04/16/201

So we prepared today for a "snowing hurricane" that never came. Sure, we had the fifty knot winds and the driving rain, but it stayed around 50 degrees out, so at least we didn't have the snow, which was nice. The Jib got bent on, so we have one sail now and the rig was organized and more lines were sent about. I spent the day back at the wood pile, which isn't real exciting, but is very satisfying. We now have an estimated two months of wood cut and bagged with just a bit left in the pile to finish up. All in all, it was a really amazing week as far as our productivity goes, and we've got enough energy among the crew to keep that going and get everything up and running ahead of schedule. Go crew.

04/15/2011

Big day. Got the last of the big sticks on her.

So now she's ready to take on her sails. All the yards are on, the jibboom and flying jibboom are extended and we got the spanker gaff and boom on her after no little bit of work. She's looking like herself. The last big project is getting the sails bent on, and then it's a lot of little projects. You can feel the energy building as we get closer and closer to ready... We're making great time and are definitely going to be ready to go come may. The crew is also getting better and better as we get to know each other.

04/14/2011

Got the last two yards up today, which was far more work and time than the others, but they are pretty huge and heavy, so a bit of extra caution was justified. In the mate's words, however, we got them up without so much as scraping the paint, which is awesome. It was definitely a good effort on everyone's part.

I also took apart, cleaned and altered the pantry shelves in the shore galley, getting them up to fda spec. Time consuming, and not really exciting, but it had to be done, and now the pantry is a bit better organized, which is good.

04/13/2011

Today went pretty solidly as planned for me today. More time in the galley and more time on the capstain getting the top yards in place. Definitely heavier work than yesterday, but good work. Every day she looks a bit more and more like herself. Soon she'll be rigged up nice. I spent a little more time up aloft, rigging and prepping for tomorrow's yards. A little more confident every day.

04/12/2011

Sixteenth work day since I arrived, and we sent the first yards up. She's got both her t'gallants on, which was really light work on the capstain. It looks as though my week will be a lot of working in the galley and then coming out to walk around to send things up, which is fine with me; I'm pretty good at brute force. I also got to go up aloft and run braces in preparation for the top yards tomorrow, which is good for me. It forced me to really think about how things have to work, making sure that the lines lead where they need to. I'm getting better slowly, actually coming to understand how the ship works, which is good. With a little luck I'll actually get to be worth my weight at some point here.

Till then, however, I'll still march that capstain hard as I can.

04/11/2011

This week I am the assistant cook, which means a little less time working on the boat and a little more time working in the galley, cleaning and organizing things. Working with the cook is, however, a good time. She's good people, and I tend to like those.

Between these duties I did get to spend some time out in the headrig seizing on safety ropes and foot ropes, which will make working out there a little easer than it has been so far. A few more things to grab onto and stand on are always good. We are also just about ready to start sending up the yards, which is really exciting.

04/09/2011

Today was mostly spent on important side projects. I was given a handful of volunteers and sent below to clean the bilges. Not the most exciting of jobs, but it is rather important to have the bilges cleaned out before we start stowing all our gear and food below. That took up the morning, but everything got pulled out and then the bilges themselves cleaned.

After all that crawling around in the hold, my team and I were sent over to the giant woodpile to start cutting firewood for the season so we can eat. I have to admit, I find that kind of work very relaxing. It's mentally simple, physically satisfying, and requires enough focus to keep you paying attention. We got twenty six bags of wood stored, with probably another five or ten chopped before the end of the day, so I estimate the four of us did a little over three weeks of firewood in a few hours. I'll call it a good day.