Up early to do some shopping and to see when we can go to the boatyard to put the mast back on. I was getting a bit nervous because we hadn't heard from them confirming they were ready for us. But when we rang after 9:00am they were there and told us to come down after lunch at 2:00pm. So in the end we had a quite relaxing morning. Richard rang around to see if he could find us a berth until we return in September. Sete, which we thought would be most likely said they had no room, but Cap D'Agde thought they might well be able to do that. So when we have sails again we will go there and suss it out.
Down to the boatyard and have a hard time mooring up in a tight space with a boat lift cradle on the side threatening to knock holes in our hull. But Henri is very helpful and we safely tie up. Then they go to find our mast. They have really hidden it away. Obviously it has been here too long! But we get it and the boom and everything looks fine. They crane the mast onto some old oil drums for Richard to put the spreaders and wind instruments back. We first have to unwrap all the tape Richard put on it for transport. That is a long job and we need to wash it all down with white spirit to get rid of the sticky bits of the tape that were left behind.
Everything seems to take so much longer than we expected, especially as it is another very hot day. So it isn't until 5:00pm that they start to crane the mast back onto the boat. Richard had hoped that we might make it to Cap D'Agde this evening, but that will not be possible. By 6:00pm Henri wants to go home. The mast is up, but all the rigging is just loosely connected and we will have to tighten everything up in the morning and connect the boom, not to mention putting the sails on. But at least now we are nearly back to being a sailboat. What a relief. So tonight we stay on the boatyard pontoon. At least we have electricity and there is water if we need more.
By the time we sort a few things out it is 7:00pm and we are very hot and sweaty. There is a beach not far from the boat so despite the time we decide to go there. And finally, we get to swim in the Med! It is great. We cool off nicely and even find a shower to wash off the salt water. The town is a typical French seaside place with loads of stalls selling the usual tourist stuff. But apparently there is a good market and there are bakeries! So while Richard works on the boat I will go into town in the morning and buy us some real food.
After dinner Richard gets enthusiastic and decides to try to reconnect all the wires on the mast. He spends most of the evening and has more or less succeeded. Unfortunately, there is one thing that is not working and that is the anchor light. We are not sure if Richard just wired it badly or if the bulb has gone. If it is the latter, we hope someone in the boatyard can go up the mast to change it. It shouldn't be a problem as this afternoon, Henri, shimmied up the mast with nothing at all to help him just to disconnect the rope to the crane!
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