From Norsand Boatyard Haulout
It's like Groundhog Day here. Every day we're under the boat all day, lately it's been going round & round it with paint. One day blends into the next. It's almost done. We've got 5 coats of barrier and 3 coats of black bottom paint on. It looks good! We had the guys jack us up today so we can get to the last little spots under the keel. It's supposed to rain this weekend so that'll be interesting but no matter what, we need to be ready to splash on Tuesday.

From Norsand Boatyard Haulout

The bowsprit is back on with 6 coats of varnish, 2 to go once we get launched. It looks like a piece of furniture. We have concerns that the wood wasn't dry enough before they carved it since we see little cracks at the tip but there's nothing to do now except keep recoating it every time it opens up until it doesn't do it anymore. I certainly don't want any more maintenance than we already have.

From Norsand Boatyard Haulout


We reconnected the furlers today & the sailmaker is coming Monday with our sails. We had some replaced and some repaired. Rudder is back up and steering quadrant connected. Prop Speed was put on today so hopefully it's slick finish will prevent any growth on the prop. The anchor came back re-galvanized. Every time we've taken anything apart, we've tried to replace the bolts & nuts, either polish the fitting ourselves or get it serviced by a stainless shop since we found some crevice corrosion in some or fine cracks in others that needed addressing. We've got a bunch more to do but things are shaping up. Good thing, because we're getting kind of fatigued. Plus, it would be nice to have a chance to heal up all the scrapes, sprains, cuts, blisters, splinters & aches we've accumulated.

We said goodbye to Richard & Ali since they launched a few days ago and had another shot at a farewell dinner with Slip Away here on our boat. They've now shoved off for Fiji. I find myself thinking back to November when we all arrived here. It was Spring and we were so incredibly happy to finally be in NZ. Everything lie ahead- all the exploring, boat work, going back to the US for a visit.... and it's all HAPPENED! I can't believe how fast the time went. We're definitely not ready to leave here yet! And some boats can't even leave if they wanted to. We got some terrible news this week that friends of ours had their boat fall over in the yard when a jack stand gave way. The whole 46 foot boat came crashing down with them in it. They were to launch the following day and were all provisioned for cruising. We were just sitting on their boat a couple of months ago remarking at how it's one of the most beautiful we'd ever been on. Now it has extensive damage. And there are several catamarans that have significant issues with their hulls so they're saddled with costly repairs and cannot leave either. It's not a bad place to be but you sure do feel stranded when everything isn't OK with your boat.

I finally took a few pictures of what we've been doing to the boat. There are numerous other smaller things but these are the major ones. It'll be good to be afloat again.