Commence operation “bug fumigation”

Sunday 3 May, CY day 50: Last evening, after spotting a second cockroach (previous one visited us a month ago), we had talked about fumigating the boat. We have the aerosols to do it, but we need to be off the boat for at least 6 hours. Which is impossible right now. But at 6am (my twilight thinking zone) I was woken with an idea. We can fumigate in stages. Our aft cabin and engine room area during the day and the forward part of the boat at night.

So after breakfast we get the aft cabin ready. The floor boards come up, the mattresses come off so we can open the bilge void under the bed. All stowage opened, deck vents closed and fans in place to get circulation. Then we set off a fumigation aerosol and seal the cabin door. There, take-that you buggering bugs! … if you are actually in there.

Meanwhile, outside it’s quite windy with the occasional dark cloud. We debate removing the sun shade, but defer given the wind is forecast to decrease during the day.
By afternoon I get very frustrated trying to make the semi-spherical piece for the port stern tube. I had surprised myself by making the starboard one without too much grief. But I obviously got over confident because this port side one is a nightmare. Horrible to sew the intricate curved pieces and then the damned thing doesn’t fit correctly. I must have sewn it and then unpicked it 3 times before finally starting from scratch making new templates and cut new sunbrella material. Oana keeps trying to persuade me to take a break and come back later, but I just can’t be defeated! Eventually, I finalize something that looks reasonable. Enough. I’m not doing it again. And I summise: do you need the same patience for learning sewing as you do for learning golf? Odd comparison I know, but if you’ve got 2 left feet and ever tried to learn golf in mid-life, you might know what I mean.

Late afternoon, as we get yet more gusty wind, Oana asks again, “you sure about this sunshade?”. So we take it down. And very wise she was too. 20 minutes later we get hit by quite a rain squall. Torrential rain, big wind and even thunder. We DONT LIKE electric storms. But I guess the season is upon us now.

In the evening I get a call from the aft bathroom. Oana has cut her hair and she needs me to straighten up the bottom at the back, where she can’t see. Always a nervous moment! But it’s nice that we can cut each other’s hair, right?

Before bedtime, we get the saloon and forward part of Cloudy ready for fumigation. Same routine. Sealing hatched and vents, opening all doors and lifting some flooring to allow the fumes into the bilge. Then we set off another aerosol and run into our aft cabin and go to bed. It’s nice to sleep in our cabin knowing there is virtually zero chance of any bugs being in there.