I finally got to repay some of the debt I owe to the good people of the British coast.

I’d been to get some food in town, and as I was walking home saw a fisherman on the quay. I went and had a chat with him, since I’d bought some bloodworm with the intention of trying it myself if I got the chance. I asked him what he was fishing on, and his reply was “you don’t want to know. I didn’t have any bait so my wife suggested sausage roll. I’ve been fishing since I was 5 years old, but thought I’d give it a go anyway out of desperation”. I laughed, carried on chatting for a while then said my goodbyes.

I walked a quarter mile back to Kudu in the boatyard, then thought, well, why not. I grabbed my bag of bloodworm, and walked the qaurter mile back down the road. I caught the chap just as he was about to cast some bacon (??), and gave him the bloodworm. He was as happy as they come.

I’m quite happy with myself. Only 6,003 favours left to repay!

Also, good news, I’ve done a shed load, or rather, boat load, of work on Kudu today. The removed sea cock has been filled with 6 layers of 400gm CSM, the mast came down, thanks to the help of Rob, the chandler, and his mate, who I think was called John. He actually got somebody to come into his shop and takeover for an hour just so he could come and help me!

Steve is making good progress with the new stainless bow roller after I removed that and gave it too him this morning, and my Nasa marine intruments arrived. Nasa Marine kindly offered my a hefty discount upon hearing what I was doing. not from me, I might, add, so a big thankyou to Michael for contacting them on my behalf, before ringing me up and telling me the grat news.

Oh, I also started work on finishing my stern locker lid. I had made a new one out of GRP while in St Kat’s, but never finished it. I gave it a good clean with a cup full of acetone that a nearby workman offered me, then laid up some fresh woven fibre. It’s now ready for finshing, tomorrow.

I’ve got to apply some west system epoxy to the cracks that were around the pushpit too. I have ground it out with a chisel, and then the drill with a grinding stone. I need to do the same to the crack in the stem.

Oh Kiss works Steve has also fixed my tiller stock. It was loose from wear over the years, but after a bit of machining, it’s as tight as you like.

In all, I’ve still got a lot of work to do, but it’s getting there, and when Kudu goes back in the water, she’ll be one of the most solid Corribee’s around.

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