Sparky

I have often sworn at my lazy jacks, usually when I have been too lazy to take them to the mast before hoisting the main. My bad. However as a solo sailor I would not be without them when dousing. No great pile of sail on the deck to tidy up.

If outfits like the ones being mentioned in this thread had to pay an 'end of life' tax on the junk they import they would be broke by the end of the month.

Laurent Giles 38 foot sloop.

Well it was minor, a small local area of rot near the top of the transom beneath the backstay chain plate, but what the hell rip it all off and replace with new laminated transom just to be sure. Turned out not to be too major. None of the rot had migrated to the structural bits and bobs.

OOOooooops, and Apology, Memory lapse, forgot about the new stern due to some rot in ply caused by poorly fitted back stay plate,

Old. Wood. Carvel Planked. (1 1/4" NZ Kauri) High Maintenance. Thats my boat. 60 years old. 17 years into my ownership of her and never touched the hull, for any repair or maintenance that I can recall, mind you I am old too (70.s) and may be suffering from some memory loss. The timber hull, with no fancy glue just the plank seams calked in cotton allowing her natural sea water environment to keep her tight and dry. The way boats were meant to be built dry, warm and smelling sweet. I have never once had to dry out a cored deck, repair blisters on the hull, endure expensive osm

It would surprise me if the Westhaven Marina security, are not investigating this on behalf of their customer, as they should be, and could be for all I know, after all they may have the key to the offence and offenders sitting on their camera system, which is probably about to overwrite itself and lose any possible footage forever, unless they have saved the footage. Surely the customer whose boat was broken into, is entitled to have access to the camera footage for the relevant period of time. Twisty is more than entitled to, and should do without delay, request any information from

So the possible video footage of the offender/s is locked away and nothing done. As a former Detective in the NZ Police, I find the police response to the complaint as described by twisty as disgusting and is deserving of a letter to their local MP. You deserve better !!!!!!!!

My bamboo garden stake has never failed. BP, I am an old skipper on an old boat I dont want to change anything.

The tube of New Zealand Cancer Society Everyday sunscreen, SPF 50+. I been using has failed AMA testing. Bloody Hell !!!!! Who can you trust. Plus the Testing Body (USA) was found to have been duddying up the results prior to 2017. Well thats what the Herald reports.

BP I have no liferaft just inflatable, and that is likely to be lashed on fore-deck. So cutting tool essential and attached to inflatable to hack the lashings. I solo, so a quick exit would mean 3 tasks, get grab bag, cut free dinghy, and then toss over side. Quick prayer and follow suit. Well that is 4, I guess. A Solo sailor can at least forget concerns for crew safety etc. I have never carried flares. I have read some of the pros and cons on this forum regarding their value, but have not been persuaded to carry them. The two main concerns in my case is fire or springing a plank, bot

EPIRB in bag for duration of trip. Good idea, thanks folks. I think I have an evaporation problem with the Appletons though.

Appletons I have. Chocolate I have. I good to go then.

What are the essentials of a grab bag for coastal passage. Appreciate suggestions. Or link to previous on this topic.

Ditto on the No 5. 3 years on 2 coats. Gulf Harbour.

That reminds me of Victor Borg (funny and clever guy RIP) "Are you a this one or a that one"

The LPG powered forklift tootling around the GH hardstand has the gas tank mounted lying down on the back.

Good reading on his website to be had. At 75 he deserves a long nap.

According to the YB tracker Mr chiles has been hoveto off Durban for the past 12 hours or so, why would that be?, perhaps problems with entry paperwork or weather? Must be frustrating to be so close but so far from a hot shower.

Have a look at Google Earlth imagery for Lyttelton, clearly taken on a good easterly day, (1.9.15 imagery) and shows accurately the sites mentioned in this thread where there is good shelter from the easter, particulary Diamond Harbour, (where Eric and Susan Hisock anchored for their stay in Lyttelton), Little Port Cooper and the anchorage in the lee of Ripapa Island, all sheltered from what looks like a good and typical easterly tracking down the harbour.

Little Port Cooper, just inside the heads is sheltered from the pesky easterlies, and little swell, nice beach and you can get in reasonably close at the head of the bay. Quite a good overnighter, or back to Purau, in the lee of Ripapa Island, close in. Cruise up the coast with a good forecast is a great sail, the long easterly swell is far more enjoyable than a wicked short chop on the southern lakes. Some great sailing to be had on Lyttelton Harbour. SW blows straight through Gebbies Pass, and accelerates down the harbour, but there is great shelter close in on the northern side of Quail