We are finally at dry dock. Well, moored up outside the dry dock but we are within a stone's throw of starting probably the biggest (and most expensive) part of the renovation project to date. There were 2 crew who joined me on the trip, Barry and Andy, to whom I extend my sincere thanks for being my eyes and ears (and in Barry's case, chief filmographer). All photos here are courtesy of Barry at BWFilm (http://www.bwfilm.co.uk/) and he has done yet another cracking job on making Zee look far better than she does at the moment...

With a lock out time of 0800 it wasn't a miserably early start, but early enough for someone who hates any time starting with a zero... Everything was in pretty good order. Fuel, lights, generator, engine fired up first time and we slipped our berth at about 0730. With the grace and subtlety of a rhinoceros in ballet shoes we reversed out, pirouetted and headed straight to the lock where we met our pilot...

The lock at Portishead Quay Marina. It's a hefty brute given the sometimes 15m tidal range.

We decided to hire a pilot to take us up the Channel as it is renowned for being difficult to navigate. Best. Decision. Ever. The Channel was designed by Satan and his minions seem to drive the currents in unfathomable ways and with incredible force and speed. 'The Chute', where an underwater valley funnels the incoming water at break-neck speed and beyond, where the tidal flow boils up and creates eddies and random currents, was enough to make the £200 charge seem somewhat cheap.

My heart suffered another few skipped beats as I looked over the starboard side of the barge and noticed no cooling water coming out of the generator... Nuts. Dash in, turn it off and hope it hasn't seized. I suspect either the impeller has corroded and fallen to pieces or any pre generator filter was clogged with silt. The Channel runs so fast and with so many of Beelzebub's own spawn that it is like sailing through Glastonbury Festival after 4 solid days of rain and hipsters in wellies. Big Bertha (the engine) was fine though. She sucked the brown sludge in and spat it out with gay abandon.

Definitely not the Azure blue of the Caribbean...

The Severn Bridge .

The Skipper, possibly thinking about a small house in the country or the fact his generator had just packed up on him...

We made good time and had to throttle back and throw in the odd delay turn into the oncoming tide, to fettle our timing to arrive at Sharpness nearly spot-on the high water at 1100. Even at almost bang on high water, there were 2-3 knots of flow through the lattice pier either side of the entry to the lock. It required some very careful manoeuvring on the part of the pilot to get us in. We faced into the incoming tide, drifted back and then powered up and ferry glided across the face of the entry at about 80 degrees to it, then at the last moment straightened up. A good move and one I would not want to have tried on my own.

After mooring up at the side of the dry dock we beat a hasty retreat and I deposited my crew back in Portishead and thanked them for their efforts. I will be seeing Andy again soon no doubt as he has graciously offered to add some much needed muscle during Zeelandia's stay in Sharpness.

After meeting with the dry dock owner today, he seems to think the mandatory items I want to achieve are possible given our timescale. I have decided to get a scabbler (an evil machine designed to key masonry or strip paint) to make a headstart on the walk-ways, cargo roof, skipper's cabin roof and fore deck. That way I can minimise the ultra-high pressure washing costs for the superstructure and the guys can concentrate on the hull.

The inside of the cargo hold continues to be a fatherless child of job. On discussion with others at the dry dock, I was told that shot-blasting can force grease and dirt into the surface of the steel. High pressure steam allied with an emulsifying agent, and more stubborn areas finished with an ultra-high pressure wash, would seem to be the preferred method. This does cause problems in having to move all the crap out of the cargo hold (and there is a lot). I will be looking to hire a high pressure steam cleaner for a few days to see how it strips the grease and crud. I am having the sea cock on the cargo hold removed so that will be, in essence, the bath plug through which everything can drain and be caught...

Suffice it to say the practical problems continue to mount but having skills and experience on site is a great benefit. I need to be cognisant of the costs and ensure we don't overrun but if I need to spend a little more to get ahead in the game and save weeks of my time later on, then so be it.

Yet again, Barry produced another cracker of a video...