Going 'offshore' in a container!
Both Helena and I are going 'gang-busters' here trying to repair this boat in time for a possible sail on Tuesday.
We were up well into the morning with generators, vacuum pumps, hair dryers... and the stereo all cranking flat out.
Last night we built the new top section of the beam and the 'shear-web' bulkhead in between for which we had to make a mould. I pulled our generator out as a back up power supply so we don't blow the fuse in the Yacht-club when the hair dryer 'bubble tent cranks up.
The container was humming and rattling away. We finally got to sleep with alot more noise going on than usual.
I got up eagerly this morning to unwrap the presents. The new bits came out perfectly.
We have achieved one dead-line but todays will be even harder. Today we will know if it is possible or not.
We have to build the new bottom skin, install the top skin and the shear-web... and also install the bottom skin... we have to put it all back together today!!!
When you hit a storm in an offshore race you find yourself forced to deal with it and just keep working to go forward at all costs. You are driven by the competition and stopping, giving up or merely cruising just isn't even considered. You get so worn out and sleep deprived and yet you can't sleep because your head is full of thoughts about what really should be done now and what needs to be done next.
I was thinking about that this morning lying in bed. Thankfully with boat building there are periods where you have to stop and let things cure... but maybe if I plugged in the other generator and put the 'heat-gun' in a second bubble tent....
and so on.
I don't even know if there will be wind on Tuesday but I don't really care. If there is a slim chance then we will take it.
Like in a race, most competitors have optimistic views of what there life will be like if things all come together. Some peoples views and self belief in making that a reality are much stronger.
I'll share my little driving dream with you...
I have a view now, that in a few days time, Helena and I are sitting on an aeroplane laughing all the way back to the UK with a stonking Champagne hangover.
It could be our finest hour.
Of course the odds are slim. The repair could hit a brick wall or the wind may not blow but that's out of our hands.
Righto, gotta get up on decks and shake a reef.
Cheers, Paul.
That's the thought that drives me now.
We were up well into the morning with generators, vacuum pumps, hair dryers... and the stereo all cranking flat out.
Last night we built the new top section of the beam and the 'shear-web' bulkhead in between for which we had to make a mould. I pulled our generator out as a back up power supply so we don't blow the fuse in the Yacht-club when the hair dryer 'bubble tent cranks up.
The container was humming and rattling away. We finally got to sleep with alot more noise going on than usual.
I got up eagerly this morning to unwrap the presents. The new bits came out perfectly.
We have achieved one dead-line but todays will be even harder. Today we will know if it is possible or not.
We have to build the new bottom skin, install the top skin and the shear-web... and also install the bottom skin... we have to put it all back together today!!!
When you hit a storm in an offshore race you find yourself forced to deal with it and just keep working to go forward at all costs. You are driven by the competition and stopping, giving up or merely cruising just isn't even considered. You get so worn out and sleep deprived and yet you can't sleep because your head is full of thoughts about what really should be done now and what needs to be done next.
I was thinking about that this morning lying in bed. Thankfully with boat building there are periods where you have to stop and let things cure... but maybe if I plugged in the other generator and put the 'heat-gun' in a second bubble tent....
and so on.
I don't even know if there will be wind on Tuesday but I don't really care. If there is a slim chance then we will take it.
Like in a race, most competitors have optimistic views of what there life will be like if things all come together. Some peoples views and self belief in making that a reality are much stronger.
I'll share my little driving dream with you...
I have a view now, that in a few days time, Helena and I are sitting on an aeroplane laughing all the way back to the UK with a stonking Champagne hangover.
It could be our finest hour.
Of course the odds are slim. The repair could hit a brick wall or the wind may not blow but that's out of our hands.
Righto, gotta get up on decks and shake a reef.
Cheers, Paul.
That's the thought that drives me now.
posted by Paul at 7:13 am
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