This is the first time in over five years that 'Silverheels III' has her bottom dry. We haven't run around on a reef or anything, we got a haul out. We are due for a survey for our insurance, and after five years, we were probably due for some work on our bottom. We know that there was a valve we weren't quite happy with, too.

We made our appointment to haul at Spice Island Marina, with various factors coming into the decision. Proximity to everything certainly was a big one. Cost-wise, it wasn't a killer, either. Plus theremis the bonus that the gentleman working with Ken on the fridge (did I mention the fridge was on the fritz?) has his workshop here, too.

Monday morning we got to the Travel Lift rather early, but that was actually advantageous as they pulled us out immediately.I do not enjoy watching the boat while it is being moved through the air, so I dealt with the administrative stuff in the office while Ken busily took pictures. Seemed like a perfectly fine division of labour to me.

The bottom looked surprisingly good for almost five and a half years in the water. There was still a good amount of anti-fouling paint left, but there was some minor blistering to be seen. The agreement with the yard is that they do the bottom work. While I am not fond of having others do the work (I can be quite picky about some things) not having to wear Tyvex suits and masks in this heat is actually a relief. So Kendall and Chad suited up and sanded the bottom in preparation for the new coats of paint. So far, things are going well.

I really dislike living on the boat on the hard. We can't use the toilet, or the sinks...and with the fridge not working, it is not a particularly happy time, domestically speaking. Lunch is easy, as we pick up a roti or something else reasonably priced, and dinner is catch as catch can. Yesterday we went to the restaurant next to the yard so we could have a cold beer and a bite of dinner.

Things are progressing well, and if we are lucky, we might even be back in the water by Thursday or Friday.