I’m up early and start working on stuff. First order of business is coffee so I enjoy one in the cockpit in the early morning. The dinghy is our number one priority so I get the new motor harness on and set up the pulley system. Christy’s up and we start taking the cover off the dinghy and getting it ready.

Soon enough we’re ready to use the winch to pull up the dinghy – the winds are pretty light, we’ve done this job in windier conditions so it should go pretty well. It does – the dinghy goes up, over the railing and down into the water with ease. Did I mention the dinghy was 100% inflated after 6 months? Super happy about that.

We tie up the dinghy with the painter and another rope and get ready to try the pulley system and motor harness. Zippedy zip the motor is up and onto the back of the dinghy in a matter of a minute or two. Christy and I look at each other with very pleased smiles – that was a dream. I get the seat, the gas tank and accessories and load them in the dinghy. Son of Milu? Is that a name for the dinghy? Hook everything up and in 3 pulls the motor starts. Gotta like that.

Spend the next little bit getting things set up.

George comes by and thankfully agrees to dive and scrape the boat, even though today is a Grenada holiday. It’s Hero’s Day to commemorate Maurice Bishop and friends who were assassinated at Fort George on October 19th, 1983. We had planned to dinghy over to Clarke’s today to pick up our paint and gear but they are closed for the holiday so we’ll have to make other plans.

Before he goes below I start the diesel engine and she purrs into action without a blip. Doesn’t turn off with the kill button though which makes me a little nervous but I’m hopeful, that switch has always been problematic.

We spend the rest of the day getting things organized, cleaning and setting up the bimini/dodger.