Port Napoleon

Port Napoleon is where our mast was shipped to; we’ve arranged for the boat to be lifted as well so we can check the hull and the antifouling.

Up she comes

As ever you can always tell who the boats owner is by the nervous look on their faces when the boat is suspended in mid air - its just not a good moment.

Boats are just not meant to fly

Having her bottom power washed

Then came hull polishing and finally titivating the antifouling up - it had survived remarkably well, but the bottom of the keel needed re doing where the weed and silt had scoured the antifouling off, and we gave it some extra coats along the waterline too.  This should help keep it weed free until next year when we think we’ll haul the boat out again and leave it on a hard somewhere for a while, we’ll then have all the old antifouling stripped off and some fancy new copper coating applied.

Not a Greek Tragedy, just Dave 'dressed' in an old sheet for anti=fouling.

Planning to be back in the water tomorrow and then it’s time for the mast and an engine service before we set off long the coast.

Have just got some bad news from the riggers, the standing rigging has some corrosion in the upper parts of the rig and they won’t step it unless we sign a disclosure to say its not their fault if it comes down!! - Great stuff. 

We’ve examined the rig closely and have decided to replace the whole of the standing rigging (the wire bits holding the mast up) - no question really as it has got to be safe, but it means we’ve got to wait for the new rig to be made before we can step the mast.  Somewhat irritating as if they’d identified the problem when we first arrived we’d already be a week into the two it’ll take for the new rig to come.  We always knew we’d have to replace the rig fairly soon due to its age but it’s just come sooner than expected.

Our mast waiting now for new rigging

It also means we’re stuck in Port Napoleon for another couple of weeks - but storms are forecast for the next few days and this has got to be the safest place to be with the forecasted Force 9 winds and heavy rain. We've also met some new friends here, so our social life isn't too quiet either.

Plenty of fenders for the approaching storm!

Think we’ll look into hiring a car to have a look around the area and to visit some friends.


And then the storms came!

There's always one!

Best place for us is tucked up in Port Napoleon!