One week to go

Amazingly we are now in our last week of work before we head back to Kingston for Christmas. The jobs are moving along nicely and the last of the 3 big jobs is almost complete (that’s the installation of our new autopilot). The weather has finally improved and it’s sunny and warm most days.

A lot has been going on in the last 5 days. Mark completed the installation of our new wind instrument which meant 3 trips up the main mast. It’s always interesting hoisting Mark up the mast – the windlass (equipment that raises and lowers our anchor) does all the work pulling Mark up but I’m in charge of securing the lines and bringing him back down. All went well with the installation and Mark also put our lightning rod back up and washed the mast!!

On American Thanksgiving, our friends Julia and Brad left the dock and made their way to St. Augustine. They arrived safely on Friday afternoon and we took time off on Saturday to have dinner with them. St. Augustine was at the start of their “Night of Lights” festival – the downtown was all lit up and super busy!! We went to a restaurant called Pizzalley and had a great visit. Julia and Brad are now heading further south and will head to the Bahamas before Christmas. Hopefully we’ll see them over there at some point.

My varnish jobs are coming to an end. After 5 coats on the companionway hatch boards, we decided to take them home to finish them over Christmas. I have been working on them in the cockpit and because of that, they were always getting covered in dust, hairs, anything floating in the air. It was very frustrating so working on the final coats in the basement at home will be much better – a controlled environment!

Today (Nov. 28) Jane and Steve were splashed and are now tied up on the floating docks. They had a very smooth launch and it’s nice to have them on the dock with us. The boat yard seems to be emptying out and there is a constant turn over of boats on the floating docks and pier. People are making their way south and then across to the Bahamas.

We have a haulout scheduled for Monday, Dec. 5th. The boat will be put back on the hard while we’re in Kingston for Christmas. This is a first for us. We’ve never launched, worked on the boat and then put the boat back on the hard. It will be interesting!! We’re very excited to return home for Christmas – my brother and his family will be travelling from Australia to have their first Christmas visit in 30 years or so! We’ll have loads of fun and lots of celebrating to do!!!