A calm day at last

[Greybeard]

It's been a while since Falcon first dropped anchor on the drive and I've been itching to get the sails up. So far I've concentrated on rewiring the electrics and doing other interior mods to suit my tastes.
Today was glorious - and windless - so I decided to rig her for the first time. I've a few tweaks and tidying-ups still to do to various ropes, but we're getting there

Not long now!



Steve

PS What's the best setting for the iron when I come to press the sails?

[seasickwhale]

Hi Steve,

why use an iron? A hot air gun gets all the creases out in a flash!

[Dennis]

It's looking good, almost a shame to spoil it by putting it on the water.

I see that you have the staysail lifted to match the higher boom position of the mainsail, very posh.

I think you will definitely win the Kielder Concours D'elegance competition (if we had one).

Looking forward to seeing the beauty "in the flesh".

[Dennis]

Clicking on the photo gave me access to your Photobucket collection. I did enjoy that. I recognise many of the places you have visited and not just the Northumbrian ones.

The wasps nest was a new one for me though, although I have aquired two birds nests onboard at Kielder.

Life is not a practice run!

[Greybeard]

The wasps' nest was one of five that appeared at the club over last winter, Dennis. Needless to say I dealt with it in the way any fearless 6' Viking would have done - I hit it with a long stick ---------------- and ran away

I'm still working on making a suitable crutch for the mast to be used just when rigging. Something that will fold and fit in the boat would be ideal. I have a separate frame for supporting the mast when towing and a shaped block in the anchor fairlead that keeps it all clear of the cabin roof.

I'm off to cruise the forum for ideas

Steve

[Chris Wicks]

She looks great! I've just ordered a Yankee from Hyde sails. I'm hoping it arrives before end of March when we drive out to Greece next. I offered to collect it from the factory before they told me it's in Malaysia!! I'd like to make up the parel bead, mast bands... did you make them up??

Cheers

Chris

[Greybeard]

Thanks. The beads came with her, Chris. They're permanently 'rigged' to the mast and attach to the sail using small brass clips - same as these -

http://www.classicmarine.co.uk/boatstore/product.asp?strParents=0,186,35amp;CAT_ID=149amp;P_ID=282

The beads are c3/4 inch diameter wooden ones made up with purple dyneema-like braid which isn't really to my taste, but they seem to work well and are quicker than lacing.

Of course, the wooden beads need a coat of shiny varnish yet (only kidding, they'll get oiled )

In time I'll probably change all the rigging to hemp coloured beige stuff like I've done with my Drascombe. White ropes with coloured flecks does seem so, well --------------- garish After that it'll be a set of Tufnol block I suppose.

The Yankee that came with her was made by Jeckylls but was faded after being left furled the wrong way in the sun, which hid the sacrificial strip. I sent it back to them over the winter and they did a superb, and very reasonably priced, job of sorting it. I've yet to try the Genoa - it must be enormous.

Steve