Another day in Paradise aka Key Largo

Today was Spartite day. Before we left the Chesapeake, we had a rigging survey done and dealt with almost all the issues detailed in the survey, BUT didn't get around to creating a new mast collar replacement. We bought the Spartite kit, and have been carrying it with us until today. It was a long process to get the old system of wedges and mast collar and lots of silicone sealer off before building a "dam" around the mast with closed cell foam and modeling clay and then mixing the two part stuff and pouring it in. They claim it can be done in a couple of hours, but it took the entire morning. It got pretty warm before we finished, so we rigged the jib with the whisker pole to create a little shade. It worked like a charm.

After lunch I finished my sewing projects and Dan worked with John to understand the Sirius weather application on Andiamo's Raymarine chartplotter. We hope it will help us predict weather while we are in the Bahamas. We all decided that it was still a good plan to swap off dinner prep while we are side by side here in the marina, and tonight was my night. Dan found out that it was acceptible to use gas grills while we are here, so he grilled a pork loin roast and it was yummy. ~~~_/)~~~M&D

As promised,

our "walker"

(really called

the "Ding-eze"

bar) that helps

us get in and

out of the

dinghy plus

the drink

holders I

made to fit

on the bar.

The "dam" is already full of Spartite mix in the top left picture. Bottom left shows all the parts we used: closed cell foam tubing and beige modeling clay to build the dam; vaseline to coat the dam and the metal collar so it will release from the Spartite collar when you un-step the mast. The Spartite will remain stuck to the mast when it is un-stepped. The two part Spartite solution that works like an epoxy when mixed together. The finished system is in place (right). We still have to paint the navy blue collar to help protect it from UV rays. I know, more than you really wanted to know.

Betty snapped this photo of us as we sailed by one of the causeway bridges on Rt. 1 on our way to Key Largo last week. It is so great to be sailing with others so that we can get pictures of ourselves when we're sailing.