Woke up early; and started chores required prior to "splashing" (getting out bow, and stern lines; fenders at the right places; getting last brushfulls of paint ready for the two places where the AB set on blocks; pick up tools; take garbage to dumpster; etc. )

The yard manager came with the travel lift about 0930 hours, and by 1000 hours we were in a slip on the "A" dock. So we're connected again to 120V power... this will the last of this treat for quite a while (the bulk of cruising is make your own power, water, etc.).

(we'll have to go back to being "amp-misers" soon.... You can get used to having power, and unlimited water really quickly!).

The biggest task for today, other than putting the boat in the water, was reconnecting the forestay to the bow fittings. Susan and Brian, some line, a snatch block, and the anchor windlass finally did the trick, and the pin slid into and through all the parts!!!! Yeah!!

I then tightened up the back-stay so that the rig is fairly tuned... at least it's the way it was before the haul-out.

I hanked on the stays'l, so now all we have left to do, regarding sails is feed the yankee into the forestay foil, and make sure the roller furling works, as designed.

We'll attempt that in the morning (hopefully the wind will be calm).

One interesting thing was inspecting the knotmeter (thru-hull), and shaft-packing for leaks.

The packing, of course, is designed to leak a few drops a minute...(for lubrication).

WELL...after backing out of the slip and putting AB in the "A" dock slip...no leaks...

HUMMM not even from the packing...NOT GOOD... and I only really hand tightened the packing nut... so I backed it off to see when it started to leak... after backing off a few flats I heard AIR HISSING AT ME....!!! This packing sealed so well... it held the AIR that was in the top of the shaft log!!! Wow!!!! finally it "burped" water... and began to leak the required lube drips.

Anyway...we're all checked out (dollar wise), and ready to leave Westland marina...

It's always hard to leave friends, but... that's cruising... you know you'll see them "down the line" in the not too distant future.

Dollar wise this was not a cheap place to haulout, and spend a month, and a half!!!!

But then again...where is ? (with the ability to live on the vessel the whole time you're working on it...)(power;water;toilets;showers, etc. with local stores...and local friends).

Speaking for myself... I've been so busy today...I haven't even looked to see how the new waterline looks when floating...