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Two Fish - Day 81 Random Thoughts



How do you provision your boat?
A buying spree at the box store or sourcing local food products? Our new French friends have a great ability to save money and eat healthy. They collect their own papaya, mangos, bananas, shrimp, crabs, fish, lobster and hot peppers. (I think some of this is a moral grey area driven by land ownership).
Others pick their own fruits and vegetables, but what impressed me with our friends was their purchase of a hen for fresh eggs. The previous time they tried this, while cruising Senegal, the plan failed because they bought a male. However this bird is also not producing eggs due to stress. The bulk of her life has been passage making over 3,000 miles of rolly seas. Tonight while at their boat for drinks we noticed that live crabs were trying to break out of the cage and attack the hen. I doubt the hen will ever become relaxed. I was tense aboard their boat when I was shown his collection of 8 spear guns. I was told such a large collection is necessary.
I really enjoy their company despite the fact that I understand about 30% of what they say in French. I did learn his previous job was driving the Metro for the line which stopped close to our autumn rental apartment. Small world.

Planing ahead for a problem?
Friends on a Maverick brand catamaran were describing their back up method for operating their windlass. They had a special handle created to operate the windlass manually. Our windlass has no manual operating mode, so if the motor dies then I must haul it up by hand. This got me thinking and I might have a solution. With the chain locker open I could use the self tacking jib sheet to raise the chain. The sheet has a shackle and I would attach a chain hook to the sheet. Then I would attach the hook to the chain where it exits the hausepipe and use the cockpit winch to pull up 3 feet of chain. Then apply the chain brake and move the hook 3 feet forward. A slow deliberate process but I think it would work. Better mousetrap?

Pilot Grounded
Today I took the drone for a spin. I took off from the bow and was practicing my hovering skills. A puff came. The copter slipped aft. I did not give it enough power. In slow motion I saw the blade catch the shroud and fall towards the deck. It came straight to me as if on the war path with the blades still spinning. I kept giving it the off signal but it took a while to respond. The good news is the copter survived but I will now try the spare blades. Gail was worried it might damage the shrouds that hold up the mast. No worries they did not even notice the impact. Steel beats plastic.



turt (1 of 1)
bird (1 of 1)

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