A Week of Progress, Decisions and Trusting the Journey

It has been an awesome week for us and for Deep Blue.

She is now safely on the hard stand, getting all the love and attention she needs to become the world cruiser we know she is going to be. Having her out of the water gives us the opportunity to really see what needs to be done and to make sure everything is right before we set off on our big adventures.

This week we managed to get a surveyor in to assess her properly, which was a great step forward. Next week the sandblasters arrive to work their magic on the hull, preparing her for the next stage of her transformation.

Our mechanic Johan — who we have now officially named our knight in shining armour — has been working hard on replacing the anchor and the bow thruster. While he was here he also taught us something we didn’t realise was such an art form… how to properly fold and bag the sails.

These sails are serious pieces of equipment. They are thick, heavy, incredibly expensive and definitely not easy to fold. There is actually a real technique to it. They need to be handled with care and respect so that when the time comes and we need them in any kind of weather, they are ready to perform exactly as they should. Everything is now safely packed away and off the deck ready for the sandblasters.

One thing that became very clear this week is that there is a lot more work to be done on the boat than Mac originally anticipated.

So we made a decision.

Instead of rushing, we are going to keep Deep Blue on the hard stand for another 1–2 months and complete everything that can only be done while she is out of the water.

Once that work is finished, we will move her into a pen in Port Coogee Marina, where she will stay until the end of the year.

During this time we are also looking for some accommodation on land. Having a stable base will give me a place to call home while the boat work continues and while we prepare for the next phase of the journey.

With the extra work required, we will unfortunately miss our sailing weather window for this year. That means our big departure will now be next year.

And honestly… I think this is a really good thing.

It gives me more time to get my sailing legs, build confidence, and become more comfortable living and moving around on the boat. I’m already feeling so much better on board.

It also means that before we head off on the big journey up the west coast of Australia and eventually across to Thailand for the interior refit, we will be able to take smaller trips — to Rottnest Island and surrounding areas — gaining experience and confidence along the way.

Sometimes the journey slows down for a reason.

One of the harder decisions this week was about our beautiful cat.

He has been okay on the boat, but we noticed that when we stayed on land he seemed much happier. After a lot of thought, we spoke to our good friend Andy and asked if he might consider adopting him.

Without hesitation he said YES.

As it turns out, Andy had already been thinking about adopting a cat from a rescue shelter and had even bought the cat bowls! It felt like perfect timing and one of those moments that reminds you that things really do work out the way they are meant to.

Andy was heading off to New Zealand for the week and kindly offered us his house to help settle the cat in. It worked out beautifully.

Andy returns on Sunday, so we will pick him up from the airport and then head back to our wonderful hosts at our Airbnb — the “Cabin in the Woods.”

Another week. Another challenge. Another step forward.

And through it all I feel incredibly grateful to be living this life — learning, adapting, and sharing the adventure with my best friend, Mac.

Looking forward to what next week brings.

The journey continues .........................................................