Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Opua: deplated; delayed


        I had plates on GANNET.  
        I did not know that I had plates on GANNET until I removed everything from the Blue Performance Bag above the starboard pipe berth that serves as the galley locker in order to glue it back in place. 
        Gannet has no lockers and few bins.
        This bag, as well as three others, is Velcroed to the smooth inside surface of GANNET’s hull.  Another is screwed into the port forward side of the main bulkhead.  
        The Velcro on the galley bag was coming unstuck, so I used contact cement to reattach it and the bag.
        I never look into that bag, just reach in and fumble around for whatever I need, usually the small bag in which I keep cutlery and a cork screw, or a plastic tumbler, or the china coffee cup that has thus far survived.  So the plates came as a surprise.  
        As you may remember I eat out of a large plastic measuring cup.  I don’t recall that I have ever used the plates, which were also plastic.  I don’t even recall buying them.  Certainly they failed the not having been used for a year standard.  
        I considered for a moment if I might ever need plates, and decided that if I do I will buy paper ones for the occasion.  
        GANNET is plateless.

 ———

        Following the passing of the front, today has been mostly sunny, windy and cool.  About 50°F/10°C last night, which I know to many of you on the wrong side of the Equator would be longed for warmth.
        I rowed ashore this morning without difficulty, but had a hard row back against gusting wind and ebbing tide.
        Rowing is very good for my shoulder.
        The wind is gusting now, perhaps close to twenty knots and GANNET is heeled over and dancing about her mooring.  So I am probably going to give the wind another day to decrease and sail on Thursday, though if it moderates by noon tomorrow I may sail up and anchor off either Pahia or Russell and go ashore to provision.             
        I much prefer anchoring off Russell; but Russell is exposed to winds from the west and southwest, the direction from which it is now blowing.
        Whenever I sail I’ll have the Yellowbrick sending up positions at twenty minute intervals.
        
        Wine and music this sunset will be enjoyed perhaps standing in the companionway, perhaps sitting here at Central.