We Are Off, Take Two

The jib sheet is replaced and we have left Brunswick again. George spent the afternoon yesterday threading a messenger line under the deck cover using a tape measure and wire. This morning he went up the mast to thread a messenger line through one hole in the mast and out another.

The wind made the job challenging but he managed to get it done using the high-tech, expensive tool shown in the photo below. 

Next he attached an old main halyard to the messenger lines and pulled the line through the mast, a block, and under the deck cover. The old halyard had chafed at one end but was long enough as a jib sheet with the chafed end removed.

The other end of the line was threaded through blocks and attached to the jib. I was quite impressed that George was able to figure out how to replace the jib sheet since it is rather complicated. Replacing a jib sheet on our last boat involved untying a line, pulling it through a block, then putting the new line through a block and retying it. The job is more complicated on Breeze On because of the self-tacking jib, but we find it well worth it. 

Ironically, choosing to turn around yesterday meant that we lost our opportunity for sailing. The wind is dying down and will remain light for the next few days. We believe we made the right decision, though. If we had stayed the course we could have continued to sail but our options for sail plans would have been severely limited without the jib. We most likely would have been underpowered or overpowered. 

Since we will be motoring for the next four days we will have to stop in Beaufort for fuel. Our plan is to continue on from there all the way home, arriving on Friday. Of course, we know that can change.