Seasons greetings from New Zealand.
2008 saw my first attempt at wind power with a Hugh Piggott 10 footer. The tests I did for the 6 months up to September I deemed a success so my bonus from work was spent on the decent battery bank (450A/hr @ 24v) and the parts for the permanent 12m mast have been collected.
The new mast got up to 45 degrees yesterday when I realised that a small redesign is required with the connection of the main strainer guy-wire to the gin pole - it was too high off the ground to reach it to remove the shackle to allow the mast to go all the way up.
Good practice raising and lowering with the tractor though and temperatures forecast in the low twenties (Celsius) for the next few days means it will be a relaxing way to spend the holiday :-)
Happy New Year to all as well.