There has been an important development over the past few weeks. Last time we visited the buoy, the West-facing support buoy was closer to the surface than the East-facing support buoy. We assumed that was caused by the NE winds that day, giving the West-facing lines and chains more slack. However, over the past few weeks, we have noticed that the West-facing support buoy was partially emerged out of the water. Friday's visit was during a period of W winds, and the buoy was still sitting at the surface. This now confirms to us that the East-facing line, particularly the black elastic line that attracts gooseneck barnacles between the main buoy and the support buoy, has been ultimately stretched as a result of the predominantly NE winter winds. A decision regarding the need for replacing the line has not yet been made.
On the bright side, there were many fewer gooseneck barnacles to be plucked. The cleaning of the lines and structure dealt with mostly the same reddish-brown turf algae as before, but in slightly thicker abundance due to the warming weather. With low currents, the barnacles and clumps of algae that were sent slowly drifting down to the bottom quickly surrounded us in a murky cloud and caught the attention of many hungry queen triggerfish and black durgons.
All connection points and chains showed no signs of damage or change, with the exception of the duct tape surrounding the loop of rubber sheath on the lines near the anchor points. In this photo from early January, you can see that the duct tape has started to come off. Now, nearly two months later, it's almost entirely unravelled, but we'll continue to monitor it for any effect it may have on the splice.
