This week we are working on maintenance on Stap Isi and preparing it for the next leg of the trip. Since we knew when we left Moline that we would be making the trip to Mobile almost entirely by motor, we had not worried about getting the sails and rigging all set up. Now it is time to do that. We are sending our main sail to a local sail maker for some modifications, checking all the lines, sheets, halyards, and standing rigging, and basically getting the boat ready to sail. By next week we hope to be ready to take it out into Mobile Bay for a shakedown cruise. Our plans at this point are to be here for about two weeks and then start on the trip to Panama.
One of the questions we are asked frequently concerns how we will keep the batteries charged while on the ocean. Being strong believers in having redundant systems, there are three methods available on Stap Isi for charging our battery system. The engine has a 40 amp alternator so an hour of running the engine would replenish about a day's usage. We also have a 1000 watt gasoline generator on board that can power the battery charger. While under way, the main method of keeping the batteries charged will be a wind generator. This is basically a small wind-driven alternator mounted on a long pole at the stern of the boat. In strong winds it can generate up to 40 amps of current.
Since we had been running the motor so much up to now, we had not worried about installing the wind generator. But when we leave Mobile it will be under sail power so it is time to get the wind generator up and running. This is one of our big projects for the week.
On Monday we finally got connected to the wireless internet system at the marina and were able to download two weeks of email and also to upload the logs to the web site. Everything was put on hold for a bit while we worked through a large backlog of emails.
The rest of the week was spent on various projects on the boat. Mobile has several excellent marine stores so we were able to find or order all the items that we need. On Saturday a cold front with high winds came through and as soon as the temps come up and the wind dies down we will be taking the boat out into Mobile Bay to do some shakedown sails.
On Wednesday we were finally able to get the boat out onto Mobile Bay and get the sails up for the first time. We spent a few hours just sailing along on different points of sail and trying everything out. It all was going well until a shackle holding the main sheet broke and sent a block whistling over Kathy's head. That was the end of the sail for the day. We got the main sheet cleated down, dropped the sail, and motored back in.
We had been saying that one of the goals for this time in Mobile was give everything that had a mind to break a chance to do so. It is much easier to replace parts at a marina in Mobile than it will be on the Gulf or in the Pacific. As soon as we got back in to the marina we replaced the broken shackle and then just to be safe went ahead and replaced all the rest of them on the boat. We also re-checked all the of the hardware to make sure that everything was fastened down tightly.
On Saturday we had a chance to visit the National Weather Service office in Mobile. Through a friend of a friend, we got to meet Keith and Eric, two of the forecasters at the NWS office. Eric is an avid sailor and was able to give us some advice about routing to Panama this time of year and also helped us out by introducing us to some of the weather resources on the web. When we get ready to head South, he and Keith said that they would assist us with choosing a good weather window.
Now that the boat is sailing, our plan at this point is to get it out on the bay every chance we can. Again, we mainly want to make sure that everything is functioning perfectly before we leave and to fix anything that is not.
February was spent putting the finishing touches on the boat and thoroughly testing everything on Mobile Bay. We alternated between sailing and working on the boat, installing something and then going out to test it on the bay. By the third week of the month everything was ready to go and we were just waiting for a weather window.
The trip across the Gulf of Mexico to Isla Mujeres should take us five to six days so we are waiting for a window of at least five days during which the winds and waves are manageable. Eric, the National Weather Service meteorologist, is working with us to find a safe window. Originally we had hoped to leave Mobile on February 27th but the NWS models showed two weather systems moving through the Gulf that week. Not a good time. So we are looking now at the first weekend in March.
While we are looking forward to being on our way back to PNG, we don't want to take unnecessary chances. The goal is to actually get to PNG. So as February comes to an end, we are waiting and taking the opportunity to sail on the bay every chance that we get.