Our good friends Mike and Jane Eslinger of s/v Jamin are coming out to the Azores to meet us aboard Toodle-oo! It's difficult to work out how the schedule will unfold - not knowing exactly when we'll be where - but the plan is to meet on Flores, where we first land in the Azores and then they'll sail with us to Corvo, on to Graciosa and then to Faial's famous harbor, Horta. We're really looking forward to them joining us.

A few days later, Laurie's daughter Stephanie, Joe and Matthew will join us for a week in and around Faial and Pico.

We're popular all of a sudden!


Meanwhile... progress is being made while Toodle-oo! is in building 5 at NEB. Today she has the bottom stripped, ready for a couple coats of barrier paint and raising of the waterline by about an inch. The mast is being carefully looked over today by Phip Hallowel at Rig-Pro, with a couple of important fixes being put into place - the Solent stay's connection at the top of the mast is badly corroded and in need of replacement and the gooseneck and it's bracket need some serious TLC - apparently the boat has suffered a flying jibe or two at some point in her history - wasn't me sir!

With luck, she'll be back in the water mid next week and the real fun can start!