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| Guess who is 10 mos today? No matter what setbacks we encounter, this happy little person makes it all okay*. |
Turns out our baby stay deck fitting doesn't have a backing plate and/or is not properly set up to withstand the loads of a full sail. This is a very big deal and a huge oversight. We could blame the rigger, we could question how on earth he would attach a stay to our deck without making sure the fitting was secure but blame doesn't get us anywhere. The truth of the matter is we know better and we have no one to blame but ourselves. We should have checked the fitting because (lesson time) assuming makes an ASS out of U and ME.
But here's the thing; we can choose to look at this relatively minor setback in one of two ways:
1) This is yet another problem that we have to fix and now we'll be delayed further, this sucks, boats suck, wah, wah.
OR...
As one blog follower said on our Facebook page, "Two steps back now will save you 50 steps back in a gale. The universe again conspires to help you succeed in your venture!" And he is exactly right. If Scott hadn't been in the v-berth securing Isla's bed to the hull yesterday, he never would have heard our boat neighbor talking to a friend about our stays'l and mention that it probably had a "huge backing plate". Overhearing that conversation caused Scott to take pause, question and check just to "make sure". Lo and behold, our staysail was simply screwed into the deck and -upon further inspection - the deck was actually bowing under the pressure of the stay. Our deck was literally one mast pump away from blowing a hole right over where Isla sleeps.
So, really, we are very lucky. We'll make this right and hopefully it doesn't set us back too far. Those Bahamas charts are still out, and we're eager to use them.
* Those are all natural veggie dog pieces Isla is eating amongst her veggies, not hot dogs. I feel compelled to clarify that.
6 comments:
Oh my gosh, , this makes me want to ask the name of your rigger so we know who not to use! Reading that literally made my heart skip a beat. It's one thing to cut corners or do a shoddy job on something like a wax or paint job, but to NOT install a backing plate on a STAY? That is absolutely terrifying. So so so happy that you found out now!
Glad you guys found it before heading out to sea! I think the rigger who did it should refund the price of his labor. If he won't you can always use the blog to pressure him. Also, the FL department of consumer protection is pretty good for helping consumers out. I had to use them once to get a refund on a shoddy hydraulic steering cylinder rebuild done by a FL company.
Wow! That sucks, but as you said ... so lucky to find out now before any damage occurred!
We know the feeling of "one step forward, two steps back"! But, such is life.
Best wishes that all is resolved soon on Asante!
Holy hell, that just totally freaked me out. Sweet Isla...
I love your perspective on this. You really are lucky! Sure, it's a PITA, but *thank goodness*. So you go with your sunshiny self, Brittany, it's a lovely glow!
I love that you clarified Isla's food, that was the best part of this entry for me! Although if she was eating real hot dogs I would not have judged at ALL :) Glad you discovered this oversight before setting sail. I cannot wait to read (and live vicariously through you) about your voyages, but am glad that this was found now instead of later like you mentioned.
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