"Mast Monkeys" (Action, Camera, Lights)

Wayne and Rich gaze up while the Galley Wench aka "mast
monkey" figures out how to remove the anchor light
atop Journey's mast.

What goes up must come down, and, up again from time to time on a sailboat.  That's when a "mast monkey" of the homo sapiens species is called for.  

Now that we're nearly ready to set sail, the time was right to fix our anchor light, 42' up, atop our main mast.  Fortunately, the task is less about skill and more about fearlessness of heights.   Wayne abounds in the former, and, when feeling well secured, your Galley Wench, the latter. Together we make a good team.

Much easier to get this screw out
from 42' up than in.

Wayne harnessed me securely in our mountain climbing bosun's chair, and winched me up the mast, with our marina neighbor Rich, of Side-by-Side.  Unscrewing the light was a relatively simple matter, followed by bring it down for further inspection.  Getting it back up again after the parts came in, was much more challenging.... getting that stubby screw in "just right."

Anchor light, sans lens.

When it came to removing the tv antenna (we don't watch tv) the ancient, dead radar, and the spreader lights, Wayne's FlightStar colleague Tina (click here to see her awesome kayaking blog), stepped up to the plate, or, rather, shimmied up the mast.  Tina relished the climb, and possessed the trifecta of exuberance, strength and mechanical prowess. Tina's photos clarified for Wayne that all that was needed was a fresh set of bulbs.

Wayne gritted his teeth and quickly replaced the spreader light bulbs when they came in.

Tina prepares for her 1st
mast monkey adventure,
harnessed for scaling
Journey's mast.

Action, camera, lights!  Mission accomplished!  

All that's left on our gating items before setting sail is the arrival and install of our new tachometer and engine hour meter, due in December 2nd and primary nonperishable food provisioning for the next 6 months.  We're planning to take off the 3rd, before Jacksonville's railroad bridge openings stop river traffic for a week and a half. Fingers crossed!

Tv antenna with a bit of corrosion.

Jacksonville and Ortega Landing Marina have been very good to us, but it's time to move on.

Tina takes a self portrait of her mast monkey experience.

Tina's mast monkey view above spreader lights on main mast.
Note the green algae bloom; why Dana's kayak is not in the water.

Ancient radar's future home...

Wayne offers coaching from below.

Tina's spreader light photo offered
a good assessment.

Ahhh... pretty indigo color - dead bulbs!