Scuttled Again

The joy of out-smarting the weather gods by launching Corsair a day early last week was short-lived. Now that she was finally in the water and in anticipation of an approaching "spring break" sailing week with my family,  I wanted to spend a day practicing docking under the watchful eye of an instructor from The Sailing Academy. I originally arranged to do so last Friday but as the day approached the weather forecast deteriorated (what a surprise!).  So, I rescheduled for Sunday, but that went bad as well. Finally, it looked like today, Monday 31 March, would be perfect. Temps were forecast to be in the mid-60s and there would be some light winds but nothing too difficult to manage.  

I traveled back up to Northern Virginia late Saturday evening so I could spend Sunday on the boat. There were inventories to complete and safety equipment to inspect in anticipation of finally casting off.  Arriving at the boat around noon on Sunday, I found the weather again progressively worsening. By 3pm the wind was howling at a steady 25knts with gusts over 40knts. The rain was bitter cold and at one point was mixed with large snowflakes. I then got a call from my instructor informing me that the wind forecast for Monday had changed and while the sun would be shining the winds would not abate and there was no way we could undertake the docking instruction. We'd have to reschedule again.  

Now, I had a new dilemma. Herrington Harbor North had given me until 9am today (Monday 31 March) to "get out of town." They are busy launching boats and need temporary slip space. With weather as an excuse I could stay another day but work requirements meant I wouldn't be able to get back to the Marina before Friday. How was I going to get the Corsair to her new home in Herrington Harbor South? 

It turns out my unlimited "gold" towing package with my BoatUS membership allows for such requirements. After a few phone calls I had arranged for Capt "Mike" of TowBoatUS to tow Corsair over to her slip at HHS on Tuesday morning.  

Stay tuned;  someday soon I may actually take the helm of the boat I have owned since last September.

While hunkering down I played around with a fish-eye lens attachment for my iPhone.  Here are some of interior shots.

Launched!

I spent the last week checking the weather forecast about every 30 minutes.  To my chagrin the prognosis for the date of most interest; 25 March, declined steadily day after day.   It seemed almost certain that Tuesday would see the arrival of another winter storm.  By the Friday afternoon I was resigned to the fact there would be no launch of my beloved Corsair on the scheduled date and called Herrington Harbor North to let them know I was relinquishing my "owner present" launch appointment.  They committed to getting the boat launched the week of 24 March but could not specify a date and time in advance.  More likely than not, it would be near the end of the week.

To ensure all was ready whenever the launch did occur, I drove over to HHN Monday morning and removed the winter cover, loaded my ladders in the truck and then stopped by the marina office to let them know the boat was ready.  Finishing up around 1:30pm I stopped by the "Happy Harbor" restaurant for a delicious $5 Burger and then drove back to the West Marine store where I bought a new hand-held Garmin GPS.  As I left the store and walked towards my car I noticed a travel lift moving towards the launch bay and in the slings Corsair was gently swinging.  

She splashed without a hitch.  As she sat in the launch bay we checked the new shaft seal and all the through-hulls and didn't find a drop.  So, it was off to a slip to await a short trip down to Herrington Harbor South later this week.

Here is a video documenting the launch. 

Cursed?

I have been anticipating the launch of S/V Corsair for months.  Carefully considering the various project timelines, my own work schedule, and the weather, I initially aimed for a 15 March launch.  When it became obvious that various forces, especially those of Mother Nature, were clearly conspiring against me I moved the launch date to 25 March.  Even last week as Old Man Winter was delivering another body blow to the area and my final refit plans I thought to myself, "Surely, this is the end of winter and we will be clear to launch next Tuesday (25 March). " Ha! So much for the best laid plans of mice and men.

Day Mar 25

38°FHigh

Snow

Chance of Snow:

70%

Wind:

ESE at 9 mph

Humidity:

60%

UV Index:

3 - Moderate

Sunrise:

7:02 am

Moonset:

1:54 pm

Moonphase:

Waning Crescent

• Collapse Details

Night

30°Low

Few Snow Showers

Chance of Snow:

30%

Wind:

NNW at 10 mph

Humidity:

74%

UV Index:

0 - Low

Sunset:

7:23 pm

Moonrise:

4:04 am

Moonphase:

Waning Crescent

Almost there….!

The weather continues to plague my efforts to complete winter projects.  We had a brief respite today with temps soaring into the 60s!  Unfortunately, the forecast for Monday is more snow.  Despite the best efforts of the weather gods it seems we will make the 25 March launch date.  After some stern "encouragement" Osprey Marine "tented" the boat and brought in propane heaters so they could complete the hull fairing, barrier coat and bottom paint.  When I arrived at Herrington Harbor North this morning the final coat of epoxy barrier was being applied and thanks to the rare warm and sunny day the final coat of anti-fouling bottom paint was applied in the afternoon.

Here is my first attempt at videography which provides a more detailed intro to S/V Corsair.  Surely, my skills will improve over time.

Finally,  I spent some time enjoying the sun while walking the docks.  I love looking at boats!!!

Only 10 days until launch!

Slow is Fast

I remember my Marine Corps marksmanship instructor repeating the phrase "Slow is Fast."  What he meant was a deliberate, smooth pace would produce much better results than a panicked frenzy of activity.  With the winter of '14 continuing to pound the US East Coast well into mid-March I have been reminding myself that "slow is fast."  With the 25 March launch date fast approaching taking that advice is challenging.

The temperature was supposed to reach almost 60 degrees today so Osprey was back at work sanding and fairing the hull.  Good weather tomorrow might see an initial barrier coat applied.  Based on the long range forecast (more cold temps and some snow), I instructed Osprey to tent the boat and bring in heaters so they can complete the job in time for the launch.

Buster Phipps of Phipps Boatworks finished replacing the solid door panels in the port side salon cabinet with teak louvers which will allow sufficient airflow for the new AC/Heat unit.

Rob Nixon of Dependable Marine Services came out to do some work on the 34 year old Perkins 4-108 (new raw water pump, exhaust elbow, dripless shaft seal, etc)

Finally, Corsair is now officially "Corsair."  Appropriate ceremonies to be conducted immediately upon launch.

15 Days 'til splash.  Pray for sunshine…..