The next morning after having coffee with Sydney on his veranda, we walked down to the boat yard. Greig was very eager to see his girl after three months. Unfortunately, when we arrived she was not where we had left her, so Greig spent a few anxious minutes wandering around the yard looking for his baby. At the very end of the yard at in the back corner, we found her all safe and secure.

When we went on board we burned our feet on the deck, as there is no canvas up, but when we went inside she was as clean as when we left her. She looked like she had been raided but there was no mould and she smelled fine. Before we left, we used vinegar on every hard surface we could reach; both inside and outside cupboards, deck heads, bulkheads, and decks. We opened all the cupboards and floors, and stood up all the cushions on their sides to allow air circulation. We had sails on the seats and rolled on the deck, and all sorts of canvas decorating both the sleeping cabins. But it was all good, and all we had to do was put it back in place, and give her a wash on the inside and she would be right as rain.

Too bad, we couldn’t say that for the outside. We still have a ton of work to do out in the blistering sun. We can start that tomorrow.