The never-ending project to fill my hole in the ocean while bailing it out

Sailing Season 2010 Officially Begins
Launching Chip Ahoy
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Description

Once the heavy lifting -- the mast up, outboard mounted, boom and sails on -- and the exciting stuff was completed, Wally, Michael, and Barbara were furloughed while I continued working on rigging what remained. At low tide more docks were dragged down to the low-water mark by a huge military surplus six-wheeler, where they'll be floated and towed away on the tide. By early evening I had Chip Ahoy fully rigged and ready to go on the morning tide; I put off tuning the shrouds until the next morning.

Oops -- in the rush to get the mast up I forgot to first attach the windex. When I almost forgot to bring it along I should have tossed it into the back of the truck as usual, instead of into the boat's cabin where I discovered it too late. Damn, now I'll have to get the boatyard to hoist someone up there and attach it.  Grrr, one nut to fasten it while the mast was horizontal and it would now be done.

There was an almost full moon rising as I prepared to head home.  (May 24, 2010)

Shortly after dawn on Tuesday I returned to the boat and tuned the shrouds using my Loos gauge, then returned home and met Wally and Michael at 9:30. High tide was at 9:45, and launching from the Riverhead Beach ramp needs to be accomplished within an hour of the tide (see low tide in the photo top-left, above).

Wally backed Chip Ahoy into Marblehead Harbor with Michael and me aboard, just after 10 am. Note the new blue Sunbrella padded lifeline covers, a handmade gift from Paul Osborne ("Emy-Lyn II") of Lima, NY.  (May 25, 2010)

It's official -- Chip Ahoy's floating again, Sailing Season 2010 has been launched! This year we got into the water a month and a day sooner than last year (Jun. 26, 2009)  -- the earliest ever. I've finally, after all these years, met my target date -- to be in the water by Memorial Day Weekend!