Today's Report
Detail work continued up to the three-day weekend (Anzac Day) that started Friday. Now waiting for the mast step to be constructed following which the mast can be stepped using the boatyard's crane.

Added Comments

Today's Report
Saito-san is getting antsy to leave. The lull this 3-day weekend due to Anzac Day is grating to him but impossible to avoid (for one thing, pay rates are triple for holiday and weekend work).

He anticipates being able to leave May 8 or 9, and says he "hopes" to do abbreviated sea trials before departure.

Added Comments
Normally sea trials take on the order of five days to several weeks of local-area sailing. In this case, being a formerly commissioned and certified vessel, the trials would be more of an engineering nature to confirm and adjust the rigging, judge the sail cut and trim, and in the case of the engine and propulsion system, assess general performance and permit any necessary fine-tuning. Thus a few days should be adequate for the newly refit vessel.

Since various equipment is to be reinstalled on the mast, including wind instruments, radar, GPS antenna, and locator beacon, they will have to be tested and recalibrated.

Saito will need to be familiarized on the new engine. Since Shuten-dohji II also had a Yanmar diesel, the learning curve should be less. He'll also need instructing on the new engine cooling and oil system, as well as on the new battery charger and secondary alternator that can be engaged in the event of a failure of the primary.

Today's Report
Quantum Sails NZ reports the sail cloth material has still not arrived but was due soon -- within the next few days. "The sails will go straight into production when it gets here," we were assured.

The main is expected to take 3 or 4 days, and the other sails 2 days each.

Added Comments
The new sails:

Spectra™ is an advanced fiber developed by Honeywell Corp., and is becoming the state-of-the-art sail material for blue water cruising. As adapted for sail use, it is sold through Quantum (and other sailmakers) under the product name Hydra-Net,™ an extremely tight weave of relatively small polyester yarns interlaced with a Spectra/Dyneema net.

Roughly 70-90% more expensive than sails made solely from Dacron, it is said to "last for years" and is considered ideal for heavy weather conditions and extended cruising use.

Dacron has been the customary "modern" sail cloth and holds up well under normal sailing conditions, but is less hardy than sail material fortified by Spectra, which Honeywell markets for use as body armor and hurricane-proofing.

This forum discusses a range of cruising topics, and includes comments on sail choices.

Today's Report
Sail cloth is now in for the Dacron sails, and production was to start immediately. Final dimensions of main will have to wait until main mast is stepped. Stepping was expected to occur on Tuesday of this coming week.

Due to the relative simplicity of the sails, each is expected to take 2 days, reducing production time by several days.