The Pre-Launch Preparations
June 2, 2008 |
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The big day had arrived: Raising Chip Ahoy's mast
and preparing to launch for Sailing Season 2008. Wally Riddle was
at my house at 9:00 am; we quickly got the mast onto its supports aboard
the boat, the Honda outboard loaded into the back of his pickup truck,
and with Barbara -- the day's "official photographer again -- following
we made quite a caravan driving the short distance across Marblehead to
Riverhead Beach on Marblehead Harbor. (Jun. 2, 2008) |
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Wally and me evaluating "Where do we start?" |
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Wally unwrapping the mast. We
have begun! |
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Wally the bow figurehead, hamming it up for the
photographer. |
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Now where does all this stuff belong? |
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The third hand, Toby Reiley (on left), arrived at 11:00 in time to
watch us pondering over the annual ritual: "Does this attach first or
afterward?" Launching but once a year does have its drawbacks
-- though it beats weekend trailer-sailing and getting good at it out of
necessity. Each new season requires remembering the
procedure and its steps -- or maybe it's just age! For instance, I
know for a fact that I put those mast gates someplace where I'd find
them next season when the time came . . . they've got to be
somewhere in a logical place where I'd know to look for them when the
time came. I wonder where that is this year? |
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In response to his suggestions, Wally and I laughed and
replied with the boatyard's shopworn mantra: "This isn't the first
boat we've done!" |
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With all the shrouds and backstay fastened, free and clear, everyone in their
positions, we were ready to go. |
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Up, up and away . . .
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While Wally wrestled the mast up, I prepared to pin it in
its step . . . |
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Toby took the furler drum with its attached line and led
it off to the side of the bow pulpit . . . |
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The mast is pinned with its new "Hauser
Mast Pin" (thanks Russ, quite an improvement!) and going up . . . |
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NEXT |
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Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
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It's never-ending ... but Sailing Season '08 has arrived! |
