A BUSY WEEK

Pinoy Boat Service
Port Carmen, Cebu
Philippines

Things were a little more busy this past week. First was redoing the track for the enclosure. This time with no adhesive in case we need to make more adjustments. Next I finally managed to fix a galley light that needed a new switch. While the soldering iron was out it was time to get started on the AIS first attaching the connector for the whip antenna. Soldering is not one of my finer skills but the connector is on and looks to be OK.

Tuesday found me continuing to work on the mounts for the AIS. The L bracket for the whip antenna needed to be modified to attach to our stern arch and it took several tries and most of the day to finally get it correct. Kathy had a trip to Danao where she was able to get the first of her new dresses. The seamstress is now working on the next one. When done Kathy will have four new ones.

Wednesday we had the boat cleaners here doing the inside and outside. On cleaning days there is to much going on for me to get any projects done so I just made a trip to Danao to pickup some laundry. Kathy was kept busy supervising and directing the cleaning operation.

Thursday the folks from Hyde Sails came to continue the fitting of the enclosure. Lots of talking back and forth as the fitting progresses. We are supplying the material and if there is a screwup There may not be enough, therefore the work will progress at a slow pace and hopefully no mistakes will be made. In the afternoon I dismantled the navigation station area in preparation for the mounting of the new chart plotter and running the wires for the AIS. The area may stay torn up for awhile as we also need to get behind the panel to access the bolt in the genoa track. We also started an increased weather watch as the GRIB files showed what could be an approaching typhoon.

Friday we first continued on our weather watch. My morning routine always begins with the gathering of weather information. I first check GRIB files out six days. These give me wind forecasts for that  six day period, Next it's the Philippine site Typhoon 2000, Then the US Navy's Joint Typhoon warning site depending on what I've seen I may then check several other to try to figure what is in store for us for the next several days. The Friday reports showed tropical storm "Luis", the Philippine name, on a projected track to the northeast coast of the Philippine Island of Luzon. The track wold keep it well north of our location. Next was running the wires for the AIS down through our stainless steel stern arch and then behind various cabinets up to the navigation station. This took the rest of the day.

Saturday showed "Luis" to continue well to our north.  We would get some wind and rain but nothing severe. Landfall on Luzon was predicted for Sunday evening. Rather than continuing on the AIS and plotter I embarked on replacing a faulty alternator on the engine. Actually after much testing it turned out to be the voltage regulator that needed changing. A spare was installed and now the alternator is once again putting out.

Today, a normal rest day, was spent hooking up the electrical to both the AIS and plotter. The plotter is working correctly. I believe that the AIS is too but need to have one of the other yachtie's here turn on there receiver to really see that it is putting out a signal. On our receive side I was unable to get either of our computers to recognize the AIS, tomorrow I'll get some help from another yachtie who is more computer literate than I.

THE PROJECTED TRACK WHEN "LUIS"
WAS A TROPICAL DEPRESSION

SATURDAY'S GRAPHIC OF "LUIS"