Tuesday we finally got some wind to test/tune the rig. Wind was SE at 10-12 knots. It seems I got the rig fairly taught when I did the static tune on the hook. The worst offender was the cap shroud once loaded. It was fairly slack on the lee side.

I used a marlin spike along with a marlin spike hitch to do the tweaking on the rig. I untied the offending shroud, then hauled on the lanyard with all my might with the marlin spike. This technique got the shroud snug. We tacked  over and snugged up the other side.

Hauling on the lanyard with a marlin spike.

So how did the boat perform? Definitely stiffer as would be expected. In the gusts ( from 10 to around 14) she stood up amazingly well and just accelerated. When we went over some large boat wakes she pitched much less and did not cycle through another pitch after going over the wake.

All in all it was great day. Beautiful with a 10-2 knot breeze. Great company. My Main squeeze, Deb. And Kevin from a pretty little gaffer the Ruth Avery.

New years eve Deb and I plan on sailing over to Jost Van Dyke and try and make the party at Foxy’s. Weather permitting. Leaving St. Thomas we will have to beat into some predicted heavy trade winds (20kts). It will be the true test of the rig and it’s performance. After our little tune up sail, I have high expectations. When we return I will post a full report on this fascinating project.

My loyal crew. Kevin and Deb.

Until next week….CHEERS and a Happy New Year!

Done! Well almost, still have some tuning to do and clean up the lanyards. All the rigging is on. Took the last coils of old heavy, rusty rigging off Shanti yesterday. It was a bit of a challenge working at the top of the mast with a little bit of roll and pitch in the anchorage. Mostly from people hauling ass through the anchorage.

I have a new saying … “I hate wire”

Shanti is happy. As Deb so well commented … Women are always happy when they lose weight. Already seeing a difference. Where I keep the boat can be a little rollie at times. Shanti would rooolllle way over to port, then slowly rooollle way over to starboard. I would roll more than any other boat in the anchorage. Now she kind of rolls to port rolls to starboard. She seems much happier.

Hope to take Shanti for a tune-up sail this weekend. More photos and comments once that is done.

Merry Xmas!

I only have the backstay and forestay to install, IF the anchorage is not to rolly. If I can do it, I should be able to take Shanti on a tune up sail monday.

So far:

This has been a measurement nightmare. The BCC is overbuilt. So her chainpaltes are oversized. So hardly any of the rigging pieces (deadeyes) fit. I have had to use Link plates many places. So that meant a lot of new clevis pins. Could not find any the proper size on the island, so they had to be ordered. And on and on….

Above are the 3 sizes I have used. 7mm Dynex Dux for the shrouds. 9mm for the stays, and an 11mm piece for the bobstay.

My complete rig for Shanti. Weighs about as much as one of my intermediates.

My rigging kit. Note the tin snips for cutting the Dynex. Pretty simple.

When I was installing one of the cap shrouds I had a bit of a problem. The wind was blowing pretty good. I had hoisted up the new shroud and attached it to the mast. but the wind kept blowing it out away from the boat. This stuff was so light…LOL.    very strange…

I am actually attaching my lowers in this photo. Used very nice custom mast tangs Eric Precourt made for me to accommodate the two larger thimbles the dynex requires.

A nice benefit to my 2 part halyard with a larger self tailer that I installed for my furler. My girlfriend (Deb) can easily haul my butt up the mast.

Another custom plate for the rigging. This holds the aft-lower and the intermediate. I have also decided to use some all black NE Ropes V-100 for the lashings. A little bit harder to tighten up, but not that bad with a little water for lube. This line has a vectran core that has low stretch like the Dynex does. Plus it looks so niiice….

You know what they say?

If you can’t sail good, you should at least look good!

More after the sail.

Merry Christmas everyone!