Preparation

We have been preparing the boat for our travels to the Mediterranean for a few weeks now, starting with weekend visits to the boat which is moored in Plymouth, and since retiring spending longer periods of time down here. So far we have installed a charger/inverter, two new domestic batteries making four in total, we have had a  bimini made and installed along with an A frame which has enabled us to mount  the newly purchased  Solar Panels (1x65W & 1x130W) and attach the tender which will give us more room in one of the lockers. Along the way we have had our fair share of hold ups, the inverter has had to be removed as it was faulty, we have had to wait a significant amount of time for the cables for the new Radar from Ray Marine, and not always having the right tools down at the boat to get some of the jobs done, one thing that did work out was the delivery of the new mattress.  I have been busy making mosi-nets for the hatches and the entrance from the deck into main cabin, and although I say so myself they look   pretty damn  good. After a short visit home for the weekend, me to sell my car and for both of us to spend some time with our kids we are back in Plymouth for the final preparations including the antifouling.  However the weather has other ideas, we have had what the weather forecasters call squally showers (which I would call down poor’s’) and gale force winds which have hampered our progress, and also caused disturbed sleep when Kevin has had to get dressed and attend to items that have blown over, ( we are sleeping on the boat whilst it is out of the water). So far we have managed to prepare the hull in readiness for applying the antifouling paint, which left us both looking like a couple of extras from the film Rob Roy, and apply the masking tape to ensure we get nice smooth lines, we are now sitting (well I am) waiting for a window in the weather to start applying the antifouling paint.   The hold up with the antifouling has meant we have had to reschedule the boat being lifted back into the water to next Tuesday the 24th, that’s providing we don’t have any further hold ups.



MissLilly's lift out
Weighing in at 8 Ton