Wednesday 5 April
As promised, Philippe returned to the marina this morning, accompanied by the handsome Antonio, who heads up the welding team, to agree with Skipper exactly what work needed to be done to make good the damage to my anchor roller and bow. My crew then pedalled to Carrefour for non-perishables, like a bottle or three of Mate’s favourite apéritif (am I really supposed to believe one is for her mother?!), before stowing the bikes in the granny bars at the foot of my mast, and motoring around the corner to the tech dock ready for the lift.
After leaving the bikes on the pontoon, Skipper steered me neatly into the slings o
f the crane and the PNA guys slowly lifted me clear of the water and onto the waiting Allures trailer. Meanwhile the crew were ferried back to the pontoon to follow me like outriders the half mile across the industrial estate into the yard, where I was ably manoeuvred into a very tight space by the multi-talented Pierre-Julien (who last September rigged my new gennaker and staysail). He and a colleague wedged me securely onto purpose-built blocks before sliding the trailer out from underneath, while my crew quickly packed bags for their sleepover.
They left me in the company of my sisters overnight, while they found supper at the pizzeria on the old quay – crêpes with lovely local cider, apparently.