Wet, wet wet

Good grief. Left the boat in the water a little too long this winter. Certainly chose the worse day for the year so far for the extraction. My new friend Gerard Henry or Henry Gerard (I'm too embarrassed to ask after three lift operations) appeared on time, complete with towing tractor, to control the crane.

First though, I had to get the nameless one from the berth to the crane pier, alone, with stiff south-westerly blowing straight up the lake, into the port and shoving me and das boot into the shore. Would the wonderful Johnson 2-stoke, 8hp (less than 6kw, should the lake polizei be on the look-out - no powerboat licence required!!) burst into life at my command and assist in an uninterrupted fashion to get me to the crane. It took a bit of effort, but once I realised that the choke needs to be properly out, rather than lingering half-heartedly, to actually have any impact we were off in a blaze of smoke.

Lining up for the pontoon assault was amusing, especially since a downwind at speed approach is necessitated by the layout of the harbour. One bump later and we were snug alongside. Some nifty work was required to get the backstay detached and the boom off too - especially with no shackle key. Memo to self - always, always have a shackle key. Even if just visiting the Bistro du Port (nice Gamay available in a pot, very reasonably priced).

Horizontal sluicing with rain did nothing to deter M. Henry/M. Gerard, who operates the crane in summer wearing a Greek fishing hat and in the rain, a so'wester. Very dapper. Usual aplomb and one boat, one trailer combined. The jet hosing revealed nothing sinister. Still some paint peel due to lack of adherence to old coat of copper-bottom.

Overall a job well done and nicely placed in prime viewing spot for all those in the bistro to choke with laughter over their gamay as we struggle to make the nameless one ship-shape before next season. Interesting fact: there are now two Neptun 22 in the harbour. A trend has been started. Must find out the name of the other one.