Siesta Key- 2006 - Spain and Portugal

We bought her from Steve and Ann, who live in a magnificent setting on the Rio Guadiana that divides Spain and Portugal. SK and their other boats are moored at the bottom of their garden - heaven. (You can stay there at their lovely guest house - http://www.casaamarilla.net/). On Google earth go to 37° 25.52´ N 07° 27.05´ W - and there she (still is) - the bottom photo shows her riding there at anchor.

With Steve's and the Marina's help, we took her out of the water in Vila Real de santo Antonio, where we immediately set to and stripped the teak deck to get at the 1800 bolts that were letting water through the to soak everything inside.

2006/7 was to be the coldest wettest winters for 20 years - yuk. But with moral support from Derek and Gini and the hard work of Matt a huge amount got done.

Off came the rudder for a rebuild and new stainless fittings, a new prop (best not ask why! oops), rebuild of the mast foot and cleaning the bilges (do I get great jobs!), new coamings for the hatches, new rigging and a completely new steel boomkin - as well as sealing those 1800 holes!

final painting however transformed her and made her look absolutely magnificent.