December 2013

 

We returned to Grenada last December from Barbados where we had spent the summer, save for a very nice trip to the UK from there to see family and friends and to stock up on summer clothes.  We intended to restart the blog once we got back on the boat and left Grenada but for various reasons we are still here so we thought we should do an update.

 

We had opened the boat with some trepidation last December and found there was a little mould on some interior woodwork but nothing on the fabrics nor had we been invaded by ants and cockroaches - pleasant surprises given all the dire warnings we had received.  It looks like all the preparations had paid off.

 

The deck re-caulking had been completed (a very big, weather dependent job) as had all the canvass work.  Both of these areas are run by Europeans and it shows.  The below waterline priming  was not done despite promises.  We were not entirely surprised but this delayed our launch by a few days.  One of the ball valves which had been serviced in the summer was not watertight so had to be re-worked which caused a further delay but overall we were very happy with yard at Grenada Marine and would certainly use them again.

 

 

In the meantime we made use of the weekly ‘farmers market’ outside the cafe bar on the beach:-

 

 

 

 

 

John applying new blue antifouling paint to the green barrier coat.  The 4 ton lead keel has been sanded back and a grey metal primer applied:-

 

 

 

 

 

The gel coat on the glassfibre hull goes matt and chalky in the sun.  A layer of polish was left on to protect it from the UV during the summer.  They then wash and polish just before launching and we were very happy with the result:-

 

 

 

 

 

Our new anchor chain was delivered to the yard and brought on board.  This is our old 65 metres of 10mm chain.  Past it’s best but the good bits will be re-used by the yard for various things:-

 

 

 

 

 

This is a sign saying ‘Inboards’ and ‘Outboards’.  I thought it was the engine store but it’s for the toilets:-

 

 

 

 

 

The boat in the travel lift on it’s way to the launch bay on 12 December – a stormy day:-

 

 

 

 

 

About to splash:-