Checklist this week

I guess we're soon ready to set our sails towards that circumnavigation we've been talking about! Oh gosh what an expensive preparation this is, but on the other hand: How many times in your life are you planning to go around the world? This is such a lifetime adventure and incredible challenge that we do not care if we have to spend our last pennies in order to make this happen. There's anyway always more money to make out there if needed, aren't there.

So we're almost done with our tasks:

• Apply epoxy and primer on the hull
• Two layers of antifouling, one done
• Arch in stainless steel installed on the aft deck
• Solar panels and wind generator up
• Replace the standing rigging
• Install new life lines
• Install the new GPS, VHF and AIS
• Installment of the radar
• Installment of the sonar system
• Cushions must arrive
• Our new SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger must get installed so you guys can see exactly where in the world we are located.

We are tremendously grateful for the discounts and assistance we've received from our partners. Paolo at our local Accastillage Diffusion have kindly provided us with well needed discount on the electronics, life-raft and solar panels while Hallberg-Rassy have been very helpful in guiding for some of the original parts in order for us to make our old lady (almost) look like new again.

There's just a few other things that still needs to be replaced or get installed. As time flies and we need to head out on the sea in just a few days, we'll manage these last things once we're back here for our last weeks in Barcelona in Sept/Oct:

• New sails needed. Elvström or North Sails? Still comparing.
• Self steering, prefarably Hydrovane - or anyone having a better suggestion for self steering? we haven't studied this too much yet.

Let's now cross our fingers and hope that our arch gets perfectly installed tonight and tomorrow, that - along with the solar panels and wind generator are something we simply can't live without one more day as we do not want to waste a fortune on diesel this summer.