Comments on: Lisbon -> Canary Islands in 10 days http://www.bigoceans.com/2008/01/26/lisbon-canary-islands-in-10-days/ The sailing blog of young Australian, sailing solo half way around the world from Europe to Australia in a small boat with small funds! Fri, 26 Feb 2010 02:38:36 +1100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jarv http://www.bigoceans.com/2008/01/26/lisbon-canary-islands-in-10-days/comment-page-1/#comment-6142 Jarv Sat, 02 Feb 2008 01:02:55 +0000 http://www.bigoceans.com/2008/01/26/lisbon-canary-islands-in-10-days/#comment-6142 Congratulations Nick! Absolutely brilliant, making me very jealous sitting here in snowy Brixton... Offshore with a stiff breeze is definitely where CO26s are meant to be. For the masthead lights: For me the problem was the connection on the top of the cabin - spray would work its way into the contacts and corrode a layer. I found I could turn the lights on and off by touching the connector - not good! In the end it didn't actually take much... just a thorough cleaning with WD40 down the three socket holes & pipe cleaners to remove the crud, then a serious greasing up of the plug prongs with vaseline before screwing the whole assembly back together. Batteries: Doesn't sound good :( Have you tried topping them up with deionised water? If you overcharge they start to boil... Your Yanmar most certainly _should_ be limited in charging. Your photovoltatics will not be. You could buy a little gel-cell 12V battery & keep it as a charged spare stashed in a waterproof container... Main-Sheet: Contessa had no traveler, there was a block on the end of the boom attached to the same metal item that the topping lift went to, then went down to blocks attached with shackles to the furthest forward bit of the pushpit. You can just see it here: http://flickr.com/photos/jarvist/194687394/ Oh man. So very jealous. Enjoy the trades - are you rigging some kind of double headsail job? I never found anything to go downwind happily steering by 'Windy' except for a single headsail... doesn't take much swell to make a co26 crash gybe if you've got it balanced in a gull-wing configuration. On reflection I think I could have put in a second forestay with some thin stainless wire u-bolts. Congratulations Nick! Absolutely brilliant, making me very jealous sitting here in snowy Brixton…
Offshore with a stiff breeze is definitely where CO26s are meant to be.

For the masthead lights: For me the problem was the connection on the top of the cabin – spray would work its way into the contacts and corrode a layer. I found I could turn the lights on and off by touching the connector – not good! In the end it didn’t actually take much… just a thorough cleaning with WD40 down the three socket holes & pipe cleaners to remove the crud, then a serious greasing up of the plug prongs with vaseline before screwing the whole assembly back together.

Batteries: Doesn’t sound good :( Have you tried topping them up with deionised water? If you overcharge they start to boil… Your Yanmar most certainly _should_ be limited in charging. Your photovoltatics will not be. You could buy a little gel-cell 12V battery & keep it as a charged spare stashed in a waterproof container…

Main-Sheet: Contessa had no traveler, there was a block on the end of the boom attached to the same metal item that the topping lift went to, then went down to blocks attached with shackles to the furthest forward bit of the pushpit.
You can just see it here:
http://flickr.com/photos/jarvist/194687394/

Oh man. So very jealous. Enjoy the trades – are you rigging some kind of double headsail job? I never found anything to go downwind happily steering by ‘Windy’ except for a single headsail… doesn’t take much swell to make a co26 crash gybe if you’ve got it balanced in a gull-wing configuration.
On reflection I think I could have put in a second forestay with some thin stainless wire u-bolts.

]]> By: Paul Varel http://www.bigoceans.com/2008/01/26/lisbon-canary-islands-in-10-days/comment-page-1/#comment-6135 Paul Varel Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:56:17 +0000 http://www.bigoceans.com/2008/01/26/lisbon-canary-islands-in-10-days/#comment-6135 Hey Nick, Kickass ;-) I knew that you could do it!! Thanks for connecting me with Ben he seems like a nice guy! So how is the mighty August feeling, has it been working porperly? Well i wish you all the best and i hope that you have a good atlantic crossing. Pedro is coming to visit us in Scorpio tomorrow and is staying for a week so that should be quite nice :-) I hope that your luck keeps up :-) I do have to whine a bit though and i was kinda looking forward to see some more pictures.. :-) Take care!!! Greets /Paul Hey Nick,

Kickass ;-) I knew that you could do it!! Thanks for connecting me with Ben he seems like a nice guy! So how is the mighty August feeling, has it been working porperly?

Well i wish you all the best and i hope that you have a good atlantic crossing. Pedro is coming to visit us in Scorpio tomorrow and is staying for a week so that should be quite nice :-) I hope that your luck keeps up :-) I do have to whine a bit though and i was kinda looking forward to see some more pictures.. :-)

Take care!!!

Greets /Paul

]]> By: Pedro Roque http://www.bigoceans.com/2008/01/26/lisbon-canary-islands-in-10-days/comment-page-1/#comment-6133 Pedro Roque Wed, 30 Jan 2008 21:48:24 +0000 http://www.bigoceans.com/2008/01/26/lisbon-canary-islands-in-10-days/#comment-6133 Dude, you rock!!!!!!!!!!! Dude, you rock!!!!!!!!!!!

]]> By: Giselle http://www.bigoceans.com/2008/01/26/lisbon-canary-islands-in-10-days/comment-page-1/#comment-6132 Giselle Tue, 29 Jan 2008 23:17:01 +0000 http://www.bigoceans.com/2008/01/26/lisbon-canary-islands-in-10-days/#comment-6132 Hurray, you made it! Hurray, you made it!

