Today was an exciting day - we actually went sailing! After the GC, a combination of work, injury and, of course, bad weather, have meant that we haven't been sailing since August.

Forecast today was for 15-17 knots. In fact, it was consistently over 20 knots, but we decided to believe the forecast rather than empirical observations and went out, albeit 2-up with main+kite only.

2 laps, a pitchpole, a cut eyelid (Ann's) and a bruised thigh (mine) later, we'd discovered the hard way that my mast still leaks <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

I don't think it was the expanding epoxy fix we did last year that leaked, as that looked pretty solid, so I think it's either the diamond connectors, or the plug above the downhaul. I had rescue guys cut the epoxy to drain the mast, so I've got a bit of a repair job to do.

The good news is that I've found a good solution to the problems I had getting my sail hooked and unhooked. Those of you at the GC may have noticed that I had the boat on its side just about every day that we sailed trying to get the sail either up or down. I got one of these halyard rings:

http://www.cat-bitz.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_Sheets_and_Halyards.html

and it seems to work very well. The difference compared to the existing one is the extra loop on the top, and the shackle at the bottom is both longer and wider.

Anyway, good to get back on the water, and despite the injuries we're keen to go and do it again!

Paul

PS if you ever find yourself turtled with a mast full of water, unclip a trapeze and have the rescue boat pull it sideways. If you don't have a rescue boat, give up <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Take care of yourselves.

Gill