9:00am 8/2/08
Latitude: 25.04min (25.0667)
Longitude: -153.27min (-153.45)
SOG: 1 Knot
Course: 270
DTF: 372
The last couple of days have been full of ups and downs. Thursday there was very little wind which provided the opportunity to deploy Operation Sparky Phase 3. He began using the top portion of his mast, which was about 12 feet tall (much larger than Phase 2), and attempted with all of his strength and ingenuity to re-step it. After agonizing and struggling for hours in trying to get it up and secured, he realized that he needed to make it a little shorter. So he removed 2 feet from the bottom and, after blood, sweat, and tears he successfully secure it. Now he can use his existing lower shrouds, forestay, and a halyard for the backstay. In addition, he now has running halyards. The plan (once there is wind) is to continue using his twin headsails and fly an asymmetrical spinnaker. The rig is also much more stable.
Yesterday, he only went 7 miles in 12 hours, Ruben defined this as torture. The good news was a rain shower in the afternoon, which did not provide any wind, but did give him the opportunity to pull out the soap and take a shower.
He’s also still enjoying the company of George and Gracie, the two fish on his bow reported earlier. They are still with him after 3 days. His father has called them his guardian angels.
The good news Thursday was the lack of wind and small seas so he had the opportunity to accomplish Operation Sparky Phase 3 – but enough already!!! It’s now day 3 with no wind!
PLEASE - everyone reading this, go outside, take off your shoes, flap your arms, twirl around, and do a wind dance for Ruben and Sparky, it would mean the world to us!
You can also send encouragement and support to Ruben and Sparky by going to http://sparkysfo.com/comments/.
-hc
Latitude: 25.04min (25.0667)
Longitude: -153.27min (-153.45)
SOG: 1 Knot
Course: 270
DTF: 372
The last couple of days have been full of ups and downs. Thursday there was very little wind which provided the opportunity to deploy Operation Sparky Phase 3. He began using the top portion of his mast, which was about 12 feet tall (much larger than Phase 2), and attempted with all of his strength and ingenuity to re-step it. After agonizing and struggling for hours in trying to get it up and secured, he realized that he needed to make it a little shorter. So he removed 2 feet from the bottom and, after blood, sweat, and tears he successfully secure it. Now he can use his existing lower shrouds, forestay, and a halyard for the backstay. In addition, he now has running halyards. The plan (once there is wind) is to continue using his twin headsails and fly an asymmetrical spinnaker. The rig is also much more stable.
Yesterday, he only went 7 miles in 12 hours, Ruben defined this as torture. The good news was a rain shower in the afternoon, which did not provide any wind, but did give him the opportunity to pull out the soap and take a shower.
He’s also still enjoying the company of George and Gracie, the two fish on his bow reported earlier. They are still with him after 3 days. His father has called them his guardian angels.
The good news Thursday was the lack of wind and small seas so he had the opportunity to accomplish Operation Sparky Phase 3 – but enough already!!! It’s now day 3 with no wind!
PLEASE - everyone reading this, go outside, take off your shoes, flap your arms, twirl around, and do a wind dance for Ruben and Sparky, it would mean the world to us!
You can also send encouragement and support to Ruben and Sparky by going to http://sparkysfo.com/comments/.
-hc
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