Good news! Hauled out today - to find skeg problem non-existent... Rudder has a couple of small problems - movement at lower bearing - but not a difficult fix - and slight surface crack - already ground out and glass mat /resin repair in progress. Hydrovane rudder fixed in place ready for next passage to New Zealand (holes needed a bit of a clean out) and some other small jobs done - more tomorrow... All good! :-)
Sithu kept me company, in bright sunshine. from Royal Y.C. of Tasmania in Sandy Bay up the Derwent River to the yard just before the Bowen Bridge and John G. very kindly gave me his day, helping with cleaning the hull and several other jobs. Yesterday, Jon N. took me to 'Nuts and Bolts' to get some vital screws/bolts and then later wife Sophie cooked a Thai fish curry for us - lovely! RYCT neighbours Dorothy and Steve on 'Adagio', who I last saw at the OCC Desolation Sound Rally in British Columbia in 2008, have been full of useful advice and friendly help since my arrival - all very much appreciated!
Over the last week, I've given a presentation to the Cruising Yacht Club of Tasmania (with another scheduled for tomorrow) and I've enjoyed several meals and trips out: up Mt Wellington, high above Hobart, with great walking trails and views over the surrounding countryside;to nearby Battery Point, with its old buildings and houses; to the 'Wall' - a fabulous, long wooden relief, mainly in Huon pine, at Derwent Bridge, near Lake St Clair in the Central Plateau - a good car ride away through some lovely countryside; around Hobart town itself and over to the 'East shore' - by the Tasman Bridge across the River Derwent to Lindisfarne - with an unexpected visit to a fascinating MG Rally on the way back.
People I've met have all been very friendly and several have come down to the boat to have a chat. I've been lent a bike to get around nearby, a dongle for Internet access and have had several offers to take me by car for shopping or chandlery items. My job list was not being ticked off very fast - but I did finally manage to complete an oil-change over the Easter long weekend - both main engine and generator needed it and the oil filter change I wasn't looking forward to turned into quite an easy one - with no leaks, to my relief!
Tomorrow, my plan is to replace the damaged mainsail batten end and all rusty rings on the mainsail car connectors, replace the missing stanchion base fairleads and generally make sure that all deck items are OK so they're ready for sailing away soon. The genoa repair should be complete now and John will take me to shop for a few items I need for my spares. My job list is still very long - but some jobs can wait for another time.
I'll try to post some photos here soon - but not tonight - it's getting very late!