Another "Plan B" Kind of Year

We arrived in the Netherlands on April 19, and are currently in Maasbracht while work is being completed on C.A.R.I.B. III. Our plan last September was that our 7 months away from the boat would be plenty of time for our hoped-for boat projects to be completed, but alas, it seems that we needed to be here in order for the pace of project completion to pick up. So as much as we might have hoped to be underway with our Netherlands cruising by May 1, circumstances have conspired against us and it is looking more likely that--Plan B--June is a better bet for departure from Maasbracht. 

We feel fortunate to be here at all. The Thursday before Easter (April 14), Lon took a spill off his bike and tore several ligaments in his left shoulder, resulting in the separation of his collar bone from the shoulder.  We thought that we would have to delay our departure from Florida by at least a couple of weeks, while we had follow-up visits with orthopedic doctors. Thankfully, we were able to see the orthopedic surgeon on Friday, April 15, and were told that Lon's injury was not of a type that would benefit from surgery--he just needs a few weeks to get the pain and swelling down and to heal to the extent possible. The ligaments won't reattach, but as long as he works the shoulder to keep it mobile, he should regain full function. So, although Lon will retain the "lovely" bump he has from a clavicle that isn't being held down by ligaments, we were cleared to travel.

Pat as pack mule: with Lon injured, 
packing had to be "reimagined", with
two backpacks consolidated into one

Pat and Lon by C.A.R.I.B. III in dry
dock; Lon looking "dashing" in a sling.

Some of the needed work on C.A.R.I.B. III had already been completed, or at least started, before we got to the Netherlands. The bimini was finished--and it is beautiful!  The ESTRIN inspection was completed around two weeks ago, and there were only a few issues identified for which corrections are relatively easily done. Whew! Bottom painting had started as soon as the weather cleared.

Primer coat (yellow) already finished; black topcoats were in progress

It's been a busy first two full days here. We had a brief and very helpful meeting on the boat this morning with the Dutch inspector in order to clarify some of the issues listed in the preliminary inspection report. On yesterday's first walk-through on the boat, we discovered that some of the electrical work had already been started, and we had a meeting with the electrician yesterday afternoon to firm up what else needed to be done. The carpenter came on the boat this morning to take measurements for the galley and salon projects.

The weather is beautiful at the moment--sunny and highs in the 60's--so the painters have been busy this week sanding, priming, and painting CARIB up to the gunwale (pronounced gun-nel, this is the upper edge of the side of the hull).  

Painting the hull

The dark blue-green part of the hull has its final coat.
Shiny!!!!!!

We originally were told that we could stay on board, but we decided that--for a number of reasons, including Lon's injury--it would be much better to get a hotel for these first few days. When the "phase one" of the exterior painting is done C.A.R.I.B. III will be put back in the water and parked on the Juliana Canal fairly close to where we were last autumn. We'll then be able to live on the boat while the remaining projects are completed. Not ideal, but doable. 

The enforced down time gives us an opportunity to shop for some boat items we need, allows Lon to heal, and hopefully lets us meet up with some relatives who are traveling to the Netherlands in May.

Happy to be back in Europe