On the dry in Richards Bay

OK, I've procrastinated long enough, so here starts Mary Ann's blog...

We have been on the dry since Saturday, November 7th. This wasn't planned, but our stern gland decided to pack up, and we were taking on water, so no choice but to haul out.

The facilities here are borderline for this: 30 ton travel lift, but a bit short in length. Eric, the lift out manager, came on board and decided it was OK.
So, Saturday last we came to the slipway with the 4pm tide, and Mary Ann was slowly hoisted up, secured, and pulled to the dry. We spent the night still attached to the travel lift, and in the morning, stilts were installed to hold the boat. The lift was pulled away, and we are now sitting on grass.
A new experience, with no water, no toilets, thankfully we have electricity, but the morning run to the loo is not our preferred activity...

Sunday was spent cleaning the hull (with a good, borrowed, Karcher power cleaner) - we started at 8am and finished at 7:30 pm, quite exhausted. The hull is now clean, and awaits a new pair of coats of anti-fouling paint

Monday we started organizing the work, lining up a mecanic, diesel specialist, hydraulics expert, electrician and still looking for specialists on electronics, compressors and watermakers.

This morning, Tuesday, work started on the propeller/shaft/stern gland... basically the whole main engine transmission system needs to come out to fix what's called a "stern gland packing box". This is the system around the engine shaft as it passes through the hull, to allow the shaft to turn without letting water enter the boat. Our packing box collaped after showing signs of weakness for a few months (we couldn't fix it as we were at sea most of the time and nowhere near a place to go on the dry).
All day was needed to take out the shaft and access that box. Tomorrow, we'll see what needs to be done to fix it... hopefully.

Right, first post, and it's about techical issues... sailing is as much about fixing the boat as it is about navigating. One thing I have learnt since we left almost a year ago.