We've left the marina and come out to the mooring balls on the other side of the channel to replace the old sail halyards with new. The positives of being on a mooring over being on a fixed dock is we will sit to wind which is a major advantage when working with the sails. As they are lowered they'll lie on the deck and as they're hoisted they won't be trying to wrap themselves around us and the rigging.
An hour before sunset the wind usually eases off so time to jump to action mode. We begin with the mizzen because it's shorter and the sail smaller while we hone our technique. Our technique is to unfurl and drop the sail, join the end of the old line to the new with a needle and strong thread and a wrap of tape (streamline to go through mast and pulleys without catching), pull the new line into position and detach the old, attach the new line onto the sail and hoist it aloft and furl.
Next afternoon we swapped out the main and genoa halyards and the replaced the old, used dinghy lift. The old lines, which we assume are the originals Amel fitted in 1997, all looked in good shape. However, so did the main last time we checked. Now we have peace mind ahead of the next ocean crossing...and exiting the channel between the reefs!
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