Checklists

The checklist is getting shorter by the day.

Hopefully we can shove the Banjo back into the water round about the 17 th/ 18 th of the month. As soon as we can tie up getting away from the business with a nice high tide to float the boat off the dolley.

Whats left to do?

The big jobs are all but done.

The solar panels are ready to plug in and test. I fitted the one onto its post and it makes the boat look like a serious offshore racer. I would have tested it today but there was no sun, not a single ray.

The boat is antifouled. Except for the two spots where the centre hull is resting in the chocks. I'll jack the boat up with a truck jack and touch the two spots up. Wait for it to dry, and lower the boat down again.

This is the kind of thing that takes time. Nothing can ever be done one-shot. There is always the little spot that needs extra time.

The bottom is now RED. Used to be blue. The red is a bit of a safety thing. In case we flip the boat, the red will hopefully makes it easier to spot us. Note, "in case we flip the boat", not "if the boat flips". Sailing the tri under kite on the open ocean with the trades pushing is gonna be a new experience for us. It is going to be so different from running downwind with a keelboat where you can push as hard as you want. The trimaran is going to require some "responsible" boathandling when the breeze kicks in.

I have also re-seated the portside cabin windows which were leaking a bit too much to my liking. It was a real pita job. Sika everywhere if you are not careful. But it is an important job. Sailing a boat with a nice dry interior is just so much better than one with leaks and drips everywhere. Except for one or two leaky bolts on the starboard side windows which I must still hunt down, I am now confident we will have a dry boat.

So what's left?

Step the mast. After getting an additional halyard tang from Sparcraft. But don't rush them!

Get the outboard back from the service agents. Now hopefully with a charger fitted. And don't rush those outboard guys either.

Buy the two batteries. At least the battery guy have them in stock and they will fit into the battery locker without any mods.

Give the boat a good scrub and polish the stainless steel.

Oh yes, I almost forgot. I must still do the co-skippers comforts list. That I'll do once the boat is afloat.