Hilton Head Island: details

 

Above is a sign that amuses me because it is located on the pier leading out to the marina and it advises to avoid water.

I am presently washing my sleeping bag and boat clothes.  Another pair of Levis became boat clothes during last week’s sail.

I do not know how far we sailed.  At one point I noted that we were 160 miles from a waypoint off Port Royal Sound.  That point is about 10 sailing miles from GANNET’s slip, so we sailed at least 340 miles.  From our Yellowbrick track I conclude that we sailed somewhere between 400-500 miles.

I have noted that when sailing GANNET there will be blood.  I have five dings.  One on my left arm, one on my right leg, three on my head.  I need a carbon fiber skull cap.  The one on my leg is a bit nasty, but healing.

I have written that you only really get to know a boat by living on her.  GANNET is cleaner now that when we first left the slip.  I routinely cleaned canisters and glasses and other items as I used them.  I also added several items to my to do list,

Remove cockpit bulkhead compass.  This has leaked ever since I installed it despite my extensive efforts to seal it.  It leaked again.  From the leak water drips onto the starboard pipe berth where I sometimes sleep.  I seldom look at that compass and did not once during the sail.  I have an excellent compass on my wrist in my Apple Watch Ultra and I use the mastmounted Velocitek.  There are also compasses in my iPhone, iPad Pro, and iPad mini.  So the bulkhead compass is going.

Lines for water jerry cans.  The ones I am using to tie them in place are of too small a diameter and difficult to untie.  I’ll cut some thicker ones.

Replace halyard attachment line at the end of boom.  I hook the main halyard shackle there when the halyard is not in use.  The line is tied in a small loop and the cover has frayed.

Charging cords.  Charging cords corrode on GANNET.  The ones on board are still usable, but deteriorating.  I will buy new ones.  I need USB, USB micro, USB-C, Lightning, and the cord to charge my watch.  And GANNET is a simple boat.

USB cigarette light adapter.  On the starboard side of the Great Cabin I have an outlet with two USB outlets built in.  On the port side a cigarette lighter socket into which I can plug my portable inverter and the chargers for the electric outboards.  GANNET still has the Torqeedo on board as well as the newer ePropulsion.  The adaptors on board are corroding.  I have ordered new ones.

Inverter.  I have been using a small portable inverter into which I plug the charger for my MacBook Air and iPad Pro.  It no longer works.  It starts and then almost immediately shuts down.  I have an older bigger inverter on board.  It works.  I will buy a backup of the bigger.

Gel cushions.  Maybe two.  All three of the inflatable cushions I use to protect myself from sharp edges while sitting at Central leaked during the sail, so I used flotation cushions which are too firm.  Gel cushions are more comfortable, and of course comfort is what sailing GANNET is all about.  Or not.

While sailing I found a bottle of hand sanitizer I did not remember I had on board from pandemic days.  I used it as well as antiseptic wipes.  My level of hygiene is not as high while sailing GANNET as it is on land.  I will try to remember to take hand sanitizer on future sails.

Here is a photo of the light I used as a stern light.  Thus far I am impressed with it.  

NaviSafe makes several different models.  This one has only white LEDs.  I am having to use deck nav lights because the masthead Tri-color/anchor light has stopped working and Hilton Head being the most inconvenient place I have ever lived in which to get work done on a boat I have not been able to have it fixed.

And last, though it has nothing to do with the sail, permit me to say how much I dislike Daylight Savings Time, which was first introduced during WW1 as a way to save fuel and energy.  As far as I know there has never been a study that shows it does this or ever did.  I much prefer living with the natural rhythms of the sun.