We tested out the replacement transponder for the echo sounder this morning and proved that the current one has a fault on it. Unfortunately to change out the transducer we have to be lifted out of the water so a long consultation with Helen produced a slot for us to be lifted at 0800 tomorrow morning. We decided to get on with this now rather than wait until after the trip to the BVI. So to get ready for the lift we have been flat out all day stripping out headlining and lockers so that we can firstly remove the cabling for the old transducer and then install the new. Unfortunately they come as a matched set and one cannot be changed without the other.  Mike Smith who did the original installation at PYS did a great job and apart from the hassle of removing fittings to gain access, his cable runs were a dream to work with and the fittings all passed through his holes with minimum difficulty. We had the old cable removed and were ready for the new by 1300. We then set out to recover the outboard only to find that someone had turned it on its side in the locker so we then had to spend an hour stripping it to drain the oil out of the cylinders and fuel system. This is the same job that Finn did whilst afloat so we were a lot better off having the engine mounted on a makeshift stand. We installed it on the dinghy and it started first time – albeit in a cloud of blue smoke which soon disappeared as the engine warmed up. Next on the hit list was recovering the life raft that had been for its biennial survey. Getting it’s 60 lb weight back on board with the boat moored stern onto the wharf proved and interesting challenge but with a bit of help from some planks and the Royal Navy berthed alongside we finally got it in place. We will be off to the lifting dock at 0700 tomorrow morning and as our Anchor queen in the guise of Anita is not here my little local assistant David is going to have a very steep learning curve. When he left at 1700 he was mumbling about not being able to sleep because of the worry! We hope that we will only be out of the water for about four hours, then back on the berth to complete the new cabling and get ready for North Sails who are turning up on Saturday with the new main sail. Falling asleep at night is not really a problem at the moment.!