It's been a few weeks since my last update, and typically there have been the ups and downs of working on a boat.

After eventually removing all the green stripes and glue to my satisfaction, I came to the tricky part of marking up the new ones. I had been playing with a sketch pad and really got carried away with some complicated ideas. Which could have never been duplicated either side and the cost in masking tape alone would have wrecked the budget!! So, I ended up just making the old stripes a touch bigger in the end. Four coats of British Racing Green paint and I was happy. The big let down was the "Professional 14 day, sharp edge" masking tape. After being on the sides of the boat for three days, it really did not want to come away easily, leaving a sticky residue and the edge was not as good as I had expected. I guess it's just 14 days in the UK! Nanjos new racing stripes look okay from 10 feet, which is about as near as most people will ever get. I painted the top hull line to match.
We have had a big problem in the yard since I arrived, No anti-fouling allowed. The solution for me was to get up at 7am and paint one side at a time, before the port police arrived on there rounds. Four early mornings and Nanjo had her two coats of anti fouling done. I've gone for the stuff recommended by the yard, so it will be interesting to see how Nanjo looks when next lifted out.
The Friday before my mate arrived was spent cleaning Nanjos interior and making space to set up a double bed in the saloon. Now, my bow really was a full shed.
I had a nice drive to Athens airport to collect Bonita, even finding a cafe that served the taxi drivers for a cheap meal. Then a nap before her arrival at midnight. It's always great to see her, and she came through the arrivals door smiling as expected. The drive back to Messolonghi was uneventful, except for me missing the turnoff for the bridge! We were back onboard for 4am.

The jobs with Bons help sped up, our first big job was the stanchions, taking down the interior head linings on one side at a time, meant having to shuffle stuff about as expected. The biggest shock came when we went to undo the holding bolts, two were just half inch self tappers, the other two were undersize bolts.Such a major safety item on the boat, and put together so shoddily by the Greek guys I had paid. I'm just so glad that nobody ever fell against them. The pictures say more than I can. After a fair bit of faffing about, we worked out how to put the new bases in place and secure them. Even getting the stanchions out turned out to be a really easy job, I found a welded yacht frame support nearby, and by placing the stanchion in it upside down, and giving it several clouts with a large lump hammer. They came apart easily. The first side took us a day and a half, the next side only half a day. I'm now happy with the result, although the toe rail has a few more holes drilled in it now. New guard wires completed the job.

I had winterized the engine when I brought Nanjo ashore, and had turned her over on a spanner everytime I came out. Now a complete change of filters,new belts and impellor. New diesel in the tank and a bleeding of the system, the big day had arrived to see if she would start. Luckily my Yanmar has decompressors fitted, so a 30 second spin on the starter, showed she turned over ok and had oil pressure. With Bon in the cockpit and me in the engine bay with a bucket of water for the inlet pipe, I'm glad to say she busrt into life after only a few minutes work. A very big sigh of relief as that was another major tick off the work list.

We got on with some small jobs but the last few days before the launch went very quickly, and Nanjo was ready for the water. A poor choice of food on the Saturday night, left me with the worst case of food poisoning I have ever had. I was not safe to be around and spent the whole of Sunday in bed moaning and groaning. Bon had to fend for herself and met some nice people at the marina to keep her company.

Monday the 4th and it's launch day. I had finally shaken off the stomach bug and was up at 7am getting Nanjo ready. Up went the Greek flag, Red ensign on the stern and of course my Pirate flag. Getting fenders and ropes ready didn't take long. We were the second boat to be launched, and it took them no time at all to remove the junk around Nanjo. The big tipper truck has not moved since I arrived, luckily they managed to get the tractor and lift in okay. Within 10 minutes Nanjo was on the move for the first time in over two years, only to then spend the next couple of hours waiting for the crane driver to arrive, who was doing another job in the port. It was a great moment for me seeing her afloat eventually and stepping onboard a moving yacht again. A quick check for leaks and then the engine fired up instantly. We spent 20mins motoring around the harbour before going into the marina. It gave Bon a chance to play on the tiller and me a chance to check things over. The rest of Monday was spent tidying up, changing the engine and gearbox oil and relaxing. The big surprise for me was that Nanjo still floated above her waterline, so maybe there's room for more stuff onboard.

Tuesday we went for a trial sail in the bay just past the safe water bouys. It was gorgeous weather and Trix had handed me a couple of cold beers and some goodies to eat. Bon had her first taste of being at sea on a yacht and I went through the m.o.b procedure with her. The wind started to fill in so it was out with the jib for a sailing lesson, then mainsil and finally both together. Nanjo came alive in the nice breeze and Bon managed a top speed of 6 knots, before we headed back to Messolonghi. For me, it was just perfect holding her tiller again and feeling her come alive, as she just leaned over to the breeze. We were only out for 4 hours, but it made all the work and waiting so worthwhile, She really sails well in my opinion.
Tuesday evening and things were not looking so good for Bon, she was suffering badly with motion sickness, despite wrist bands and feeling okay while sailing. Her condition just got worse as the night went on. She was having trouble focusing and standing up. It's Friday now and she is moving around at last. Our plans to sail to Corfu are on hold at the moment. The plan at the moment is to go out on Saturday for another 4 hour sail and see how she reacts. If it's bad again, then it will be a bus or car to Corfu so she can catch her flight. If she's okay then we could set off on the Monday.
I've been sewing some new mossie screens for the hatches as it's now so hot, closing them at night is not really an option.