For those of you who follow us, frequently or not, we've been incommunicado for longer than usual. Here's the situation.

In previous years, we've had larger or smaller projects that have been challenging: replacing the engine, installing new electronics, replacing the refrigerator. This year, we had two, major but inter-related tasks.

At the base of the mast is the "mast step", a laminated wooden block about a 10-inch cube. Through bad fortune and some carelessness, that block got saturated with sea water that came through the "mast boot", a piece of plastic that was supposed to prevent that very problem. We did try to remedy the problem, but just didn't know the method. That block must be removed, a new piece fabricated, and re-installed.

Of course, the mast must be removed to accomplish that task, and now we're ready for the second task: replacing all of the standing rigging. This is the stainless steel cabling that supports the mast: 3 on each side and fore and aft pieces.

The sequence of steps is this:

Remove the mast and carefully set it out of harm's way. Our new radar is mounted on it!

Remove and fabricate a new mast step.

Remove the rigging and have it shipped to Papeete on Tahiti where it will be used as a template for new rigging. The new rigging must be shipped back to our yard and a professional rigger must install it.

Re-install the mast and connect the new rigging. Tune the rigging in the yard.

The problem has been that the yard has not responded to our 2 months of requests to provide and estimate and schedule. FINALLY, on 27 June, they provided an estimate for both jobs.

Be aware that our insurance company required the new rigging (every 7 years in the tropics) and we'd be fools to sail the boat with no insurance, so without a clear idea on when or even if the rigging job would occur, we couldn't fly to French Polynesia: no sailing, no reason to go.

The job is expensive, to be sure, but simply has to be done. The delay has been costly, as well. A local rigger agreed to do the job, but he departed for France for holiday before the yard could get itself together, so we must pay for a rigger and helper from Papeete to fly round trip and to provide overnight housing. In addition, we had some cheap tickets that we had to cancel, so it's been a frustrating and expensive exercise.

The Carenage is the best yard in the country and we have made abiding friendships with everyone from yard worker to management. Dominque, manager and owner, is our friend. It's been a tough situation for us.

So, when we have a firm work date, we'll fly to French Polynesia and get as much done as possible, with, perhaps, some sailing as well. We'll see...