Ep 105 ARC 2019 Getting Down to the Wire

As time winds down to departure for the 2019 ARC, boat crews frantically try to finish last minute projects. The ARC opening ceremonies, complete with parade and huge party, drive home the fact that time is running out.

Luckily for us, our early arrival meant that a lot of the big tasks, such as installing our new watermaker, are already complete. But not everything is done. We still have to install new sink faucets and clear a clogged blackwater hose (yuck). There is also still the mast-mounted spinnaker pole that we have to prepare for use. This is something that requires extra lines and blocks, and it’s new for us. We also opt to replace our wire-rope/cable topping lift with a new version made of ultra-strong Dynema. Our new crewmember Luis Oliviera constructs two fantastic “soft shackles” made of 5mm Dynema, while almost simultaneously we have a failure that almost costs us one of our halyards.

As if this isn’t enough, looking forward we see that an oil and filter change for our Suzuki 20hp 4-stroke outboard is due. No time like the present, especially when you have free slave-labor. Wendy and I attend ARC seminars on weather, provisioning, and rigging, but the big event is the Rol Nautic (marine supplies) party. It’s a huge event, with crews dressed up in costume and live music. Wow, what an experience!

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