Here is Sal Darago all ready to be launched. For the past month Jeremy has been hard at work repairing and renewing the equipment on board. At times this has been quite frustrating as some suppliers have not met their promised dates. SD now has new rudder bearings, a new log, a new wind sender unit, new antifoul, a new solar panel attached to the backstays(can you see it?) and her new sails which were put away in La Palma are now up. Kathy meantime was at home visiting family. She saw Emily and Ben, Simon and Erin, Gavin and Eileen and, of course, Ellen, Sara and Pat, as well as most of the IOM Denham gang. It was a whistle stop tour which included a brief visit to Lancashire where she saw Ruth and Frank and stayed with Pat C. On her return she was allowed two days to adjust to NZ time. On Thursday 24 March, Sal Darago was launched from Norsand Boat Yard. She leaked a little from the toilet cock, but considering the number of through hull fittings which had been removed, repaired or replaced, that was not bad. It then rained for about four days. That was when the leak through the stern rails' feet was noticed. We dodged into Marsden Cove Marina and replaced the sealant on the offending feet. Today is our 36th Wedding Anniversary. We celebrated by going out to sea - well Pacific Ocean really. It was a lovely day, but the seas were confused and lumpy, 2.5 metres lumpy! Sal Darago safely took us to Tutukaka Harbour where we will stay for a couple of days to let Tropical Storm Bune pass by - apparently quite close. Here's to an enjoyable season's sailing to everyone.
