It’s been a busy week of work on the boat and a busy week of work up North. Happily, things are finally starting to come together and our list of completed projects is finally longer than the imminent to be completed projects. Thankfully, Jay had some extra support on the boat last week with a visit from his parents. We are both feeling rather guilty that they joined the boat during a heavy work period, rather than an explorer period, but their assistance proved invaluable. Jay’s mom helped substantially with the dinghy chaps and restuffing our davit dinghy bumpers while his dad kept the kids occupied, the crew fed, and even got roped in to the occasional tight space for running wires.
Meanwhile, I was off the boat and back to Canada for a busy week of work followed by a weekend of reconnecting with friends in the mountains and being inspired at a leadership conference. I managed to get in some -30oC days, one day of driving through a blizzard, 108 hours of call, a reminder of how short the days are in the Northern winter, and thoroughly enjoying my glutinous sin of eating my 1 kg tub of sour keys that was waiting for me on arrival.
Unfortunately, I ultimately succumbed to the nasty plague like virus that I spent all week treating, so my return to the boat and my efficiency in helping with the last minute projects has been hampered by my need to sleep and recover. Somehow, we’ve managed to get it all done and have finally left the marina. Next up is a 3 day passage to Bonaire where I am gleefully anticipating some amazing snorkelling and diving and what feels like, the beginning of our adventure and the temporary pause on never ending boat work.
Miles sailed: 0
Projects Completed: Solar is done (YAY!), Replace all halyards, Fix lock on cockpit locker, Cut off anchor chain end link, Pressure wash bilge pump, Replace winch handle holders, Rig check, Engine service, Generator oil change, Get new crimpers and electrical bits from Canada, New sink o rings placed, Grocery provisioning run, Teak varnish, Bring back science curriculum, Replace vacuum sensor for engine, Recover hose clamps that got dropped in the bilge, Cleaned and applied teflon to furler foils (required dropping genoa and staysail), Temporary wire of stern navigation light as they do not have the correct sized wire on island, Cleaned the aft lazarette and inspected the steering compartment.
New projects that came up: Replace engine separator (part en route to Panama), Sand and apply new solvent to hypalon before gluing velcro for chaps attachment, Source harken roller for companionway, Source spare genoa and staysail foils, Patch old water separator with epoxy
Projects still ongoing: Dinghy chaps (slow and steady), New anchor chain en route to Curacao, Install high output emergency bilge pump, New oven en route to Curacao, Replace engine starter battery (this has been a saga)
So sorry you got sick! Hopefully you are back to your high energy self!
. Miss you guys and following your adventures closely. Safe passages and beautiful memories!
