Anonymous wrote:

Annie I am playing with the same BLOG web provider as you.  You might never look at yours online but the sizing of the text column VS the photo size means that text run down the side of your pics in single letters and is difficult for my 60 year old mind to read.  Would it be possible to maybe expand the pics to eliminate side text or eliminate text from the photo space?

Hi David, it must be your browser settings as I do not have that problem. Using Firefox on a Linux laptop.

Since I last posted on my blog, I have been spending days at a time sanding, scraping filling, sanding and sanding.  A lot of it on my back.  This doesn't make for rivetting photography, so my latest post isn't that exciting to look at.  The reason that the sanding has taken so long, is that I am working on my rubbing strakes and using an electric sander risks rounding over or creating hollows.   I don't need to add to the difficulties I already have in achieving something that looks fair and even.

Rudolf wrote:

David Thatcher:

the rudder I put lashings on a vandeStadt Oceaan 22 has no skeg, is balanced and 70 cm deep. Works very well, no problems.

Rudolf

That is encouraging. Good I think to replace heavy metal fittings with lighter weight lashings or composites. Although my little catamaran will not be junk rig I like the DIY nature of the junk rig and on the camber panel junk sail David Tyler helped me build for my previous yacht just about everything on the rig was done with lashings rather than metal fittings. It was great to throw away the kilos heavy yard sling fitting and replace it with a simple lashing. My little catamaran will have a high aspect ratio gaff rig and everything will be done with lashings.

Annie wrote:

David: If you remember Norsand, it is by no means the ideal venue for a Launching Ceremony. Fanshi will be unceremoniously shoved down the slipway; Kevin will pause while I christen her and then she will be pushed down further until she floats free. There will be a strong expectation that I then move her out of the way and free up the slipway for other boats. In truth, I will be far too nervous to make a big deal out of it. And I suspect I will only have a few days’ notice of the date. I think we would both enjoy it a lot more if you were to fly out after the launching and help me learn to sail the boat for a week or so.

Yes, that's what I'm thinking, that I should come after the launch, but it will still need some planning ahead. The first thing that has to happen is that NZ has to open its borders to foreigners again, and preferably not insist on 14 days quarantine. The second is that airlines have to begin to accept long haul passengers on something like reasonable Ts and Cs.

I still think it would be a shame if those junkies already in NZ couldn't come and throw their hats in the air, give Fanshi three resounding cheers and congratulate you on a massive achievement. I quite understand if you don't want the world's press and TV to cover the event, though ;-)

David: If you remember Norsand, it is by no means the ideal venue for a Launching Ceremony. Fanshi will be unceremoniously shoved down the slipway; Kevin will pause while I christen her and then she will be pushed down further until she floats free. There will be a strong expectation that I then move her out of the way and free up the slipway for other boats. In truth, I will be far too nervous to make a big deal out of it. And I suspect I will only have a few days’ notice of the date. I think we would both enjoy it a lot more if you were to fly out after the launching and help me learn to sail the boat for a week or so.

Rudolf: thank you for your encouragement. I have to say that I’m surprised the rudder lashings are not more generally used, but I suppose with production boats that it’s quicker to use metal fittings.

The rubbing strakes look OK so far. Time alone will tell ...