It Doesn’t Matter

s/v Oriane has traveled the waters from mid-May until this moment. We have traveled from multi-layered clothing to tee shirts and shorts back to long pants and sweatshirts. We have seen many wondrous things along the coast of Maine this season from Portland to Mt. Desert that can only be seen from a boat.

Today it’s raining; it doesn’t matter.

We find ourselves in snug Perry Creek after Friday’s sporty and speedy broad reach sail across the bay. Saturday was calm. A day that warned of forecasted rain that didn’t materialize. A day of exploring the anchorage with dinghy and paddleboard. A day of wandering Vinalhaven Landtrust’s A.W. Smith Preserve trails to vistas previously unexplored. A day of visiting old friends and new; a day of performing minor boat chores.

Today it’s raining; it doesn’t matter.

Yesterday saw simple gourmet food passed out of the galley and arranged on the cockpit table then savored with pleasure and view as if in the most sought after coastal restaurant. Book pages were turned, music was played and a movie watched.

For me today is two-score and nine on s/v Oriane.

Today it’s raining and it doesn’t matter.

sv Oriane has over 700 nm under her keel so far this summer.  Today we find ourselves hunkered down in Northeast Harbor on Mt. Desert awaiting the effects of TS Elsa. I can't think of a better place to be in this kind of weather.

Yesterday was a day to remember. Here are my thoughts about a Somes Sound day.

"Today was one of those perfect mornings on the coast of Maine. A loon's gentle, haunting wakeup cry alerts us to the new day. A single lobster boat’s distant wake creates a soothing rocking as the fisherman presses slowly around the orchard of multicolored buoys. The air and the cockpit are dry and comfortable as the sun rises over Mt Norumbaga on Somes Sound’s eastern shore.

Man o’War Brook astern gurgles a soothing cascade as fresh water seeks sea level over the last rocky precipice.

It’s a coffee then fresh blueberry pancakes enjoyed in the cockpit kind of day. A sail up to Somes Harbor (photo) and back on a easy breeze. The perfect coast o’Maine morning."

In Somesville for a morning stroll.

Shrimp and fresh Lobster pasta dinner

Oriane 2021 Spring Commissioning

 4/20 First day -

• Remove winter cover
• Screwdriver disappears down port deck drain by bad luck
• Attempt to retrieve screwdriver- unsuccessful
• Access port for rear of engine measured
• Bimini and dodger reinstalled
• Solar option explored

4/24

• Access port installed in quarter berth
• Install re-pitched prop
• Zincs installed
• Batteries hooked up
• Depth Transponder tested and proved inop
• Attempt to retrieve screwdriver- unsuccessful

5/1-5/2

• Deck sanded, cleaned and lightened
• Transponder removed (7 hrs of effort)
• Washed and waxed hull
• Solar prelim install and functioning
• Teak oil deck
• Attempt to retrieve screwdriver - unsuccessful

5/8-5/9

• Commission engine
• Remove deck drain hose (very difficult location) to retrieve lost screwdriver (2 hrs)
• Replace old hose with new – didn’t make sense to put back 39 year old hose due to difficult location
• Install new depth transducer
• Paint bottom
• Clean and wax cabin top
• Reinstall barbecue on stern rail
• Reinstall wifi antenna
• Final install of solar system

Left to do before launch

• Bring gear to boat including Pip
• Clean and reposition speed transducer
• Begin electrical panel clean up
• Finish bottom paint under stanchions
• Clean interior
• Commission and fill water tanks
• Commission water heater

Launch scheduled 5/18

Spring commissioning

 Oriane's spring commissioning is about to begin.

Cover coming off soon. After that the list of maintenance currently is:

• Finish commissioning engine
• Reinstall repitched prop (from 17/10 to 17/12) to correct for new transmission gear ratio
• Bottom paint
• Clean and wax hull
• Sand and treat teak decks
• Replace depth sounder transponder
• Rebuild speed transponder
• Determine if new batteries are required
• Cut access panel in quarterberth for easier access to transmission area
• Reinstall dodger and bimini
• Install solar panel and controler
• Clean interior
• Install new barometer
• Commission water system
• Launch May 18
• Bend on sails

2020

Wierd times.

We'll be on the boat after strict 2 week quarantine starting on the 27th. Boat launch scheduled for June 11.  After transferring all the gear onto the boat, we'll be heading to isolated harbors and only occasionally coming ashore for supplies in one of 4 harbors - Rockland, Belfast, Castine or NE Harbor MDI.  If Canada opens border we may consider a trip to NB or NS.

Stay safe - we will be doing our part.

Spring pre-launch work done 5/11 – 5/12

­­­Electrical

o   Install WiFi Booster antenna Install gear in progress

Deck

o   Service winches

o   Retrieve spinnaker halyard

o   Clean and refresh teak deck

o   Repair tv antenna connection

o   Clean and wax cabin top and cockpit

o   Replace Starboard Flag Halyard

Below Decks/Interior

o   Investigate and Identify head hoses

o   Oil interior teak In Progress

Misc.

o   Move gear to boat In progress

Spring List gets shorter and Oriane get's her name

Making sure her name is in the right place.

Oriane - done!

Oriane Spring 2019 Work Items done weekend of May 4/5

­­­Deck

o   Measure and mark anchor rode – rode is 200’ long including chain, 5/8” nylon 3 strand marked every 30’.

o   Arrange for new graphics for name and hailing port

o   Affix new graphics on stern

o   Reinstall Monitor windvane

Below Decks/Interior

o   Service all seacocks

o   Clean under galley sink

o   Replace cabin lights with LED’s

Misc.

o   Move gear to boat In progress

o   Investigate teak deck cleaning and treatments