Since returning from the Vancouver Island trip, I’ve been pretty low energy, concentrating on keeping my expenses down (I’ve ditched the car! RIP Lola, you will be remembered), eating healthily and resisting the temptation just to eat ice cream and cheese sandwiches. I’ve still managed to get out a little bit now and then.

The other day I repacked the stuffing box for the rudder AGAIN – for those keeping track, that’s the 3rd time I’ve done this now. This time it entailed taking apart the autopilot tiller arm, taking off the steering quadrant, partially dropping the rudder and then pulling off the stuffing box, all while hanging extremely uncomfortably upside down in the rear lazarette and bobbing about. I repacked with new teflon coated packing in an attempt to FINALLY stop the damn leaking and then put it all back together again, the whole thing taking maybe 4 to 5 hours.

It didn’t work. FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff

At this point I think either I’m using the wrong sized packing (3/16″) or my stuffing box itself is completely shot and leaking. Either way I’m at a bit of a loss. I think I am going to wait until I haul out next and then move up a size to 1/4″ and see if that works any better. Failing that, I may need to get a brand new stuffing box. On the plus side I could probably disassemble the whole system with my eyes closed now.

In happier news, I went for my first overnight trip since I got back from VI, sailing to Sidney Spit and rafting up with my Fisherman’s Wharf neighbours, the Nancy Blackett. A very nice evening was had, though I must remember to ask for less rum when Joyce is making the drinks…

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It was my first time single-handing for quite a while as well (as my usual sailing partner Emma is off learning to be a nurse elsewhere) and it was quite a mix of emotion. There is nothing like single-handing and the feeling of freedom you get is pretty exhilarating. On the other hand, it’s nice to have someone to talk to occasionally! On the way to Sidney I heard a distress call about a family being stalked by a wolf on Discovery Island so I swung around the backside of the island to check it out. Sure enough, there was the family, stood on the roof of a building. I watched while the CG came and rescued them. Bizarre.

I’ve also managed to pop out fishing a couple times, once to Sooke where I hooked a bunch of undersized springs that got released and got a keeper which I also released – I got a bit confused as there was a lot going on at the time (double header on the lines, whale scary close). Oh well.

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I also managed to smash my phone somehow in that whole rhubarb which was annoying and makes my already poor photography a bit worse.

Though it’s hard to stay mad with whales and sunsets 🙂

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