The not-so-sexy side of ⛵️

We (mostly Ted) have been in full-on maintenance mode... regardless of weather ever-changing events ☀️🌡🌧🌩⚡️. Most bits being the necessary maintenance after 1st leg of our trip, the rest are self-inflicted improvements before Indo.
The good news is that OtD is all but ready to go back in the drink 🌊 with our lift-in scheduled for the 6th.
Mechanic & hydraulic serviced ✔️ bottom cleaned & patched ✔️ Boat survey ✔️ insurances ✔️ new dingy motor ✔️ OtD brewery established ✔️ boat stamp made ✔️ (apparently Indo officials love stamps?)
Our last jobs are to buy/load food stores & finalise install of a new inverter (extra power for air-con = 🥵 to 🥶 to 😊).
We are tentatively booked for exit out of OZ on the 13th. The ABF requirements were eye-opening...in addition to the stuff you would expect we have had to register as exporter/importer (OtD exported out as a single cargo item) & we have to exit Oz waters immediately after our checkout procedure... which requires you to book 5 days ahead & can only be done Mon- Fri, 9 am & 2 pm 🤪. Our plan to ⛵️ out to the furthest 🏝 (50nm), rest up & wait for a suitable weather window to ⛵️ the remaining 250nm to Saumlaki is a no go...we advised not negotiable, apparently safe sailing is not high on their risk management priorities??Read more