When people say lightning doesn't strike the same place twice, they are wrong! We were hit again in the Manamo River. For all of you who have followed us from the beginning you know we were hit just before we set out from Daytona. So once again the autopilot is fried along with the alternator, VHF, spreader lights both fore and aft, stereo, etc. It also shot down the stays and blew several small holes in the hull. So we have been busy getting repairs done and will send the autopilot back to the US for repairs or replacement. Insurance won't do it this time as we have a high deductible and the process of two estimates, blah blah blah...was too painful. Sometimes I wonder why we even have insurance. We will haul out on Tuesday afternoon and will remain in the sling for a couple of hours so we can repair the holes just above the waterline. Fortunately most of the repairs are completed or nearly completed. The hull of our boat looks rough though. It is stained with the brown mud of the river; the paint is deteriorating, and now we have a few small holes in it. The oily water here leaves the waterline black as well. We are waiting until we get back to the USA to do a new paint job. It is just too hot here to undertake that task at this point.
Having to go through the process of repairing things again is almost unbearable. We had just finished getting Adamo into shipshape after two months of work. But, a look on the bright side, we can still keep moving while the autopilot is being repaired. It just means someone has to be sitting at the helm at all times which is tiring. Oh well, it is sailing after all.
In the meantime, Phillip is a happy camper since we have met back up with our friends on L'Aventura. They, too, have been doing a lot of work on their catamaran. Misery loves company! At least we can have fun in the interim. Cocktail hour is thriving in Trinidad.
We are contemplating our next move so stay tuned.
