Hike, Bitches!

I had left GBO in my dust so bad I didn't even have him on my radar! But alas, not enough westing in the ocean for the good ship HB bites me in the ass! At least I made it out of the 40's on this leg!!! Good on ya GBO. I knew that I was toast when I was 10 minutes behind Your Mom near the start and the next morning I woke up and he went out and I didn't.

Wow, this group gets tougher and tougher.I got as high as 152, but I didn't go far enough west early in the leg and missed the incoming wind. Since I don't Zezo, that is my excuse.

Hutspot..me neither..I have one at 4815, and one at 4856th. I was able to shoot the gap and pick up 500 boats. So, HB's finish = finished! 4856th 1436.4nm 4d 2h 39m 47s

It is going by too fast.. But we were out tonight in a 4KSB for a beautiful 6-10 knot breeze of beer can racing. TX Shorty!

Thanks for the updated standings. Great work.

Hey dew, good to hear from you. Just make sure your wires to the running lights haven't failed yet from being jammed up inside the cabin liner. This was the FINAL circuit from the old panel that I've re-wired. I finally re-ran mine after seeing the chafe during the anchor lid work. I ran a new set of wires thru the v-berth and into the anchor locker via daylight I saw in the laminate in the sunlight, and sealed it up with 4200. I like the panel too..way overkill for our old boats, but big fun. I bet I am probably using about 65% of the breakers now..(I'd have to check..it is nice to separate the circuits at will). Will you be up in Solomons for Screwpile this year?!?!?! grrr..i am using an iPad for chartplotting in a LifeProof case. It is attached to a spring loaded RAM mount clamp. I usually attach it to one of the companionway handrails..Bright sun is a problem..my bimini has helped a bit. The clamp mount also lets me attach it to one of the main cabin handholds, but you need to be able to see that from the helm position. To move forward on that, I have ST40 instruments. I have been researching a ~$100 box that will take old-school SeaTalk and spew it over WiFi along with AIS data and send it to the iPad..I haven't pulled the trigger on it yet. I like having AIS data for the ships and tugs we see on the Chesapeake, but right now that is my phone with the mAIS app. Here is a link to the unit I am considering. https://www.tindie.com/products/Quarkelec/qk-a027-wireless-aisgps-receiver-with-seatalk/ I still do not mind getting on VHF Ch13 to chat with the pilots. They are usually thankful someone is paying attention to them rumbling up or down the Bay at 15-20 knots and want to chat for a minute.

Thanks again to all the scorers, and also Hi to @sailingk8..congrats for finishing !!

Rub it in asshole...in French too! I am surprised your sail doesn't say Regatta de Virtualé

no pics to update, but glassed in the core this morning, and did the first 'repair layer' on top after dremeling out and filling the gaps with West six-10. Good stuff...I can see lots more uses for that in the future.

HB details: 4459th 2908.3NM 8d 3h 40m 43s Leading the 'wanker fleet' with the next boat at 2547. Impressive sailing, all..and damn GBO must have grabbed a tow line to be up on the non-wanker fleet. Couple more legs, buddy!

anchor locker in works. Adding a tunnel for the chain, and redoing the core with Nomex.

Hahaha...yeah..it is a BOSS...I have a powerboat anchor on my sailboat...might test it out this weekend..Well..at least we'll detach the 4KSB from the dock. About damn time. Did a bit of electrical work to her in the last couple weeks. Got rid of the old analog gauges that had a 100(!) amp ammeter. C'mon, man! I am lucky to get to 10 amps with all lights and pumps running. The first pic is circa 2013. Still working on the anchor locker lid mods to accommodate the BOSS.

Ah haha haa hahahaha....here comes GBO..right back near me where he belongs. We'll have a race yet, GBO! (Except I hope to be on my own 4KSB this weekend, so who knows if I'll remember to check in to the race!)

Haha..GBO..you are only ten places ahead of me back here in the 40's..I look forward to our upcoming duel when I catch you!!

In the consumer market, I am finding LiFePo batteries that look like AA's in some rechargeable LED landscape type lighting. I had one in my shed light, but it ended up being cheaper to replace the whole unit than find a suitable battery replacement (i.e., a 1.2v NiMH AA was not a drop in replacement, as the LiFePo's are closer in per cell voltage to a 3.7v Lithium ion cell phone battery.) The solar panel tuned to the LiFePo would have probably fried the NiMH pretty quick.