S/V Gudrun V

Yesterday afternoon I took a flight from New Zealand to Fiji to get the boat ready for a quick sail to Opua and then Auckland, our new home. After coming all the way from Germany the last 1100nm really seem like a quick sail. But with the beginning of cyclone season here in Fiji, and the last of the winter gales down in New Zealand, it could potentially be a very, uhm, interesting, sail. So better make sure the boat's really ready, and the crew as well.

I had a quick look outside & inside Gudrun this morning before breakfast and she looks pretty much like I left her, didn't even smell too bad. No mountains of mould and gazillion cockroaches as I had feared in my worst nightmares. Only some bird droppings on the deck and gecko droppings inside, which should be cleaned away quickly enough.

At the moment it's rainy and muggy, but the rain is said to clear away tonight (of course) and then I'm looking forward to having it sunny and muggy. I've checked into the First Landing resort next to Vuda Point Marina, 5min walk from the boat, while I'm working on it.

Plan for today is to get the awning (suncover) up over the mast to be sheltered from rain (and eventually sun I hope) while I work. Then clean the inside, and prepare the work for the next days

To do:
- replace faulty depth sounder
- replace cutless bearing
- replace anodes
- replace water filter
- change engine oil, oil filter, diesel filter, impeller
- check shackles, blocks, terminals, stays, lines, (on deck and mast-top)
- check electronics, batteries
- purchase antifouling
- purchase fibreglass and resin to fix hole in keel
- purchase propane gas
- fastening sails
... and a few hundred other little things.

To organise:
- transition from cyclone-pit to hard stand
- work on keel (fix hole etc)
- anti-foul
- haul-in
- check-out

Weather (and repairs) permitting I'm hoping to sail some time around Nov 13th.