Hey all,

Just wanted to update you on our pre-season activities.  Spirit is in the repair shed right now!  Of course, this is later than hoped, but Jorge doesn’t view this as a big job and it seems likely that she’ll be complete next week.  He’s also going to reinstall the jib tracks (faster than I could get it done) and do the wash/wax to have her looking right.  Prior to launch we’ll have a few things left to do:

Tow the boat back down to Newport

Burnish the paint (hopefully all new!)

Sand/Prime/Paint the saildrive and replace zincs

Put the mast back together

Then we’ll be at the mercy of Casey’s to step the spar and get Spirit back in the water.  I hope this would be done expeditiously, but we’ll see.  As you know, only then can we start all of the work regarding rig tune, running rigging install and getting the safety stuff installed.  Honestly, as I sit here typing this it seems like JYC #1  is in some jeopardy but we really won’t know until we get through the next week.  I will keep you posted!  Meanwhile, you will notice I have now formally canceled Practice #1 and Practice #2.  We’ll still need to get on the water and practice; I’m just not sure where we can make that fit at the moment.  So as we used to say in the military, “Semper Gumby”, which is of course Latin for “Stay flexible”.  ; )  More from me soon!