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La Contenta - Day 9 (part 2); Sew, sew, sew your boat



Day 9 (part 2): Sew, sew, sew your boat
 
After breakfast LC had a thorough check of her rigging and sails.  She needed some stitching to reattach the footing tape to the genoa, and Dave wanted to attach a metal band to the foot of the mast to add extra support to the riveted plate.  (Sorry sailors this is a girlie understanding of the situation), and to readjust tension in all of the stays and check stays.
 
The sail was first.  We put up our cruising chute and then, with military precision and controlled by Dave, we dropped the genoa and attached it securely to the guard rails.  The sail repair box was sourced and M-C’s background in recreational upholstery came into its own and the guys had a sewing lesson.  The area of detached tape was approximately 45 – 60 cm long, but several small areas where the stitching was starting to fail were also identified.  We sat in a line on the foredeck sewing and singing.  Last year in Scotland Cal had taught us the Irish sea song ‘Fiddlers Green’.  If you are not familiar with it its well worth looking it up.  The Dubliners do a great version.  As we worked he sang the verses and we all joined in the chorus.  When we sing we have passion in abundance, which somewhat makes up for the dubious tonal quality.  Lets face it there is no one else out here within ear shot to object so we can let rip! 
 
The sail finished and reattached and Dave moved onto the mast.  He tapped in some of the rivets that had become a little proud and attached his metal band.  The closest description is that it looks like a gastric band for boats. He was happy with the added security, but as we are still under half way we will take extra care and vigilance not to stress the mast and to control the boom.  We think the wind gusting 46 a few night ago and the one uncontrolled jibe have played their part in them loosening.  Life at sea.
 
Talking abut life at sea we are still being accompanied by a stream of birds.  Its beautiful to watch then glide just above the surface of the sea and circle the boat.  They appear to rarely fly more than a couple of meters above the surface and appear to delight in the uplift and winds that the ocean brings.
 
Talking about life at sea we are really enjoying the daily jokes that Suez is sending to us.  She is the shore support and wellness consultant behind yacht Nisida. One that arrived that was pertinent to us was ‘What do you call a fish with no eye?’ ‘Fsh!’  Our version is ‘What do you call a boat with no fish’ ‘Depressed and despondent’.  Nine days in and still no fish.  Lots of hints that they are out there.  We have had several lures bitten in half or nibbled leaving just the imprint of teeth marks to tease us.  We thought back to our seminar of provisioning and Claire's wise words on fishing came back to us;  ‘You don't need a lure to catch fish you can do just as well with the finger of a marigold glove’.  Inspired by this fresh potential to catch fish we sacrificed a glove, cut it to form a wonderful lure with tassels, weighted it with a broken block, launched it and sat back and waited.  It was another stunning failure.  Perhaps the fish don't like pink!  Tomorrow is another day and we will try again.
 
As I type its 2am.  We are steadily making progress and hope to be half way in another day or two at the most.  Its all downwind from there! The mid way bubbles are chilling and the sweepstake books have closed.  Apart from the gentle snoring of the crew and the lapping of the water on the hull all is calm on La Contenta.

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