This evening I went for a brief training tour. It was raining. Sailing by rain with a drysuit is better than staying in the harbour and getting wet for no good reason.
Just before taking off I met my ultranice boat neighbor Jack. A young guy sailing this huge classic wooden boat, parked on the same pier E.
We talked about maneuvering in a harbour without engine, made a little plan (pier review) and I gave it a try. Big success! I managed to leave the harbour under sail, with no engine. So much easier to set the main sail in calm water – no delay after leaving the port. No fuel needed – only natural forces.
Out on the sea the wind was a bit stronger than expected. So I sailed with only one (of two) foresails and still averaged 7 knots.
The horizon faded into pitch-black. On this short trip I could always see the coastline, there was no advanced navigation necessary.
Full track can be found here: > https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/7833434678
Back in town I ordered a Vikingbåt pizza, then enjoyed my 1 kW electrical heater in the living hull. (Shore power / Landstrom) electricity is flowing only since Monday. After a week with almost no heating this feels like life in the Carribean.
Before I had shore power I used a tiny 12 Volt heater…
… which was powered by my huge 48 Volt batteries, through a step-down converter:
Besides heating, the 48 Volt -> 12 Volt converter now can power all other 12 Volt devices and charge the 12 Volt lead battery.
So… everything around the boat is progressing.
Es geht ständig voran.
Touring Test 