The haulout went well. They didn't drop the boat! (Something I always worry about...) I did not attend, and I surely wish I had, but I had to be at work. It's a very good thing that Marty has flexibility to be available for these midday/midweek things.

The surveyor (who has certifications and lots of experience and is a retired Coast Guard Commander) actually offered a small number of compliments ("I wish everyone took care of their boats like you do...") and, Marty reported, went through EVERY cabinet and space in the boat. He did find a few things that will show up on the survey, which we will have to rectify. (West Marine, here we come!) Our big flares expired 5/09. We need a CO monitor. Fire extinguishers don't count if they aren't mounted. (We have four mounted and two in a cabinet - seems silly, it's easier to grab them if they aren't mounted!) So we have to either mount the two or remove them. (We are legal with four.)

While the boat was in the slings, Marty asked one of the yard guys to go up in the lift and check the anchor light - which we knew wasn't working. It turns out it isn't the light - it's an electrical problem. Our
fingers are crossed that it can be fixed with relative ease. Right. (Please, please, don't make us have to pull the mast!)

After Marty returned the boat to her slip, he ran into Jib Kelly, who he's met before and who does SSB/Pactor installations. He explained the problems we've had, and Jib came over for a look. (WHAT LUCK, although we stole him away from the job he was supposed to be doing - shhhh!) He worked at it for a while, then called a friend who is a HAM in RPV to see if he could hear our transmissions. He could not....and offered to come on down. Jib told Marty - it's YOUR lucky day! Sure enough, when you get a HAM who brings his personal tool/test kit, well, you just KNOW things are good! After lots more poking around and testing, the issue has been narrowed down to a faulty cable. (Aside - Jib was crew on Peter Tong's OEX, a Santa Cruz 70, for the Transpac this year, and Joe was their navigator....) So perhaps that is now going to resolved.

Sunday we'll be filling out insurance application paperwork - sailing resumes, etc....