Finally got out for a sail this season. I’m not counting an earlier attempt in July, which was a lovely day, but we didn’t manage to raise sail. This Friday, however, was an action packed day. First, we sorted through the extensive sail inventory and bent on the sails we thought most appropriate for the weather conditions. In other words, we grabbed the ones on the top of the stack. We ended up with the correct main, and a handkerchief of a jib. Just fine for a shakedown sail.

Before heading out, there was one more important detail to attend do: Renaming. The ceremony has two parts. First the old name must be expunged from Poseidon’s Ledger of the Deep. Then, and only then, can the new name be added. As the skipper appealed to the gods of both sea and wind, we looked on, awaiting our time to share some of the libation.

With the ceremony complete, we cast off the lines and motored off on the newly named S.V. Leviathan. We were confident that the gods would see to it that her mighty, and recently rebuilt, diesel engine would deliver us not only to the prime sailing grounds of Long Island Sound, but also safely back to the mooring.

We had a lovely sail indeed. No need to deploy the anchor, nor was a tow called for. She handled beautifully and is really going to fly with a more appropriately sized head sail. Here’s to many more fine days on the sea for S.V. Leviathan.

Back on land, our building organized a Longest Table inspired dinner this week. It was great having a chance to chat with some of our neighbors for more than just a few seconds in the lobby or elevator. The food was also great. We brought lasagna and brownies, both of which were wiped out. While I’m glad people enjoyed it, I was hoping for some leftovers.

On the project front, the last of the parts for the display arrived this week. I had been waiting on the LCD driver. I was skeptical that the driver and LCD were going to work together, so hooked it them up on the bench for a quick test. Everything fired up as expected, and with the help of a translation app, I was able to get the menus changed from Mandarin to English and tweak the settings. Putting the rough mockup on it (pictured) revealed a flaw in my design. The viewing angle of the LCD is such that it is difficult to read in portrait orientation. Back to landscape it is. This will necessitate some reworking of the layout. The design is still pretty rough, so now is a great time to fix it.

Links

• Swimming the Hudson River: It’s a thing, but avoid the dead rats, other water hazards.
  Deanne and Gerry have been at it with Urbanswim for a while. I’m glad to see them getting some good press.
• We are all Product Engineers now via Simon Willison’s Weblog
• Mayor Mamdani Offers Bold ‘Vision Zero Reimagined’ But Details Are Few (And NYPD Absent)