Aleria's Adventures

  Beryl is heading in a straight line for the Windward Islands. It looks like it will bruch over Barbados before making it's way over Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines. At current projections the eye will move over Carriacou and then head directly to Jamaica. Because the tropical SSTs are off the charts, they expect rapid development to a Category 4 storm. God help the people.  And, there's a second system forming behind it and expected to follow the same track as high pressure is blocking its way North. Looks like La Nina is doing her thing.  Meanwhile, there's a system forming in the Gulf of Mexico. Here we go. 

  We just had gusts to 48.6 knots. We made the right decision. I would not like to be at anchor in the Aran Islands or Inishbofin in this. 

We launched  Aleria  a week ago and could only clean her up a bit. She was filthy and took a lot of scrubbing. I got the cockpit cleaned up and below decks as well. Didn't have time to get to the decks. Meanwhile, it took Alex a while to secure the docklines and take care of a few issues that needed immediate attention.  We were to return Monday, put up the sails and bring her home starting Tuesday. But the forecast changed dramatically with a gale packing up to 50-knot gusts by Thursday and in the upper 30s by Wednesday. We couldn't take that chance.  I suggested we return on Tuesday afternoon when winds were forecast to be about 10 knots gusting 15 from the North, stay overnight as there would be no wind in the morning and we could finish up what we didn't get to on Tuesday. We had to put up the sails, climb the mizzen to run a halyard we had lost last year, inflate the dinghy, fill the water tanks, check the gas and other systems. Clouds in light Northerlies Tuesday Suns

  Moytura , our work boat, needed a facelift. She was next in the queue after the Black Demon . She's quite an old lady, too, so she needs all the help she can get. Alex added some strength to her keel, sanded her bottom, and painted with undercoat and then antifouling. The sides got yacht paint and now the interior needs some work. Benches are rotting and need reinforcement, chips caused by lobster and shrimp pots need filling, and she needs a coat of paint.  The rig Alex built to work on boats in the shed is pretty cool. Makes turning her over something one person can do on their own. That shed has been quite a good addition. I wish we'd had it 15 years ago.  Thursday I was told by my periodontist that we can save the tooth around which was an infection but it will require some surgery and grafting of material so the bone could regrow. When we will get to Aleria to prep her for seaworthiness remains questionable. But since the travel hoist remains out of commission until the

It was a beautiful calm, sunny evening after a chilly and windy day. Alex said, "How would you like to go for a spin?" I wasn't feeling good but he was looking so hopeful that I had to go along.  We drove down to the slip towing the shiny Century Black Demon with the RTV. We launched her into the calm Bay waters and waited to see what would happen. "She floats," we both exclaimed in unison.  Alex took her out and got her up planing, then returned to pick me up at the dock. She's not the easiest to crawl into or out of. But we managed.  He opened her up and out of our inlet. The choppy waters outside were a bit uncomfortable so we came back in. Half an hour and we were lifting her back out of the water.  The grin on his face from ear to ear was worth every ounce of effort. A winter's work paid off.  The Black Demon is back!  

The steering system has arrived and the steering wheel is beautiful. Varnished wood with indentations in the underside for good grip. The two flagpoles are in, one for the ensign and the other for the burgee. Alex has built side pockets to hold drinks, glasses, etc. And she's already sitting on the trailer. Ghostie has inspected and approved. 

  She's a beauty! The Black Demon will sail again. I must say, it came out geat. Alex and Dmytro did a fabulous job. What a winter project. Now that it's done, all we need are seat cushions and some warm calm weather to launch her into. It's been cold, wet and miserable.