Going Naked!

Since arriving in Le Havre we've met several boats also getting ready and heading south via the canals.  Everyone is doing things slightly different and it will be interesting to hear all their various tales if we meet up enroute. On Wednesday 3rd June we headed round to Chantier Naval.  Stephan, the owner, came on board and took us to his yard in the inner harbour  at about 4pm.  We were also had company in shape of a motorboat 'Bianchini' who was also going to the yard to have its propellers changed.  To get to the yard we had to go into a lock and 2 road bridges were raised for us. We spent the rest of the evening stripping the boat of as much of the mast equipment.

The crane didn't arrive until 2.30pm next day (5/6) and Jeremy on Bianchini had his boat lifted out first so that the mechanic could work on it whilst our mast was lifted.   Our mast was finally  lifted about 4pm and layed on the side for us to pack it up.  We finally finished about 10pm having stopped for dinner for about half an hour.  The mast will get taken down by road to Port Napoleon in the South of France, in about 2 weeks time. The boat did look naked without all its rigging and the mast, but still plenty of sunbathing space now, once we have clead all the boot prints off!!

We could leave the yard until Friday morning as we had to wait until the morning bridge lifts.  As we entered the lock we were told to move up to the very front of the lock as we would be sharing the lock with a dredger.  This was our first experience of being in a lock with a big ship, no doubt it won't be the last on our journey.  

We have entered locks many times and had no problem, but this time it was a little different as we had been told to keep to the port side of the lock, unfortunately there were no lines, wires or bollards to tie up against on the side, we were too low in the water to easily climb off the boat so Jim had to try and hold the boat off the side.  The wind was very strong and also the water flowing in the lock so it was quite difficult.  

Finally a guy with a walkie talkie, who we took to be someone from the port appeared on the side.  We thought he might be helpful and take a line and put it round the ship bollards....mistake!!! clearly he was not a sailor or knew anything about ropes and little boats, 'cos he took the line and instead of handing back to us proceeded to try and wrap it round the bollard.  Of course it keep slipping as it couldn't be tied off only on itself, the boat moved further out into the lock and the gates we starting to open.  Finally the frenchman decided to tie off the line to itself, helpful NOT! we then had to pull ourselves in and then Jim managed climb onto the side and went and sorted the line off...our assistant had by then bu*****d off  from whenced he came.  Luckily we managed to sort ourselves out Jim got back onto the boat just as the road bridge opened we let go the line and set off for the marina.  Luckily we had no more problems and spent a quiet night in Le Harve.