New sails

I've been very busy with work over the last few weeks but have had the opportunity to get sailing the yawl over the past few nights!

The first couple of tentative races have been great to get used to how the boat handles and also to gently introduce my girlfriend to the sport (her first ever sail being last friday!) Learning to sail at the top end of the exe is going to be challenging. A few navigational errors meant I hit the mud several times on our last race, which is not fast : )

Up until today DY 171 did not have her own sails, as I had been using a set that had very kindly been lent to me.
But as of this afternoon she has a brand new set! A few photos are attached below:

Sunny Weather!

A rare sunny day gave me the opportunity to do some more work on the yawl, tidy her up and take some photos: 

Happy Sailing,

Rich

Ready to sail

Final touches on DY171 are underway prior to her first sail, I have attached some photos I took after working in the rain all afternoon.


New additions include: A simple cleat on the starboard side of the mast for the cunningham and helm / crew toestraps. I have also adjusted the position of the genoa tracks. An optimum time race watch is mounted forrad near the mast. A "mast break" strop has been added this is a more accurate method of bend control than using chocks. The mast break strop will not be utilised fully until an aluminium mast collar has been added inorder to strengthen the area around this part of the mast.

Happy Sailing

Rich

Sails up on the new rig for the first time

DY171 is almost ready to sail again, I put a set of sails up on the new masts for the first time yesterday. These sails have been kindly lent to me while DY171s new set are on order allowing me to provisionally place the gennoa tracks (these may need fine adjustment once the boat starts racing) and adjust the length of the halyard and fly away pole line. The missen sheeting system is also finished and working correctly!


All I need to do now is finish putting the toe straps on and she will be ready for her first sail after her refit. (lots more small tweaks to add before competitive racing).

Happy Sailing,

Rich

Allspars photos

Just checked my facebook for the first time in ages and found some more pics of DY171 on the Allspars face book page

Happy sailing,

Rich

Nearly there!

I'm back to work on the yawl, she now has a shiny new cover, a (new to us) tender, and the bow sprit fitted and finished! Next, i need to:

• Sort out sails (I have been awaiting a decision by the local fleet on the status of the sail maker)
• Rig, the kicker, cunningham, main sheet, mizen sheet, put new genoa cars on the deck and modify the rudder stock to accept the new tiller angle.

I went to check on DY 171 (Goosewing) yesterday and took some photos:

Happy sailing,

Rich

Away yet again.....

I write this post sitting in an internet caffe, 9hrs flight away from home. I'm looking forward to my return this summer when I can finish off DY 171 and make the most of all the hard work both my after and I have accomplished during March. Fortunately I have friends and family looking after the yawl while I am away and my father who will be visiting to put her new cover on and finished bow sprit!

Until the summer, happy sailing!