Jim Dabrowski

Working on the jumbo jib. Had to remove the jumbo jib boom so I could lace the sail to it. Now I get to reattach it and re-rig it.

Up top showing the blocks for the jib halyard. I think this is so cool looking.

Where it attaches to the bowsprit.

Jib in place

I got the jib all “hung”? My wonderful seamstress wife made it for me and I just got it attached. Still need to do the lower corner but I’ll do that after I get the next one up there, the jumbo jib.

**I got my flying backstays untwisted! **

I had such trouble with them. As soon as I put a little tension on the lines the blocks would twist all around. A little wax, a little weight on the lines, and tying them off to a different place and they look good!

And behind all those templates you saw the main sail. It’s huge! Over 14” at the base where it’s lashed to the main boom. My wife has graciously consented to see them up for me. I’m so lucky!

Then comes the fore sail. It goes between the fore mast and the main mast.

Right behind it is the jumbo jib. Why jumbo when it’s smaller then the jib? I don’t know.

Jib. This one is all the way at the front close to the deck.

Starting on the sails! I finally realized I don’t have to fully rig things up just to measure up the sails. So I temp rigged the main boom and main gaff and am now on to sail making.

Main boom topping lift belayed to the boom by the main mast.

Main boom topping lift.

Fore mast rigging is about done (for now).

Fore gaff rigging

Things are getting messy at the base of the fore mast. To lift the fore gaff lines start here at the base of the mast and go through those big blocks on the deck.

From there, the fore throat halliyard goes up to the triple block and weaves up and down through the double eventually ending up at a block which then weaves through another block on the rail and gets tied off.

Then, the fore peak halliyard does much the same thing, starting at the base of the mast, going up through fairleads and weaving through the blocks on the gaff before coming back down and like the throat halliyard weaves thorough another block on the rail before being tied off.

It’s been hard keeping these lines taut since they actually work and when I pull on them, the gaff moves up and down and since there’s not a lot of weight to them there’s nothing to hold the lines tight.

But, the main mast is rigged enough for now. Time to move on to the main boom and main gaff!

Fore boom topping lift and sheet. I still don’t know how I’m going to stop them from being all twisty-tailed around.

Jumbo jib boom sheet. I’m keeping things loose right now because I’m going to have to un-rig all this to attach the sails.

Guess it’s been a while. Got the flying backstays done. They’re twisting up on me when I try to tighten them up. I want to re do them a bit later. Then just finished up the inhaul tackle. This was hard. The chain, the double block. Tiny tiny stuff.

After a bit of a pause for some travel I’m back at it. Main top mast shrouds and ratlines are done.

Main mast shrouds and ratlines are done. Looking good if you ask me. Next up, main top mast.

Moving on up. Another section done.

The Bears offensive line is starting to take shape. They picked up a likely right tackle and given what I’ve heard in all the pre-draft chatter, I think they might pick up a center in the 2nd or 3rd round. Given this, I think going into training camp we’ll see the following:

Left Tackle: Braxton Jones Left Guard: Competition between Cody Whitehair and Teven Jenkins Center: Competition between Lucas Patrick, Rookie Draft Pick TBD, and Cody Whitehair Right Guard: Nate Davis Right Tackle: Darnell Wright with Larry Borom being the backup swing tackle.

If this is how this plays out, the Bears might have a competent offensive line this season. That would be nice.

First of the starboard ratlines done.

Main mast port ratlines are done!

Another section of ratlines done.