San Diego Layover 10/7/06 (Peter)

Our time in San Diego is centered on doing what we can to make Marcy ready for further adventures, using what we’ve learned on the trip south to improve things. Of course the major project, in the able hands of Shelter Island Boatyard, is to replace the mast step. It showed signs of weakness on the trip down – not in the stormy times but in light airs and big swell.

First the rig had to come out. This will be a good opportunity to install that new LED masthead light and add a cleat.

The rigger, John had the rig out in no time.

Here is the old step – wood, glass, aluminum, and stainless. The new will be all glass.

Here I am watching the yard foreman, Scott, and the fiberglasser, Alex, formulating the plan.

The boat had to be hauled for the glass work. More opportunity to replace zincs, maintain the prop, and check out the bottom. We were pleased that the work we did a year ago on fairing and sealing the keel has held up nicely.

This zinc is definitely due to be replaced!

Of course the daily chores never stop:

Laundry,

grocery shopping,

and searching for the best happy hour. We’ve also visited the Mexican Consulate to get our visas, and we have become very familiar with the various marine supply stores.

Also, we must keep the holding tank pumped out – before we were to be hauled out we made a mastless dash for the police dock to pump out. We were rewarded with the sight of the “Californian”

and the Liberty ship “Jeremiah O’Brien” heading out to sea. We had been on board her a few days previously, as well a Victory ship. It is wonderful to tour these moving, functional historical vessels. The engine room on the O’Brien was still hot, and the engineer was maintaining steam pressure for auxiliary equipment when we visited.

As we motored back to the yard, we had one of those oops moments….check out how close Marcy’s wake is to the bouy, we really didn’t deserve to miss it. Nailing such a bouy dead on at 6 kts would be a very nasty thing! I think I was too busy ogling the schooner….