preparing for this thing?

 

[BobJ]

So, what? Am I the only one preparing for this thing?

Got the InReach working and the Gale Sail rigged, fully cleaned and vacuumed the cabin, tested the big main reef. Ordering some 3.5 gal water jugs today (S! has 40 gallons but it's all in one tank). I count 13 items still on the list to do.

 

[SailingNat]

Hi, Rob! So glad you could join us. Okay, I'll look around for orange paint. I don't know if you have watched the R2AK, but everyone on Shut up and Drive wore orange, and they had orange bicycle tape on their handlebars, too. Such things are de rigeuer on Envolee. Is this because the Skipper is conscious of the coolness factor? Not at all. She don't care about that stuff. The orange color is a nod to Pumpkin, her kitty waiting at home with Sergei. Maybe Nathalie will post a photo of the real kitties.


We also had orange water bottles...and orange fairing and a bunch more things orange.
- well orange is the fastest color so that's definitely a big part of it...and and Go Giants. I think that about sums it up.
The orange and black in the AstroCat logo is because of Pumpkin and Hershel - it is AstroCat because Envolée means taking flight so the kitty ends up in the stars. Really fast, so rocket ship style.

Kitties attached as requested

 

[Philpott]

I'm thinking that others may have the same dumb questions as do I, but that they will mumble to each other instead of asking, so I will ask my questions here and save them the trouble. Or maybe they just can't type as fast as they can think. Personally I type much faster than I think. So here goes. I have borrowed a cute little In-Reach SE.

"During the race, trackers should be set to ping once per hour to [email protected]"
On the Tracking page, is that "Moving interval"? (probably, huh?) Extended tracking is set to off. I can't figure out what to do from the manual. Should I change that to ON?

I'll have many more questions, so stay tuned.

 

[Philpott]

Question 2

My borrowed In-Reach manual advises me that I can have weather forecasts delivered to me. This would please my Tactician. Is this legal? No mention in the LongPac Communication Plan. Can't tell. My InReach is blinking. Does this mean the Russians are interfering with me? I'll admit it! I just ate two oatmeal cookies and there are more downstairs.

I turned it off but the red blinking light continues. What does this mean and how can I make it stop?

 

[BobJ]

Oh, I missed that part about pinging the e-mail addy - I thought it was all done through Jibeset. I better read the directions again, comm plan, etc.

On mine the blinking red light means it can't see the satellites. But when I turn it off it stops blinking, so that's different.

And I'm biting my tongue to avoid saying that we got along fine for years without these damn things... oops, didn't bite hard enuf...

 

[Daydreamer]

On the inReach click settings, then tracking,, then send interval and set to 1 hour.

Since I have a charge port onboard I use a 10 minute ping rate, to give a detailed track.

When you click tracking, and click start, it gives you the option to "share".
Enter the email address, [email protected]
Add anyone else you want to follow you and then click send.

If it is your own tracker, a lot of entries can be made at home.
Entering info using the cursor and tiny screen of the inReach is tedious, but can be done.
Though not fun if prone to seasickness?!?

Also, during the check in period, a separate message needs to be sent to the race committee, [email protected]
Access from the messages screen.

To power off, push and hold the "check" the screen will change and give you the "power off " option, select.
The red light will stop blinking.

 

[Philpott]

Great. Thanks, Greg. I'm pairing with my chart plotter (yes, I have one of those) and Garmin will allow me to download a map section. Among the options of NOAA offshore charts are North Pacific Ocean Eastern part, and/or West Coast of North America Mexican Border. I already have these on my tablet. Do I need to download these through Garmin? If so, which one? And Can I please just throw all these contraptions out the window and go sailing instead? My eyes are tired.