ISSUE #24

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ily, the water had not overflowed onto the fuel tank yet (We hadn't had a chance to epoxy/glass over the tank to prevent corrosion leaks of the tank). So we grabbed a turkey baster and a saucepan and started draining the sump, ending a long day!

Sat. July 29---   We talked with the marina manager Kirby , and he helped us move to a windward slip on Teal dock, where he said somebody would come out and help us repack the packing gland on Monday . With the wind blowing and the tide flooding, it took me two tries to back "Poco" into the slip. Afterwards, I noticed I was shaking!!!  Well, we had just overcome our trip's first big challenge: backing into a slip with the wind blowing, current running, and the mast down sticking out over the bow of the boat!!  This was one of our big fears about the Bay --- boat handling under power in tough conditions ---We knew there were a lot more challenges yet to come !! Still, it was nice to be in the slip , where we could start by cleaning the boat.   Then we re-rigged and raised the mast.  Afterwards, Kneshia, Greg ,and I went to dinner at Moore's Landing at " Cuttings Wharf ", where Greg introduced us to a Bay delicacy---Ceviche Tostadas --- Awesome with Coronas !!!

Sun. July 30   We used 'J B weld' to epoxy the internal mast bushing to the inside of the mast , then duct-taped a penny and raised the mast yesterday, but the masthead bulb had burned out , so the marina ordered a new one that should be here Monday . We noticed that after motoring over here from the guest dock,  the packing gland wasn't dripping as much, but we continued to drain the sump with a turkey baster and we decided to have the packing gland packing replaced tomorrow.

Mon. July 31     We met Dave from the Marina , who replaced the packing gland material with 3 pieces of 3/16 waxed Flax , while I watched from inside the quarter berth. While working on the packing gland , Dave noticed that the Prop-shaft was loose . He removed the lock bolts (180 degrees apart) and re-drilled dimples in the shaft, then ground the ends of the lock bolts to a point, put on anti-sieze, tightened, and safety-wired them . Then Dave installed the new throttle cable I had previously bought but hadn't gotten around to installing. Then I winched him up the mast so he could put in a new bulb in the masthead light .

Tues. Aug. 1    K&I installed the Dodger and Bimini first , then
Kneshia went to the laundermat in Napa , while George re-stitched the center seam of my mainsail cover. Later that evening , we were invited for dinner aboard George & Marilyn's boat.  It was a great spaghetti dinner and a beautiful sunset with two wonderful people!! As it turns out , George used to work for North Sails , stitching America's Cup sails for Tom Blackaller.  Now he does canvas work in a small shop at the marina !  These past few days at the Napa Marina  have been hot----almost 100!, so we are getting 'antsy' to get underway

Wed. Aug . 2  - We're excited to get going !  Everything has been

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chure (and probably still is).  So that made three NorSeas in little Bermuda including my "Cold Feet" which I have kept outside the house for the past 12 years, after a few years cruising Florida Keys then up to Fort Meyers across the Ocheekobee to Stuart then down to the Dry Tortugas. After two winters in the magical Bahamas (shallow in many places but just right for the Norsea) my wife and I decided to bring her back home for the grandchildren to enjoy.  Back to Keith on "Reliance". He was headed to England, then the Baltic and planned on canal cruising in Europe.  I know he made it safely and got back OK as I could follow him day by day on SSB as he talked to well-known weather guru Herb Hilgenberg who operates out of Canada every day from 1600 on 12359 Kcs and gives tailor-made reports for each boat reporting in.  This service is mainly for Atlantic passage makers but I have heard him talking to mariners around the Galapagos/Panama/and even Ascension Island areas.  I receive all this on my little Sony 2010 with a wire aerial I string around the bedroom - an amazing little radio!  Only two others have passed through to my knowledge (I can see the entrance to St George's Harbour from my house which is on an island so not many escape my notice!) the first was way back when and started my love affair with the NorSea.  It was none other than Wayne Carpenter, his wife Kristina and daughters Jennifer and Lisa who had come around from San Diego (through the Panama Canal) with - wait for it - Kristina's mother aboard as well.  She had left the boat before they made the leg to Bermuda.  Anyhooo the pretty little red "Kristina" was there at the Customs dock and won my heart and it was great to later read Wayne's account of the passage in his book "Voyage of the Christina".  The only other visitor I came across was an unlucky soul whom I just briefly talked to at the dock and he said he was low on fuel and was off to "top up" . I didn't catch his name or the name of the boat (I think he had a Maine hailing port) but later learned from the dockmaster that he was merrily filling up and noticed a stronger than usual diesel smell. Truth was the pipe from his deck fill had dropped off during his passage and he was pumping it straight into the bilge and as that is pretty small, up under the cabin sole and....you can guess the rest. Took him a long time to clean up and now I always double check my fitting before fueling.  I digress. The whole reason for writing this piece was to tell you about the amazing Gerry Couture.  As you said in the last newsletter his basic tenet is to keep his sailing simple.  I was off to do some shopping one day and Gerry said he might take a look at the mast to do some checks.  By the time I had got back a couple of hours later he had lowered the mast on his own, done the checks and got it back up again - single handed!  Phew.  Sorry I missed that little lesson as I am still trying to pluck up the courage to do the job myself and want about four other guys around to catch it if I drop it!  Another thing about Gerry. He was a great one to

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