As anticlimaxes go it was as good as they get. We finished mid fleet on time and handicap and mid fleet on progress scores amongst those yachts that sailed regularly. As far as handicap racing goes that is as much as one can expect. Strategically our 1,1, 3 result in the middle of the season resulted in a significant handicap penalty from which we never recovered. Over the course of the season the handicap results were so close that a series of fourth places might have resulted in a better season outcome.
You cannot plan for these results. Once in a good place no respectable crew is going to go slow for a lower placing so it is what it is.
Not having a season victory to celebrate we will quietly slip away to some boat building and hope no one notices.
The boat building is progressing steadily if not spectacularly. A few more fine days has helped so that as of today the stern quarter of the hull is fully planked. With every plank the length gets shorter so in terms of area there is more progress.
On the wet days I have progressed some of the interior structure including the king plank hardwood doublers and the galley cupboard tracks. One key project was preparing templates of the keel base plate and keel bolts to confirm the bolt alignment before the hardwood shoe is glued to the hull. At the right moment these semi finished components will come out of the garage and get installed in what seems quick time where in fact it has been careful use of rainy days.
As for the present I have 21 more planks cut ready to install and a schedule of a minimum of 6 per day to achieve my target date for completing the second layer.
Even before the second layer is finished I am planning for the next phase which is fitting the rudder bearings and the engine shaft and P bracket. All the required parts are on order and with a bit of luck will arrive before the torture boarding and priming is finished.
After a lot of deliberation I have chosen a colour scheme for the new yacht and I hope to have the red water line painted on the hull in time for Christmas. It is the right colour for the Christmas season. Perhaps some teak and holly flooring would be in keeping with the Christmas theme.
