Yup, a day early.  We’re done with the “out of the water” stuff.  Ann has finished polishing the hull and the bottom paint is on.  She timed the final polishing in between squalls today polishing in the lighter areas of rain.  What a trooper!

We’re hoping to get in the water before the remains of a cyclone that’s due to hit New Zealand gets here.  Looks like it will start mid-tomorrow and go through the next day (Friday here, Thursday in the US).  For our area, heavy rain and wind into the 30’s is what’s in the forecast.  Further south though, NZ will see some 50+ knot winds.

All the new varnish on the deck looked so good Ann convinced me to completely strip all the dorade boxes. More work (strip, sand, bleach, sand, sand sand) but they are going to look great. First of four coats went on today (the picture is after stripping and bleaching, but before three rounds of progressively finer sanding).

Spraying on the paint...

Charisma is looking good with new bottom paint, and polished hull.