Day 23
Days remaining 211.

Update: Blackbird.

OK, quick update, as you can see the bow is nearly all on and (what you can't see because it's black on black and inside!) the transom frame, forestay and wand base assembly and a 1/4 frame to keep the rear wing bars vertical when gluing (and give more support in use) are all in place.

I guess what you can also see is just how low profile the foredeck is.. Well there's not a lot of one is there! It seems from scaling and looking at other stuff that there's as much volume  up forward as everyone else, and a total of about 220litres, so it's going to float just fine, but I think it will be a bit 'twitchy' on the lowriding bear away... Until I've figured out where to sit :-)

Next is to cut the 'bonnet' and start fitting the deck - which like all fine craft built these days has a sunken garden and a water slide to the sundeck.  I'm serious (although you would have to be very small to make any use of either)... The sunken garden is pretty obvious.... With such a low foredeck, I wanted enough space behind it to put all the systems, and also, I want the vang take off point to be as low as I can get it, so locally behind the foredeck bulkhead and back to the centreboard case, I have dropped the deck by a couple of inches... As with all gardens, it slopes away from the house (mast bulkhead) and drains (into the centreboard case)... Hey presto, loads of space for controls tucked out of the way (under the fairing in fact) and a better vang angle...

I have also, I think figured out a very elegant way to adjust ride height while sailing without using the usual screw assembly which, if I am right, will be a lot quicker than the screw system and work the same on both tacks... I think! Anyway - it's time to start making the main foil so I can take a surface off of it to make the centreboard case, so excuse me while I go and do some stuff!

D