Ariel #414

[mbd]

Hey Bill,

great crew shot on the leeward rail.

They have no appreciation for the benefits of sitting on the high side. They just like to get their feet wet when we plow through waves...

have you thought about adding lower lifelines? I'm thinking of doing the same (forward of the cockpit).

Yup. It's on my to-do list. It would save heaps of gray hairs.

[mbd]

So, I've started compiling my lists of lists of things that need doing before Spring launch, and I was struck by a thought. I've had the boat since July 2005. This will be my first entire and FULL season of sailing her! Woo hoo!

So happy be-lated New Year everyone, and here's hoping that everyone is able to get their boats' bottoms wet this year!

[Tim Mertinooke]

Great picture!

Don't forget about our rendezvous! If all goes as planned, we should be heading up to Maine soon after July 4th and won't come home until August. More details later, but it would be cool if we met up for a night on the hook.

BTW- I stock lots of good beer.

[mbd]

Cool! I'm looking forward to seeing the Fuji.

[Tim Mertinooke]

Mike, we are tentatively planning on leaving Newburyport July 7 and will be returning sometime around August 7. Weather permitting, we are going to start the trip one of two ways. The first will be to bounce up the coast doing overnights at the Ilses of Shoals, York Harbor, Little Stage Island Harbor, Biddeford Pool, Jewell Island, and then The Basin. The second scenario will be to do a straight shot from the Ilses of Shoals all the way to Cape Small, then on to The Basin. From the Basin, we plan to head north into Booth Bay, Muscongus Bay, and then into Penobscot Bay. I'm not sure if we are going all the way to Acadia this year like I want to as this will be my wife and son's first long voyage (four weeks), but we'll see. As far as the return trip, it may be one where we just try to get home in three days or bounce back down the coast taking our time. Again weather will play into this as will the crew's needs. As we get closer, more details will emerge obviously, but I wanted you to have a general time frame of when I'll be in the area. I hope we can coordinate at least one night on the hook together. There is a possibility that my friend in his CD27 will be with us as well as my parents in their S2. An Ariel will make it a fleet for sure! I'll be the one in a Ketch sporting a big grin!

[mbd]

Hiya, Tim! Once again, I am soooo jealous! A month off?!?! Why oh why didn't I become a teacher??

My plans for this year are not nearly so ambitious. I've complicted things with the addition of a new crew member - "Teddy". I'm hoping to work up to a week long cruise sometime this Summer.

In any event, keep me posted on your schedule!

[joe]

Your new crew is positively beautiful !! Will probably a great sail trimmer!

[Tony G]

This is a great thread Mike. Everything from the 'survey' photos to the kids having a memorable blast. When you get the chance to read it begining to end its inspiration in a bottle for some of us. I don't know if I'll ever get that far North on the coast to bend elbows with you but South is surely in the plans. And yes, I do mean on the boat.

I just noticed in post #9 there apears to be light shining in from the cockpit lockers in the area of the foot well of the port quarter berth. Is that so or am I imaging it?

Any plans for what is going up front for ground tackle and associated equipment? Starting to finalize a sprit design here but not ruling out any other good ideas yet.

Looking forward to some new posts here.

[mbd]

Hiya Tony,

Long time no pics! (hint hint)

I just noticed in post #9 there apears to be light shining in from the cockpit lockers in the area of the foot well of the port quarter berth. Is that so or am I imaging it?

Nope, there is a hole cut through the bulkhead there - a POs mod. I intend on filling it when the time comes to better separate the cabin from the engine compartment. But, it has come in handy when dealing with the batteries. (The squirrel from last year appreciated it too...)

Nothing special at all with my ground tackle, something I'll need to address this Summer.

It was kind of fun rereading the thread. I've been in a serious funk this weekend when I finally determined my overly ambitious launch date was a bit too optimistic. But looking a year back, I'll still probably be able to get in before I did last year.

[mbd]

Launch tomorrow afternoon. Yippee!

[Tim Mertinooke]

How did it go?

Pictures?

[mbd]

Hey Tim. No pictures, sorry. But, launch day went very smoothly, thanks.

Yesterday was mast stepping day. I took the afternoon off and joined a couple of other sailboats at the club to do the deed. We waiting all afternoon for the wind to die down, and it was 6:30 PM when it was finally my turn. I took the launch out to my boat to head in to the crane. I opened to raw water seacock, turned the key and with great anticipation, pushed the button to start the engine. ...Nothing. No turning over, just nothing. It ran and started perfectly the day before.

So, instead of rigging the boat my next trip out there, I'll be bringing Nigel Calder, Don Casey and Mr. Manual to troubleshoot my starting issues.

BTW, nice looking website! (http://www.fuji32.com/page_home.html)