Newbie Mistakes

Hello again, sorry for skipping yesterday's post. I was flat out before the kids were even asleep!

Today we had a few comments on yesterday's post about the picture of the jib sail looking a little small and people also wondering what was up with the strop (extra length of rope to stop two things pulling apart, in this case the tack of the sail and jib furler).

Turns out we thought the main sail was the jib (front)!

Doh. Complete newbie mistake!

We have in-mast furling for our main sail and since the jib has to run through a track as well to raise, it was easy-ish to confuse the both.

However when we unwrapped the REAL jib sail, there were telltales (little pieces of string that can show you if the sail is smooth and set in the right position when you're underway) and there was a UV protection on the sail, important since it is always exposed to the elements. These two things should have told us that this was indeed the jib sail.

Our day progressively got better.

We got both sails up properly and in the right place, the windlass (electrical unit that brings the anchor up and down) works, we managed to figure out why the chart plotter and auto pilot navigation system was not coming on (ignition switch needs to be on as well!), the hot water works and we now have hot water on board if we want, etc.

We are gradually learning our boat and I don't think we totally realized how the familiarity of all our systems is so important in cruising life.

After lunch, the kids and I took a walk to the hunting and fishing shop about a 20 minute walk away.

They were gifted two little fishing lines and needed a lure to attach at the end of it.

Tonight we fulfilled our long awaited promise: to have a bonfire at the pit.

We also just discovered that there is coolant all over the engine and has pooled in various places. This will need to be further investigated tomorrow with a fresh brain.

Until then, attached are some pictures. Just another day in boat-prep-to-cast-off paradise.

Using the nav station as a desk. Think we'll do this regularly from now on.

Close up of our in mast furling unit for the main sail.

Attaching the shackle to the clew (top of the jib sail).

See the difference? LHS is the main sheet on the jib Furler, still a lot of
room left and about three feet of a strop needed to make up the difference.
RHS is the proper jib sail on the jib furler, much better!

So the kids had made up a game where they would Morse code a
letter or word to each other by squeezing hands. Very cute and a
good way to learn Morse code!

Collecting firewood and kindling for our bonfire. 

Fishing at the end of the dock.

Desperately wanting to catch mackeral.

How to start A Fire 101

Roasting marshmallows for s'mores.

Aila's journal. Should be dated July 3rd.