The OWEN Project

  I am in contact with the team in Yoff (Dakar, Senegal) multiple times per week to check on progress and see what is happening on the ground.  WhatsApp makes it easy!  OWEN Pirogue is having major work done to repair damaged wood on the sides and top of the boat. Between the repairs, scraping, caulking and repainting, many people are involved in this work....and getting paid.  I believe in the dignity of work. Now it's time to get out and fish in the typically most productive season, winter.  

What a festive evening of catered Senegalese food with friends and family supporting OWEN Project!    

 The team is up in Kayar now, an area which is adjacent to a very deep sea canyon.  This man is the captain who has been with us for the last year or so.  I met him in February.  I’m eager to hear if they have caught anything! 

 The sea water is very hard on outboard motors.  Today was spent repairing this one so as to go out again and fish, hoping for a catch.  

 Once a year there is a festive competition among the fishermen, a rowing competition.  We joined the fun (and supported the event)!  We do not have our own boat so our team was split into group of 2-4 men who rowed with other teams from their neighborhoods.  

The seas are rough on boats, and after 6-8 months, they need to be scraped, sanded and repainted.  Broken wood needs to be replaced.  Finally, Ariane is ready to go to sea again, and Owen will be rolled back onto the beach to dry out and be refurbished in the next 6-8 months when they will swap again. Each refurbishment costs about $1200 for all materials and labor.    

Ariane is getting fixed so that she can go out to sea to fish, allowing Owen to come back on shore to dry out and be repaired and refitted.  Ariane is a lighter boat and takes less fuel than Owen, but Owen is better on rougher seas.