Scott and Annie... Off 2 Sea the World: February 2012

Carpe Diem

Whenever, I get the chance, I love to ask other sailors about their boat name. Our name, Carpe Diem, may seem self evident. However, it really goes much deeper than just “good advice”. A few years back, Scott was told he had less than 6 months to live. Colon cancer had gone undetected for too many years. After 6 months of intense chemo... he finally made it. Then a few years later, complications from a double-by-pass almost killed him again. Today he doesn't let his BP and severe diabetes slow him down. Two years ago he lost most of his vision in one eye and partially in the other...and the list goes on and on and on.

Having a boat to work on (along with a regiment of insulin and dozens of medications) keeps him sailing and out of the ER. This boat probably saved his life! I often think “SURVIVOR” would be a good name for our boat. But that would be a constant reminder of the past struggles. So, for now we try to live one day at a time, and carpe diem, “seize the day”.

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February 6, 2012

NEW MACK PACK AND MAIN SAIL

While Annie flew home to see kids and grand kids, Scott continued to make improvements to the boat.
Starting with a new MAIN SAIL made for us by a company out of Stuart Florida...Mack Sails. It seems to be a little larger than our old sail and with a deeper pocket. We can't wait to get out and fly it!!

Above is a video of the first time we raised it. They installed a new track up the mast so the sail raised like a dream. We still have to add the reefing lines and Scott is also running all the lines back to the cockpit. This is a project we have wanted to do since we bought the boat.

We quickly learned that a brand new sail is extremely stiff and a real pain to flake. Mack Sails also makes a lazy jack system called a Mack Pack. It really works slick. The sail just falls into it and no cover to put on.

They say it takes about a year for the sail to "relax" and flake into the Mack Pack on it's own. We will keep you posted on that. Hope it doesn't take that long. Scott also had them add new sacrificial sunbrella to our genoa. So many little things that needed done. It never ends. It's a boat!

After inspecting and tuning the rigging, they suggested we add a halyard guard on top of the roller furling to keep it from twisting. Can't wait to go out and try all this new stuff out.