Mon. 8/23/04

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	*Letter from Periauger:* Washington, Monday, 23 August What a lovely still, cool morning at the Washington docks! My commander came over early to take a picture of me on the flat water with my girl friend Kiwi Magic behind me. Today Bill and John and the others unstepped my mast to check out some possible damage. Two days ago, I had felt something pop in my foremast when we were sailing, but did not feel any weakness, and so didn't bother to tell them about it. But Bill had noticed it at Goose Creek: a sliver of wood protruding ever so slightly from my foremast about 4 feet above my deck. This morning they examined it more closely, and noticed that it was not a stress fracture but a sliver of wood which separated along a punky annual ring (this particular stave had been flat sawn). John got his electric Dremel tool from Destiny, gave me a little anesthetic, and he cut away the sliver to see how far in it went. (I think he must have been a good oral and dental surgeon in his past - nothing hurt and it looks quite neat!). John called Craig Wright, my builder in Beaufort, who said that he was not concerned about it compromising the mast (he has seen it before in other boats), and that if John wanted to he could buy some epoxy and coat it (wonderful 18th century repair, guys!). Kent Saunders, my newest crew member, sanded me down, John mixed a bunch of epoxy and put it on. And now I feel better too, but mostly from all the extra attention. Lunch today was provided at the docks by the town, thanks to Lyn Lewis, our Washington liaison. She even brought down the town manager. Lots of TV, magazine and newspaper people keep showing up with their photographers. It sure keeps my commander and crew - and especially Ken Ries - busy fielding questions. My commander and captain seem to enjoy helping the photographers get the footage they want. But then - I'm worth it! My mast was restepped in the afternoon and out we went for another sail with Mike, Ried, Ray, Kent, Ken, Bert Felton and Bill. Bert is a real fan of mine whom everyone likes, who arrives unannounced and in costume, and sits with me to do finish work on my ropes (called lines to real sailors). They sailed me right into the dock without rowing, for which my crew seemed very grateful (even this crew are such wimps sometimes!). I don't see why they think it is so much work to row me. I glide through the water so easily. But, it does take a little effort to get me going and to stop me. It's not like I am dragging my anchor! After another couple of hours of visitors, there was suddenly a flurry of activity on the dock and before you know it, my crew, plus Noel, Myra, Claude, Yvonne, John and Joan were taken away to a barbecue being given for them by a yacht club in that place called "Chocowinity". They came back after dark, jolly and content. John and Bill threw another coat of epoxy on my mast, and took a closer look at my broken nose. I heard them say the diagnosis was good, but that there was a fair amount of compression damage in a six by six inch area (it felt much bigger, believe me!). They cut off a few useless hanging splinters, sanded off my varnish coat and put on some epoxy. Now I won't get any water in my nose. That's all for tonight, fans. Periauger

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