With the workmen about finished with the stern deck, we got Puff(our dinghy) ready to be lowered off the starboard side of the boat. Mr. Ali wants to start work on the port side decking as soon as they are done with the stern. Out came our our block and tackle and the spinnaker halyard we use with our crane and we were in business. Normally, we attach the spinnaker halyard to the upper end of our crane and then the block and tackle to the lower end of the crane. This time, since we needed to lower it a lot farther than normal(the water), we just used the spinnaker halyard and the block and tackle to lower it. The block and tackle was attached to the bow hook on Puff then hoisted by the bow till it was flying in the air, bow pointed skyward. Over the life lines it went and we slowly lowered it till it was clear of the side yet not all the way to the dirt. It's now hanging from the side where it will be safe from any harm that might happen if it was in the dirt. It also gives us the opportunity to really flush the inside of the hull. We picked up tons of sand when we were in Madagascar and we've never gotten rid of it. This may be our chance. We just keep getting sand inside the hull. It's time for it to go.

The workmen showed up right on schedule and went at it. One took the epoxy and filler and worked on the oh so numerous screw holes that held the teak planks on the deck. The other sat and cut fiberglass fabric to fit on the deck. Once the holes were filled(we found another broken screw so we had to drill and use vice grips to get it out)the rolled on a layer of epoxy and then laid the fiberglass on top of that and put on another layer of epoxy making sure to get all the fabric well coated and moistened so it would merge with the lower layer of epoxy. They let it set for a couple of hours and then put on a layer of epoxy filler to smooth our the ups and downs on the fiberglass deck. Where the screws might cause a rise or where the chunk of deck that they took out was replaced. Everything needed going over and now that it is on and since it should be thoroughly dry by tomorrow morning, they will be giving it a good sanding to smooth the finish. It may take another layer but we won't know that till tomorrow. Mr. Ali has told me that he isn't going on to another section of the deck till the first section is done. I'm guessing that that does not include the anti skid sections that will be put down before it really finished. Meanwhile, we will be hoisting the spinnaker pole onto the mast and raising it so it's the same height at the boom and then tying it's forward end to the genoa so we can put another tarp over it to keep the front dry for the next deck removal. So far, in just four days of work, seven in the yard, they will just about have the stern section done. We might be ready to go in another month or so or maybe even sooner but time will tell. We know there is more deck delamination that has to be found and fixed. We have too many leaks to think other wise. Guess time will tell.

I spent a bit of the morning doing laundry as while Tracy is better, she is still not working on all cylinders so a bit more time resting is what is called for.

I hiked over to the Peake Boat Yard to look for some schedule 40 PVC pipe I need for my anchor locker. When Zephyr was designed, the hole in the deck the anchor chain goes through on it's way to the anchor locker was put too far forward. It's no where near where the deepest section of the locker is. Every 30 feet, I have to stop pulling the anchor up(OK, the windlass is actually doing it), open the anchor locker doors and rake the chain backward toward the back of the locker. It's a bit of a pain especially if a storm comes through and we need to get the chain up and out of the anchorage quickly. I spoke to another person who has the same problem(thank you to Dave on Nine of Cups)and he installed 3 inch PVC pipe to lead the chain to where we actually want it to drop. I've got two leads as to where I can find the pipe after Peake didn't have any. The hunt goes on.

We had another ladder delivered this afternoon since we will have to start coming up the side of the boat and not the stern for a day or so with all the fiberglassing going on. Now we have two ladders to get on deck. After falling off one while in Kudat, Malaysia on Borneo, I'm very careful going up and down. No reason to tempt fait.

Thats about it for now. I've included several photos showing this stage of the back deck.