Yard

Well the fun has started and we are officially land lubbers. We expect a month of work but as boats go, add a few weeks on to any plans. Our list seems to be forever growing. Soon I will have to start hiding all the pens and paper on the boat so Cath can't make  any more lists. First time in Joana's history of us owning her we have hired people to sand and paint. Quite the luxury for us. Well, we thought. 
So far it has taking two weeks to get the hull done. We had it set up with the yard, but of course there was some sort of problem, like waiting for the proper dust masks. Finally there was some activity after Cath had hit her patient threshhold.  Out came the bi$,& wings and off to talk with the yard. The next day we had two workers and most of the boat sanded. They did in the end have to pass the work on to a local contractor as their  priorities were obviously for the big super sailing cat down the way. 
Now that we have some decent workers we are just waiting for decent weather. Beautiful Panama is showing its true water colors. 
In betwean spurts of rain we have managed to get the hull and topsodes sanded, hawse pipe fixed, new bobstays on the bow sprit, all inside hull primed and painted,  aft deck demoed and redesigned and the digny preped for overhaul. 
There is much much more but I will bore you with that next time...


Our version of American Gothic


Our motivation 
        

Sole prepping 


Aft deck demoing

Bobstay change 


Boys sanding 










 






Shelter Bay

Well the time has come.  We made our way to Colon to stay the night in the Flats (anchoring area) before we were hauled out in the morning at Shelter Bay.
It is always an entertaining trip through the fleet of tankers moving in and out of the Panama Canal. It has been awhile being the small one in the harbor!  We played a bit of Frogger at the breakwater but anchored up nicely in the Flats, just in time for a pilot change which meant some nice wakes for about two hours. The next morning we gave the marina a call on the VHF, set our time and was off to haul  this old broad out. For a boat owner, especially one who has a 37 ton boat, hauling can be a nerve-racking exercise. 
All went smoothly and it was the first time I have seen a yard move their boats from a travel lift to a trailer. 
We assesed our new home for a month and then met some old friends who told us about the marina's happy hour.  We had to take the time to prep ourselves for the work after all.


Getting set on to the trailer 

Cath chasing after our new land yacht.

That is not fog. Our defense against the war of Panama bugs.

Eugene the man to know at happy hour.