Mainsail hi-jinx

After much deliberation and investigation on-line we ordered a new batten-less mainsail for Kabuki about 3 months ago. The sail maker duly made it up for us, but then we had to wait for a fine, non-windy weekend to try it on for size. Unfortunately when we put it on, it did not quite cut the mustard, and we had to send it back to be re-sized. The second try was a bit better, but still the reefing eyes weren't right, and they had put two many slides on to be able to get the second reef in. So back it has gone to the sail maker to have some more tweaking.

We have never had this much trouble with a sail before, perhaps we have been very lucky in the past. It could also be because it is a batten-less main, they are not made a commonly as the battened variety, and so take a bit more tweaking to get them right. Anyway I can't wait to get it on and sorted.

We are also getting ready to have a stainless arch built over the push-pit for a Aerogen 4 wind generator and another solar panel. Paul has designed it to be movable so that we can lower it when being hauled out on a travel lift. Hopefully it will look alright, we have not seen many Westsails with an arch, and when I asked on the Owners Association, I got no replies. So we will be putting Kabuki on a jetty down at Riverside Drive Marina for a week to have this built.

It is coming up to the time of year when we are due to haul out, Paul is making his lists of jobs to be done. This year will be a big one, we are contemplating re-sealing the rest of our cap-rails, pulling the mast, re-doing the deck tread paint on the decks and cabin top, and Paul wants to peel the hull and have it re done. So it could be a long time out of the water for our girl. It is fitting that we do a good job for Kabuki, as she will be turning 40 years old next year.
Anyway hope all is going well for you out there in blog land, spring is here for us, summer is just around the corner yipee.