Bad Weather 2

The wind in the marina is currently 21 knots from the east - consistent with the counter-clockwise movement of the low.  

Bad Weather

Saturday Radar

The weather map is not good at the moment.  The winds off the Strait of Juan da Fuca is in the 50 to 60 knot range.  The same speeds are showing up in the lower area of the Strait of Georgia.  BC Ferries have cancelled all sailings in the southern portion of the Strait until further notice.  Flights at YVR are delayed or cancelled because they can only use the cross wind runway (Runway 12/30).  We very rarely see this runway in use, but the winds are such that it is the only runway open at the moment.  

Reset the Flag Counter

We have reset the flag counter.  We are getting a lot of page views, but it is a flow through of sites that are somehow not legitimate.  The flag counter registers page views of people who are actually interested in the site.  

Living Aboard and The "Real"World

It has now been six years since we took delivery of Terratima and started a different life style afloat.  For us, this has been and continues to be a choice.  We simply would rather live on our yacht than in a house, apartment, or condo.  We are not knocking houses, or apartments, (or condos), we simply find life simpler, less complex and more rewarding being afloat.

We'll admit it's not for everyone.  However, we find our life with the marina and boat community more diverse, more communicative, more balanced, and certainly more friendly than any place we have ever lived.  It is true that what binds us together is the water - and our boats.  But it is also more than that.  There is an additional ingredient in every sailor.  It is that sense of exploring what lies beyond the horizon.

We are bound here for a slight time longer.  We are faced with a decision of retiring in spite of it being a meagre retirement from a financial point of view, but the equation at this point is just having enough to live on and cruise the world with the wind at our backs.  We have had enough of the rat race and the values it holds dear.  We side with God and look to our daily bread on the faith of His Word, and our love of the sea.  

Labelling the Clutches

I had re-rigged the clutches a while back to help us better manage the main sail in higher winds.  The mainsail outhaul and the furler were on the same side and did not allow us to use the winches effectively.  To shorten sail, we needed to release the outhaul and then winch in the furler.  Without a winch right there to keep tension on the outhaul as you furl, you get into trouble really quickly.  The new arrangement solves the problem.

Furler and Spare Mainsail Halyard on One Side

Main Sheet, Staysail Sheet, and Mainsail Outhaul

on the Other. 

Working on Amateur Radio License.

I need to get an Amateur Radio License to get the most from our Icom IC-M802 single side band transceiver.  Studying the guide for the basic license and will write the exam in December.  Trying to do this on top of everything else.  Curious, here is the Amateur Radio Fact Sheet.

WATERMAKER INSTALL

The first portion of the install is done.  This includes the high pressure pump and its electric motor, the 20 and 5 micron filer housing, and the charcoal filter housing.  We had to make a bracket for the high pressure pump.  I did not want any "amateur" installation of these components (i.e.  me doing it) so we had Prodigy Marine make and install the bracket.

View of Engine Room with High 

Pressure Pump and Motor

Placement of Filer Housings.  Background is

the Charcoal Filter.  To the Right is the 20 Micron/5Micron 

Filter Housing

View of the 20Micron/5Micron Filters