Alongside RSAYS, Outer Harbor
Wind: N, F2 - slight breeze
Sea: calm Swell: nil
Weather: sunny, mild

Over the last week I have reinstalled the engine beds ready for the engine when it is eventually back together. Now we await for the cylinder head to be reconditioned which 'Adelaide Cylinder Head Specialists' reckon will take about two weeks. Also, after considerable messing about, I have obtained the part number for the timing gear case gasket and have ordered that. (Ian Brown recommended obtaining a genuine part for this item as it is a critical gasket and, indeed, the partial failure of the previous one is what most likely caused all the problems with the fuel injection pump.) So, for now, progress on rebuilding the engine is on hold.

Meanwhile, I have pulled the aft end of the saloon apart so as to be able to modify the exhaust system, in particular with the installation of the waterlock. That has now been done and I have spent the rest of the week stripping paint and de-rusting the hull beneath the aft cockpit sole and companionway steps. This area now has two coats of primer and will be given another three coats of paint before I can put it all back together again and return Sylph to some semblance of normality. As with any refit things tend to get a bit chaotic and not a little dirty. I look forward to when we are all ship shape and Bristol fashion again and ready to sail, which, with a little luck, I reckon will be about four weeks from now.

All is well.