On my short outings so far, one of the details that I have been reminded of is the lack of tell-tales on the boat. Sailboats are dependent on wind. The direction and strength of wind is what tells me which sails to use and how to trim them. When the wind is blowing more than about 10 knots, it is not too hard to get the general idea about where the wind is coming from. When the wind falls light, it is harder to tell. Even when the wind picks up, it helps a great deal to have a visual indicator to figure out the exact angle the wind is making with respect to the boat.
Without some form of wind direction indicator, I am left to the old-time devices to figure out wind direction. Face into the wind and feel the cooling breeze on both cheeks. When they feel the same, I am facing into the wind. Alternatively, turn my back to the wind and feel the breeze on the back of my neck. When it feels like my neck is being cooled equally on both sides, I am looking dead down wind. These indicator are easily invalidated by physiological factors and even the clothes I am wearing. When the wind is quite cool, one cheek gets slightly numb and the balance of feeling is destroyed when I look into the wind. When I am wearing foul weather gear with a hood or even when I wear a life vest, the back of my neck is partially covered and that source of information is useless.
There are expensive bits of electronics that use a wind vane mounted at the top of the mast. The direction the vane is pointing is reported by a display mounted in the cockpit. Laelia has one of those but according to the display, the wind always blows straight across the starboard rail at right angles to the boat direction. If I were a wealthy yachtsman, I would call an electronics repair guy and have the problem fixed. That may happen someday but in the mean time, I need a less expensive way to deal with the problem.
That's where the tell-tale comes in. A tell-tale is just a piece of fabric tied to a shroud to help me figure out exactly where the wind is coming from. In the picture to the right, the tell-tale is the little red streamer flying from the shroud toward the right side of the picture.
For once, I didn't have to go to West Marine and part with my all-too-scarce dollars to add something to the boat. I stopped at North Sails and asked for some scraps of spinnaker cloth. They gave me one big enough to take care of my need for tell-tales for years to come. Spinnaker cloth is very light weight nylon with extra threads in it to make it rip resistant. When I cut it into narrow strips like this (1/2" x 6") it flies in the lightest breeze and gives me a good visual clue to wind direction.
Ah, would that it were so easy to tell which way the winds of fate blow. Knowing which way to turn in my life seems a dark mystery at the moment. I keep having tantalizing contacts with people who tell me my perfect job is out there and they will put me in contact with the company that will hire me. So far, that has resulted in two phone screen interviews and no offers. Without a job and money coming in, I can't do much more than go for occasional daysail trips, do basic daily maintenance and pray that nothing expensive will break.
To add to the money woes, when I figured out our taxes for 2011, I discovered that I had made a mistake and not nearly enough money was withheld for income tax. That adds to the urgency to find a job and start having some income.
On the positive side, Judy and I are making our peace with our differences. We have been wrestling with the changes in our situation and the effects on our relationship since I retired in June and especially since I bought the boat. We know we love each other and that it is important to keep our relationship alive. I will be spending more time in Placerville with Judy and less time on the boat for now.
But even this development is shrouded in uncertainty. I need to work and I will have to go where the work is. There's not a lot in the Sacramento area so I will most likely not be able to stay here in Placerville. Hopefully, something will turn up in the SF Bay area so I can at least get home on weekends.
In the mean time, I will be spending a couple of days a week on the boat doing whatever I can to get ready for the voyage. Our weather has been unusually warm and sunny for this time or year. I hope to take advantage of some more of those days. That will include going sailing and putting those tell-tales to work to tell which way the wind blows, how to trim the sails and how to set my course.
As for the winds of fate, I still have no tell-tale. Time will tell which way those winds blow.
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