Fitting out for the new season
Irie
Thu 29 Nov 2007 00:41
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Wednesday 28th November
We finally arrived on Tortola very late Monday
night - later in fact by two hours than planned due to the chaotic
charm of local airline Liat. Liat sometimes indicates Luggage In
Another Terminal, but more usually, as now, Late If AT-all. Still, we can cope -
it's 26 degrees and the forecast says more of the same plus sun, 20 knots
of breeze and occasional sharp showers, not too bad for the end of
November.
The first thing Tuesday morning is to find Irie.
She's not where we left her, but now out of the cradle and back in the
yard ready for antifouling. The really good news is that the dehumidifier that's
been working through the summer has left her totally dry inside - no damp,
mould or musty smell, and also no sign of rodents or cockroaches - the traps all
seem clear. Another plus - the batteries are 100%, topped up by the solar panels
through the summer. The tough stuff is trying to make sense of the
semi-organised chaos below decks. The sails, booms and all the deck gear had
been stowed inside away from the storms, and all the inside posessions
packed in bags against damp and insects. It looks a mess, but by the end of the
day, there's a semblance of order; the deck gear and rigging are reassembled
greased and serviced and outside the guys have been scraping and sanding the
hull, removing barnacles and dried weed ready for antifouling. There's a bit of
a setback when the rudder's found to be seized and immovable, but a little
persuasion and some magic stuff that fizzes and disolves the crystalised salt in
the bearing does the trick, another problem solved.
The travel, timechange and heat take their toll,
dusk falls around 6 and by then we're pooped and ready just to chill under
the aircon in the room.
Up at 6.30 today, work started soon after 7, and
byclose of play the boat's starting to look very smart. The bottom's been
painted, topsides polished, the wind generator's spinning and charging, the main
hoisted and furled and the bimini's adding welcome shade. There was even
time for a swim in the pool. Launching's due Friday, and the genoa needs
collecting from town and the engine checked and tested. The pla is to stay in
the Marina Friday, and then head off Saturday - bound for
islands!
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