zondag, 21 mei 2000 22.26

Things fall in place

And again two weeks have passed. Daily checking my „to do'-list and finding out that ticking things off take more time than adding new things to the list. The photos show the new chartable and seat, including the upholstery. So have a close look and try to determine whether you can make sense out of it.

The second photo shows the corridor with the three doors mounted. At the end you see the double door to our bedroom. On the left the door to the other cabin and on the right the door to bathroom.

The third photo shows that the wood of the outside is now finally covered completely in the first layers of paint and filler.

This should give you an idea that we are actually getting somewhere.

On the inside of the boat, we only have to cover up the ceiling (put isolation and than a fake second ceiling) A few strips of cherry wood to prevent things falling of table-tops and the two principle tables for the saloon have till to be made. Than the carpenters (Osman, Cengus, Arsin and Ilhan) are finished with the interior. The painters have moved in for sanding and varnishing. This will go on for the next 20 days. A total number of 7 layers (and sanding in between). Two guys will spend the next three weeks being locked up inside the boat.

The new hatches for the deck have been made and will be installed next week. Will send picture if ready. But this will really determines the look of the boat.

One of the big advantages of redoing the boat here in Turkey that one can have special items made on the spot. The guy who makes chrom-parts for boats has now started to make some masterpieces for Sylphe. The bowspritsupports, anchorsupport, ventilation shafts, rails to protect the wood against chaving from ropes etc. All is made custom and on the spot. Nice detail is that we can actually have the logo of Sylphe engraved in them, if we want.

The instrument panel is being made of brass and there the logo and name of the boat will be featured as well. All electricity-cables have been run throughout the boat and a complete chaos of cables is coming out under and above the carttable. Next week when the instrument panel is ready he will spend some days trying to connect the right wire to the right switch.

One of the real good things of the last weeks is that we slowly have started taking parts back to the boat. They were taken off some 6 months ago and are now being installed again. It is a nice feeling to walk up the stairs to the boat with yet another item in your hand that will receive its definate place.

All in all, I have stopped counting days. I do not know if it will be two, three of four weeks before Sylphe will be in the water. We are pushing and doing the utmost. But a day only has 24 hours and sometimes we are depending on third parties (engine, elcetronics, painter, electrics, chrom etc)

In the street where Sylphe has its workshops other boats are also finishing their final stage. Everybody prepares for yet another summer and wants to get its boat back in the water. A nice, feverish feeling is hanging around.

Another real thing has happened: a new hardwarestore has opened next to my workshop. This saves me driving down 2 kilometersto get yet another kind of screw, plug, tool or God knows what I need at that moment. I just walk over, find my way through the shelves, walk out again, try, test and change the part again. Once a week I settle the bill for all that we have bought.

Sail-In-Style is progressing. Thanks to Mark, Rikje, Diego, Iyit&Iyit and Rob we are now working on web-pages and the final texts. The logo has been decided upon and will send as soon as I can. The webpage should be up in the air over the next two weeks, will tell you: www.sail-in-style.com. T-shirts, polo‚s and shorts have been found. Printed and logo‚s to be embroided and we can show our face with dignity around the poche harbours of this world. Nothing to be ashamed of in the future.

My nightmares about putting SYLPHE back into the water are growing. I will go to Istanbul tha day and behave like a tourist, I guess. I do not want to be present. They can call me, when she is in the water, safe and floating.

Love roland and Marit.

PS My father is back in Holland and has recovered remarcably. He will have to undergo a triple by-pass in the next two weeks, but so far so good.