]]> By: Mary McCollum http://www.bigoceans.com/2008/01/26/lisbon-canary-islands-in-10-days/comment-page-1/#comment-6131 Mary McCollum Sun, 27 Jan 2008 20:15:28 +0000 http://www.bigoceans.com/2008/01/26/lisbon-canary-islands-in-10-days/#comment-6131 Hi again Rick. First of all I'll comment on that sweet boat; the Contessa is the only boat that compares to my little Mighty Merry Too, a Dana 24 buuilt by Pacific Seacraft. So many used to say "such a small boat. Is that safe?" Frankly I think small is safer. Secondly I chimed right in with your thoughts about time and feelings. Being alone teaches one to depend on self and is a great conficence builder as well as just being pleasant. Your choice of hanked on sails, in my mind, is also a good choice, maybe because that's what I used across the Pacific. Thanks for responding to me and I'll keep watching as you proceed. You're bringing back lots and lots of memories. Mary the Merry Sailor Hi again Rick. First of all I’ll comment on that sweet boat; the Contessa is the only boat that compares to my little Mighty Merry Too, a Dana 24 buuilt by Pacific Seacraft. So many used to say “such a small boat. Is that safe?” Frankly I think small is safer. Secondly I chimed right in with your thoughts about time and feelings. Being alone teaches one to depend on self and is a great conficence builder as well as just being pleasant. Your choice of hanked on sails, in my mind, is also a good choice, maybe because that’s what I used across the Pacific. Thanks for responding to me and I’ll keep watching as you proceed. You’re bringing back lots and lots of memories.
Mary the Merry Sailor

]]> By: Tim http://www.bigoceans.com/2008/01/26/lisbon-canary-islands-in-10-days/comment-page-1/#comment-6130 Tim Sun, 27 Jan 2008 16:25:58 +0000 http://www.bigoceans.com/2008/01/26/lisbon-canary-islands-in-10-days/#comment-6130 Well done ! A safe voyage conducted in a thoroughly seamanlike manner . I have to confess to cautioning in YBW against doing it at this time of year,but you and the boat were actually 'sorted' and ready to go as soon as the weather let you. Good boat,great attitude ,well done indeed. You arrived in time for Australia Day ! Well done !
A safe voyage conducted in a thoroughly seamanlike manner .

I have to confess to cautioning in YBW against doing it at this time of year,but you and the boat were actually ’sorted’ and ready to go as soon as the weather let you. Good boat,great attitude ,well done indeed.

You arrived in time for Australia Day !

]]> By: Blue Zone » Blog Archive » I love the beach! http://www.bigoceans.com/2008/01/26/lisbon-canary-islands-in-10-days/comment-page-1/#comment-6129 Blue Zone » Blog Archive » I love the beach! Sun, 27 Jan 2008 11:33:29 +0000 http://www.bigoceans.com/2008/01/26/lisbon-canary-islands-in-10-days/#comment-6129 [...] We visited the lighthouse a few years previously, and I was also thinking of Nick heading from Portugal to the Canaries, so I made [...] [...] We visited the lighthouse a few years previously, and I was also thinking of Nick heading from Portugal to the Canaries, so I made [...]

]]> By: Adam http://www.bigoceans.com/2008/01/26/lisbon-canary-islands-in-10-days/comment-page-1/#comment-6128 Adam Sun, 27 Jan 2008 05:33:09 +0000 http://www.bigoceans.com/2008/01/26/lisbon-canary-islands-in-10-days/#comment-6128 Hey, what are you doing? Everyone /knows/ you can't sail out of sight of land in less than a 45' boat with at least a half dozen highly experienced (and expensive) crew in stylish blazers. Not to mention the tons of money you aren't spending. Is that even legal?? :-) Seriously, I don't remember where I first ran across you; but I am greatly enjoying your trip from afar. Fair winds and following seas! Hey, what are you doing? Everyone /knows/ you can’t sail out of sight of land in less than a 45′ boat with at least a half dozen highly experienced (and expensive) crew in stylish blazers. Not to mention the tons of money you aren’t spending. Is that even legal?? :-)

Seriously, I don’t remember where I first ran across you; but I am greatly enjoying your trip from afar.

Fair winds and following seas!

]]> By: David http://www.bigoceans.com/2008/01/26/lisbon-canary-islands-in-10-days/comment-page-1/#comment-6127 David Sun, 27 Jan 2008 05:15:21 +0000 http://www.bigoceans.com/2008/01/26/lisbon-canary-islands-in-10-days/#comment-6127 Great narrative, thanks for posting. Great narrative, thanks for posting.

]]> By: Andy http://www.bigoceans.com/2008/01/26/lisbon-canary-islands-in-10-days/comment-page-1/#comment-6126 Andy Sat, 26 Jan 2008 23:44:48 +0000 http://www.bigoceans.com/2008/01/26/lisbon-canary-islands-in-10-days/#comment-6126 Awesome, been following you with alot of interest, since you were sleeping in the boat and on the hard and living on pasta cooked by candle! I really am amazed you have pulled this off so soon. Not only that I am so impressed with your psycholgical explanantions of single handed sailing, I have searched long and hard on the net and that previous post was the best synopsis I have read.. Awesome, been following you with alot of interest, since you were sleeping in the boat and on the hard and living on pasta cooked by candle!

I really am amazed you have pulled this off so soon. Not only that I am so impressed with your psycholgical explanantions of single handed sailing, I have searched long and hard on the net and that previous post was the best synopsis I have read..

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