Having lost my crew and got the engine fixed I head off to the marina at Rebak to haul out, briefly, and change the pitch on my propeller to match my new engine.  Some friends are there and we decide to meet up in the evening and drink some beer.  For a change.  In the meantime I am wrestling with the Indian Embassy to try and get a visa to visit the Andaman Islands.  This is always an uphill struggle if you are not applying from your own country of origin.  Why?  Because they are Indians.

Back at base I get on with some varnishing and get a local guy in to do some of the more difficult interior work.  A couple of big superyachts pop in and out.  It always amazes me how much money some people will spend on a boat.  The latest has a permanent crew of 13.

Shelley from Vancouver will join me mid-month.  At present she is competing in the King’s Cup in Phuket.  A fun but serious regatta with about 70 boats.  Then we are off to Georgetown where, hopefully, I can get face to face with the Indian visa officials.  And some Christmas cheer.