Day 145, Year 4: Whoa-The Weather is Changing
Date: Monday, March 16, 2009
Weather: Beautiful Day; Late Afternoon Deluge with Wind
Location: Boat Lagoon Marina, Phuket Island

The wind didn’t rock the boat late this afternoon, but it certainly did make our tent structure sway. Near the end of the work day, the skies darkened and an incredible wind swept through the hard stand area. Just as the wind hit, Luck had our crew tightening the lines that hold the tent in place. But it all happened so fast that it was impossible to raise all of the tent sides before the wind literally shook the whole structure. Luck kept the crew working to get painted items in under the boat for protection while they raised the tent sides to keep us from flying away. Mark went down and helped move the newly painted hatch covers to a more protected area. Just as the last pieces were brought in, the heavens opened up and sent a deluge of water our way. Just before all of this happened, Muzza, the man who will be making our new cockpit enclosure, was onboard installing the track for the dodger. It was so unbearably hot and he was hoping for a sea breeze. Even before he left, we started to feel the wind, so I guess you really have to be careful for what you wish. Some reports indicate that the winds will get even stronger toward the end of the week, so we will have to keep a close watch on things until the tent is taken down. With the sides raised, however, it seems very stable. But the bottom line is that the rainy season has arrived early this year. We were hoping to be out of here before the April rains come, but this year I think they are the March rains. Weather is just not something you want to take for granted in this part of the world. You have to be constantly vigilant, so that we will be from now until our arrival back in Malaysia.

The hatches did get their primer and final coat of paint early today. Hopefully the rain did no damage, but we will have to check on that tomorrow. The varnish work I did yesterday was still tacky this afternoon, so I decided to wait until tomorrow to sand and put on the second coat. I did apply teak oil to the handrails on the cabin top this afternoon. Everything looks so sparkly that I just couldn’t bear to have graying teak on the cabin top. Mark rigged up the dinghy hoist on the new arch and the dinghy motor lift. We cleaned and polished the grill and got it back on the aft deck rail. And I cleaned and polished the radar dome and the TV antenna that will go back on the mast. It was an easy day, but we did get a lot of things done.

Mark went to the hospital this morning to get the results of his PSA test and got very good news. The elevated prostate levels were caused by the infection he had and now everything is fine. His back is also doing better today, so I think he is on the road to recovery.

In addition to painting the hatches today, Oh’s crew prepared more of the small cast aluminum pieces that go back on the mast with etching primer. They also applied filler on the mast and prepared it to be sanded tomorrow. We always know when they are ready to sand as they spray the primed area with red or black spray paint. When the red or black is gone, they know they have sanded the whole area. We are hoping that this rainy weather is not going to impede the work left to be done. The forecast is for daily rain during the next few days, but it will probably come in the afternoon or evening. That means any painting will need to be done in the early morning. So on we go . . .

090316 Day 145 Boat Lagoon, Phuket, Thailand–Hatches Painted