Sailing Delos: Boat Work, Homeschooling, and Unexpected Challenges in Tonga

Boat Maintenance and Improvisation

• 🛠️ Hatch leak repairs involved improvising new bushings using thickened epoxy and hose sections, or fuel hose with bolts, to address worn-out original parts.
• 💡 Brian highlights the satisfaction of improvising solutions with available materials, even preferring it over having the exact right part.
• ⚓ The team moved anchorages multiple times due to uncomfortable weather, with winds reaching 25-35 knots, impacting sleep and daily activities.
• 🌊 A significant issue arose from a clogged sea strainer caused by jellyfish, leading to a water maker failure and a foul-smelling cleanup.
• 🔩 Rudder shaft leak repair involved disassembling the packing gland, cleaning rust, applying rust converter, and repainting the quadrant, ensuring proper electrical contact for the bonding system.

Homeschooling and Family Life

• 📚 Sierra has started homeschooling on the boat, presenting a new challenge and joy for the family.
• 🧠 The homeschooling curriculum involves daily exercises, with a focus on numbers being easier than letters for Sierra.
• ⏰ The homeschooling schedule requires adjusting daily routines, with parents waking up early to complete computer work before homeschooling and exploration.
• 🍳 Despite the challenges, the family celebrated a stormy morning by making waffles, showcasing a positive family activity amidst the disruptions.

Sailing and Exploration

• 🗺️ The crew navigated through shallows using a track to find a new anchorage, demonstrating navigation skills in challenging conditions.
• 💨 They experienced strong winds funneled through a gap, necessitating a move to a more protected anchorage behind a larger hill.
• 🏝️ The team enjoyed exploring beautiful islands in Tonga, engaging in activities like snorkeling and relaxing on beaches during low tide.
• 🚢 The episode concludes with the anticipation of new VIP guests arriving, signaling the end of their stay in Tonga and preparation for setting sail again.

Delos 2.0 Interior Design

• 📐 Caz is finalizing the interior layout for Delos 2.0, focusing on wardrobes and cubby holes in the guest cabin.
• 💻 She uses 3D drawings and a program called e-Drawings to visualize and finalize the design details, especially for custom doors.
• 🎨 Brian acknowledges his limitations in interior design, trusting Caz's expertise while focusing on his strength in fixing and boat projects.