11 September 1993 Almerimar
I tidied up all the spares and sat up until half past one trying to sort out the computer and consolidate my floppy disks.
12 September 1993 Almerimar
I spent until five o’clock sorting out backups, etc for computer. I’ve got 93 floppy disks cataloguednow! Craig got his first wasp sting today - lots of wailing. Glenys talked to Julia and Greg from “Missie Molly” about sharing a taxi to the airport.
13 September 1993 Almerimar
Glenys talked to a Dutch couple on “Eva”. Mike and Marina (and Micky) from “Columbine” came for a drink. I had a wonderful day; I finally finished off the wiring for the starter batteries that I bought in Ipswich. It’s only taken me a year to finish the job. It was easy enough – it just took a lot of guts to cut the existing wires!
14 September 1993 Almerimar
I changed my mind at least 5 times about which part of the hull I should use when we are lifted out. Eventually decided to move the forestay and go in forwards. It will be too dodgy to do it like Fox’s and put the rear strap over the propeller.
15 September 1993 Almerimar
I got into the dock OK, swung the forestay out of the way, but then discovered that we would have to remove the baby forestay. We put the jib halyard over the top of the travel lift to hold the mast in place while I took off the baby forestay. We were lifted out safely and put in a nice, quiet corner.
I started scraping off all the barnacles and scrubbed ¼ of the hull by hand before I gave up and hired the yard’s jet wash – best £12 I’ve ever spent! I jet washed down to the undercoat in most places.
The antifoul paint hasn’t arrived – “maňana”. It looks like I’ve adopted a dog.
16 September 1993 Almerimar
Glenys and the boys caught a taxi to the airport - this will be first time we’ve been apart for over a year. I reset the Max Prop from 18° to 20°. I epoxied the holes and scrapes on the bottom of the keel. I then sanded the paint on the waterline and any areas showing the green epoxy. I finished off by putting masking tape on the waterline. The paint arrived today, so we are ready to go! The dog has disappeared and I’m left with a big packet of dog biscuits.
17 September 1993 Almerimar
I started off by putting undercoat on the hull where the epoxy and GRP were showing through. I greased all the sea cocks. I rubbed down and painted the binnacle. The dog has turned up again with his mum! I had a mad rush of blood to the head and went for a run, gasp!
18 September 1993 Almerimar
I put on the first coat of antifoul after epoxying a few more bits on the bottom of the keel. I did the second and final coats of paint on the binnacle and started to make a cupboard for electrics. I’ve decided that I hate being on the hard and alone. It’s great being alone for 2 days, but a week!
19 September 1993 Almerimar
A bit of a lazy day today because it’s Sunday. I painted the anchor chain and put things back onto the binnacle. I then spent the rest of the day reading about self steering and sail boat dynamics. I think that the problem I am having with the Hydrovane is due to the balance of the rig giving too much weather helm. The mizzen is raked back but should be vertical. I am going to retune the rigging when we are back in the water. The dog’s mum has gone.
20 September 1993 Almerimar
I moved the supports on the hull and sanded the bits that had been covered. I put 2 coats of antifoul on the waterline and the leading edges of the hull and keel. It’s been absolutely red hot today – I’m starting to have problems motivating myself. I just pottered about for 3 hours in the afternoon. I tried to ring Glenys, but I got the bloody answering machine – at least the dog loves me (while I keep feeding it!)