Thanks for the advice on Varuna's deck leaks. The problem was that sitting on her trailer tilting slightly forward, that during Maine's endless rains in May water was running off the upper (i.e. hidden) surface of the cabin top liner and dripping on the electric panels from behind (both sides!!!) I had visions of rapid salt water wire corrosion when in the water, so made rubber guards out of tire inner tubes to shield the panels. But.... miracle of miracles, Varuna was launched on June 1 and we've had 7" of rain already this month and there is no sign of of leakage anymore. Yeah, I know.... take off the genoa track, stanchions, and all deck hardware and rebed, but I'm going sailing this summer!
I've been out every day this week learning the ropes in 10-15kn of wind. I've got a pretty good jiffy reefing system worked out (Tim Hendley, Varuna's owner from 1989-2003 replaced Tania's bent boom and never had a quick/effecient system,) and find that the Autohelm steers beautifully while I'm up on deck messing around with the main.
Tell me, where does everyone have their topping lift lead to? Varuna's is to a cleat on the mast, whereas I'd prefer it in the cockpit to one of the two line stoppers on the cabin top that are there at the moment for special foresail halyards that I doubt I'll use much at all.
I'm also a bit unclear about shroud tension, as the leeward shrouds go slack with the rail under at 500lb of tension on the 3/16" shrouds. And since I can't measure the forestay tension with the furler in place, what should I set the backstay at??.... it is 1/4".
Any help much appreciated.
Cheers, Sam