Arrived back in Fiji on Monday night to find DIVA clean, tidy and dry as usual, thanks to the care of Bharos the caretaker. Bharos makes a living from looking after boats in the marina for owners who have gone away. He is a lovely chap; honest, straightforward and always does his best to ensure that boats are secure, clean and dry - well worth it.
I would recommend his services to anyone contemplating leaving a boat at Vuda Pt Marina whether in the water or in the graveyard.
Yesterday, Bruce the rigger and I took down the forestay with a view to dismantling the furler to replace the broken spindle. I first noticed that the furler drum was riding up the headstay while trying to reef the headsail in a fresh wind last year. Earlier this year I investigated more thoroughly and came to the conclusion that the spindle had separated itself from the Sta-Lok firring at the stem head fitting. Sure enough that is what had happened as you can see from the photo, the spindle has snapped off just above the screw thread...its 316 stainless steel !
Anyway after a bit of foil and wire shortening, cursing and swearing with big hammers and spanners, and screws that refused to line up with their captive nuts, its all back together today and ready to go back up. Only problem is that it is raining and no-one wants to go up the mast to fit it until it stops raining and dries out a bit. So it will have to wait.
Meanwhile I went to town this arvo and got a Vodaphone data dongle with 1GB of internet data for F$39 ! Also did some shopping in preparation for Hannah and Kyle's arrival on Saturday - will have to go again on Friday. Hopefully by then the rain will have stopped and we can get the forestay back on.....
So, thats it for now. Cheers from Vuda Point.
Anyway after a bit of foil and wire shortening, cursing and swearing with big hammers and spanners, and screws that refused to line up with their captive nuts, its all back together today and ready to go back up. Only problem is that it is raining and no-one wants to go up the mast to fit it until it stops raining and dries out a bit. So it will have to wait.
Meanwhile I went to town this arvo and got a Vodaphone data dongle with 1GB of internet data for F$39 ! Also did some shopping in preparation for Hannah and Kyle's arrival on Saturday - will have to go again on Friday. Hopefully by then the rain will have stopped and we can get the forestay back on.....
So, thats it for now. Cheers from Vuda Point.