Yeay, Thursday was the day, as promised.  Round to the yard at 0800, then sit against the wall while preparations are made with the crane and everything’s removed until only the last 2 pins and 1 rope are keeping the mast in place.  Then, as Shaun warned us, there’s a tense few moments while we stand and wait.  There’s a man on each pin, Shaun at the mast, Micko on the crane, Gordon on the rope and I’m keeping the furling drum off the side of the boat.  And we’re all watching, looking out across the bay, watching the swell, waiting for the wash from a ferry pass through, watching a fishing boat go out, just waiting.  Then you can see the calm patch coming across the bay and we wait, watching it come closer until it reaches us and Shaun shouts NOW!   The pins come out, the rope’s released and the crane has the mast – it’s all over in about 30 seconds and the mast swings safely onto the shore.  Getting Mira herself out of the water is much less tense and by 1130 she’s chocked up and ready for a spell ashore.  It’s the first time we’ve seen her hull and there are no nasty shocks, which is great. 

Friday, - the surveyor does his inspection.  We haven’t got the report yet but he’s told us there’s nothing major amiss so more good news.  The yard is busy doing work on the anodes and seacocks, the mast is having work done so it’s all go.  In the meantime we’ve moved across to Spain and are staying on the motor boat in La Linea.  We have good internet access but no shore power so I’ve no means of recharging the laptop and I’m having to husband computer use.  So, you may not get a reply from me for a few days but, as always, thankyou for your emails – they mean a lot!