23 August 2014

Blink's Big Birthday

After a year of sailing and several thousand offshore miles, Rob suggested that we check that the keel mechanism was wearing as it should.

Last time we went out was a great training day...



So Blink came out last Monday for a rig check, keel and canting mechanism check, and a bit of a general workover while out of the water this week - including having some of the NPC signworks crew (Dave and Regan) from Kerikeri replace the graphics.



We also weighed the boat and rig, partly to know what it is but partly with a view to seeing how entertaining an IRC rating we might get.  It looks like our IRC weight will be in the low-3700kg area (yet to be confirmed).  The 20m mast and rigging, including running rigging, electrical cables, halyard lock, etc... was only 180kg.

Matt and Scott have knocked over a big list of jobs big and small, everything from new keel pin bushes (just a trace of wear on the front one, would have been fine but since it was all disassembled ...) to adjusting the vang height, outhaul adjustment, and refurbing the sticky halyard lock in the last few days.  We also have a new pad eye on the foredeck for the furling J4.









And lastly...
No, not a carbon bike seat for riders with severe piles, but a protector for the recurrently dented forestay well