As mentioned previously, we are stripping off the old system to make way for the new. Sandy made a valiant effort on Friday and did in fact get quite high before the insanity of what she was doing hit her.
Today I started hauling Tom up the mast to drill out the studs Sandy couldn't get loose. He did just fine for a while until it got to his comfort limit.
There was nothing left for it but to strap on the bosun's chair a see if I could take the whole project a bit higher. After all, the buck has to stop somewhere. I just don't do heights very well at all.
We are still experiencing freezing weather. The wind cuts straight through a good pair of track pants as though they never existed. With a tee shirt, 2 long sleeved shirts, a wind breaker vest and a beanie, I could just maintain a bit of core body heat.
It didn't take too long before Tom had winched me up to the first set of spreaders and I had to untie and re-tie the rope that holds us to the mast. Slowly the bolts came out, some with the impact screwdriver, but many had to be drilled out, first with a pilot bit and then a larger bit to get the heads off. Drilling stainless steel is hard at the best of times. Halfway up the mast in the freezing cold is plain idiocy!
The whole operation took somewhere between 3 and 4 hours and the last 20 feet was hard. The best is not to look down, but that is impossible when ropes are being sent up and down with fresh batteries, mast track sections that have to be lowered etc.
Towards the end I knew I was working extremely slowly and deliberately because the cold had taken its toll. By the time I had released the last section both my forearms and my right calf were cramping. I was obviously colder than I realised and was quite concerned that I may not manage the tying and untying of knots on the way down. My fingers were going into spasm and locking up against my palms.
But make it down we did. Sandy had the kettle on and a cup of coffee and steaming hot towels to warm my hands worked wonders.
I would like to think I'd never have to go through that again, at least not before getting to warmer weather, but the new roller furling gear is going to need to be fastened at the top of the mast. At least that will be a lot quicker.
I just can't wait for the Caribbean's sunny days, sandy beaches and palm trees.
Until next time...