OMG - what happened to our mast?!

Hurrah - we are without mast - or should I say upright mast!

I'm pleased to report that all went well today.  We got into the lifting slings first time around and were lifted out of the water by crane so the boat was stable for demasting.  The process was made more straightforward as Skipper had freed off the rigging screws which meant less work for the technician at Bleu Marine.  He was amazing: he shimmied up the mast with ease - minus harness(!) - to attach the crane sling under the spreaders (which spread the load from the mast-top shrouds).  

The amazing Bleu Marine technician up our mast - without harness!

With the crane now taking the weight of the mast, Skipper and First Mate released the rigging screws which hold the mast's shrouds and stays (i.e. mast supports) and then the mast was tilted onto the much-admired A-frames. 

Aft view of mast on much-admired A frames!

We were then lowered back into the water and returned to our mooring in the now customary gale force winds.  We were blown off mooring on our first attempt so we made another pass in which we were successful - just!  Skipper was relieved to get our lines on so we could tidy up the mast in the now 'unstepped' position (i.e laid out on the frames).

Skipper walking the plank!

At time of writing, Skipper & First Mate are knackered, relieved and happy that we can finally get into the canals.  The next step is to get our licence tomorrow so we should actually be en route to Arques & St Omer tomorrow afternoon - bureuacracy permitting.

So that's it folks - another eventful day for Skipjack & Anchovy.  Tune in for the next exciting instalment of The Owl and Pussycat Diaries - over!