I'm home again - without Guapa. It seems I'm forever chasing this mirage of a completed boat. The story so far...

Friday started off well enough. Picked up a replacement life-raft in Chatham en route to Dover and the ferry. Early night.
Awoke first thing Saturday morning and made the trip to Antwerp to arrive before 09H00. We had to shift to another berth - a race coming in.
First impression of the progress to date what somewhat underwhelming - again. What seems to have become my nemesis - the anchor well hatch - looked a lot worse than it did this time last week. What the hell?
Let's discuss later - move the boat first. Ten minutes later, all done. My close quarters manoeuvring skills seem to have improved.

Some tentative sunshine, and dry overall. The remainder of the deck was sanded down. The manufacturer recommended sanding down in 2 go's - have grain to start and finish off with a light grain. Settled on one go - medium grain - to save time.
The marina's non-tidal - access via lock HW -/+ 1. However, to be able to remain open longer (to allow all the racers enough time to get in - water level in the dock was allowed to drop by approximately a metre. Guapa developed a distinct (20°) list to port. Not easy to work on deck in these conditions.

Racers arrived and water rose quickly - afloat again. Large X-Yacht (heavily sponsored boat) moored the other side of the pontoon. Matching clothing, shades, peroxide blonde bimbos and very loud boinc-boinc-boinc music (or what passes for music). So, that's how the other half lives. It seems the skipper of the boat objected to our somewhat dishevelled presence... so our second shift of the day. Reversing into a Dutch-style 'box' and substantial cross-wind.
I don't exactly remember how I pulled it off, but I did. Fifteen minutes of buttock clenching later we were all secure. On with the job.

Last bits caulked and I installed the winches. Beautiful they are too - prettiest things on deck. Long day (10hrs) but a lot was achieved. A few more days of this and we would be able to sail Wednesday. Weather forecast for Sunday promised more of the same - fingers crossed.

Sunday morning started promising enough. Sunshine. perfect time to get to grips - once and for all - with the anchor well hatch. More epoxy applied. Things seemed more ore less on a level. The last rough bits would be sanded down later. The thing was left to dry and harden. Meanwhile Frank sanded down the last bit of the deck that still needed doing and I topped up the tank with fresh water (must not forget to add tablets).

Then I took a closer look at the anchor well hatch - it had warped completely. Saddle shaped. I have no idea about what went on, but it was obvious the thing was FUBAR. Reluctantly Frank agreed. Only option left - start again from scratch. Another quick trip Antwerp-Ghent-Antwerp to collect some balsa.
Upon my return the heavens opened up - torrential rain. Drenched in a matter of minutes.There went the day.

Even through rose-tinted spectacles it became obvious that we would not sail this week. No way, no how. That anchor well needs to be closed.
New style realism set in - a frank exchange of words with Frank (pun intended). Price agreed - get the job done. Don't care how you do it. As Frank's due to leave for Crete in two weeks (and needs a couple of days to prepare for that) I'm quietly hopeful I'll be able to sail some time the middle of next week.

So, what still remains to be done? Hatch covers - fore and aft, and the cockpit. The cockpit's a fairly straightforward affair; the aft hatch cover's over half done; the main job's the anchor well hatch cover. Given some half-way decent weather completion by the middle of next week is possible.

Eight months in the job, within sight of the finish line, and I'm praying for 'no rain'. That it should have come to this. Definitely a once-in-a-lifetime, never again kind of experience. The only thing that keeps me going right now are the expressions of admiration from passers-by. Maybe, it will all be worth it in the end.