The cabin is coming along. Cupboard shelving is being created and the bed base cut. The camera was returned yesterday, so photos will start coming once more.

My camera returns tomorrow. More pics of the upgrade to come.

40 – 50 knots a – blowing here today.

With the wood arriving, Bob has commenced on the next stage of the forward cabin refurb. With both cameras in for servicing, there are no pictures to show the progress at the moment. With regards to the pics and spiels: Those spiels for France are ready for me to place on the computer, whilst Bob […]

After 30+ years, it is time for the rubbing strakes to be replaced. Rotting in places, and bolts rusted in many cases, away came that on the port side. The new timber has been ordered, and once cut to size and shape, should soon be here. The halyards, sheets, and furling lines have been washed […]

Bob and I were hit by a cold this week: too long away from civilisation, it hit us like a sledgehammer. We have hired a car and are busy running around ordering the wood and so forth. Images are slowly coming along. It’s lovely revisiting, for so much has happened this year that one easily forgets.   […]

Bob has continued working on the framing in the forward cabin. The rough spiels are ready to be placed on computer and the photo editing is gradually coming along.  

Bob purchased some hatches for the cockpit storage area the other day. Today has seen him commence sizing the current holes for the covers. A last, no more water can find its way in, and the cockpit is another step closer to looking completed. Tomorrow morning, he heads off to purchase the wood for the […]

www.gratisaustralis.com/?page_id=2676 (click on the link to view additional images of the project’s progress) In the meantime, I have almost completed the image sorting,  the story of Gratis is 99% ready: just waiting for Bob to add a little more, and the spiels for our journey through France are almost completed. Add to this a day of baking: […]

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A few more pics of the renovations. www.gratisaustralis.com/?page_id=2676

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Yesterday saw Bob commence the reshaping of the forward cabin. Out came the saw. Some hours later – a great deal of discussion regarding the best way of arranging our new bedroom took place in between times – and the transverse bunk had been removed.

Today saw us commencing the emptying of the forward cabin in preparation for the renovation. Pics will come. In the meantime, here are a few taken over the past few days. Main Image: Sunrise yesterday morning

Besides fitting in the occasional sightseeing trip, this winter will also see quite a bit of work taking place on Big G. Serious ocean crossings, and the Canal Deux Mers do take a toll on a boat. It won’t only be repairs taking place. Living on board full time soon allows you to see how things can […]

We headed into Ragusa this morning and completed the paperwork replied for a temporary visa.

It looks as though we are remaining here Marina di Ragusa, Sicily for the winter. With another bombing killing in excess of 70 people, events are hotting up a little too much in Turkey. We are also hearing stories of how the people smugglers are putting refugees into the water for boaties to pick up, then […]

The prop is on and Gratis back in her berth.

The prop returned yesterday. Gratis is returned to the slip way today at 10am, where the prop will be returned to its pride of place. At this stage, with another bout of bad weather coming through, our departure won’t take place until the weekend.