Getting Fouled Again | What Have I Done The Past 6 Months In Dakar Africa | S8E14

Six months into my stay in the bay, it was finally time to take Galopin out of the water because the hull growth had attached itself with a vengeance. Hauling the boat up onto the beach is always a nerve-wracking experience, and the sound of the cart balancing Galopin is enough to make you cringe.

Once ashore, we assessed the situation. The most agressive invasion of barnacles caked the hull like cement. The crew faced a grueling four days of sanding to remove mutant shells left cemented because of poor antifouling product I was sold previously. Although I felt bad for the guys struggling with the job because they were sold inadequate antifouling, I paid them something and they covered new primer and antifouling to ensure the job would be done right.

While the sanding continued, I relied on local legends like Mam, a 64-year-old "tranquil man" and true sailor who knows his stuff to climb the mast to install a new wind transducer and cable. And Pape, who scavenged perfect rope from a downed mast to replace my fading furler line. The team worked hard enough that I expected to be back in the water by sunset, but just as we were ready to start the engine, disaster struck. The ignition switch failed completely, turning the moment into pure frustration and what felt like a scripted movie scene. With the boat stuck and the engine dead, I had to call in Arona, the master mechanic and one of the most loved characters in my story, to save the day.

We're very close to saying Au Revoir Dakar. Big hugs to all

Getting Fouled Again | What Have I Done The Past 6 Months In Dakar Africa | S8E14 (YouTube)