Wednesday, April 18, 2012

High in the Sky!

WOW!..what a view!
 Yesterday,  I was hoisted up the mast of the Wizard to clean the tops and bottoms of the spreaders. This seemed like an easy job...but, having never attempted a ride like this, I didn't know what to expect. We bought a new bosuns chair and I was "elected" to try it out on a simple test run up the mast! These little basket seats are nothing more than a plank of board and a few straps. When attached to the main halyard line,  gravity and personal weight hold you in place while someone you "trust" winches the line  and up you go! I wrapped my knees around the mast as I was slowly hoisted upwards and upwards almost to the top of our  65 ft mast! Wow! The views were fabulous looking over the marina! The boat swaying a little in the breeze...all OK...UNTIL. I looked down...that's when I felt a little queezy...yup...don't look down!

Of course, I had to take a picture, so carefully, I reached for my iphone and captured the down shot...


See, John... waaaay down there?

Once I got to the spreaders, I hoisted up a separate line with a cleaning bucket filled with sponge, soap and water....reached carefully out, one hand holding a spreader wire, while scrubbing the accumulated "gunk" off the spreader bottom and generally inspecting things. My "tummy" felt a "little funny" because of the boat was swaying back and forth, but as long as I didn't look down I was OK...and on the slow ride down, as I entered back into the atmosphere....color returned, again to my face!

Ahhh...safe on deck!

The End