Almost all the jobs are done.  We went for a test sail this afternoon.  The weather was mild and the wind too.  We had a lovely slowish sail.  The boat perfomed well with no new faults found.  The Monitor windvane steering was superb, and as well as steering upwind when set up to do so, it steered us downwind in light airs without difficult on the way back to the RNSYS at the end of the day (downwind being the hardest point of sail for mechanical wind systems). 

 

My boat handling was rather rusty, but improving by the end of the sail. 

 

The only problem was our sail ties which snapped when used to tied down the storm jib when we were testing it.  Our sail ties have never been very good, and have become UV damaged now.  On our return Fiona has left a bundle of new ‘North Sails’ sail ties with the RNSYS office.  These are such a contrast with our old ones.  They feel soft in use, are longer than the old ones, and hold knots well.  Just the ticket. 

 

44:37.28N 63:34.92W