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LAUNCH DAY

We launched on 28th August. A day I will not forget. The crane, booked for 12 o'clock was in the village at 8.30 and the transporter and assistance from Caley Marina arrived shortly afterwards.

The first set back was when the concrete started cracking under the crane but after some bearers were replaced the lift and move went like clockwork.

Launching for the first time was a terrifying experience (Made the more so by the fact that all others present had total confidence that everything would be all right and I seemed to be the only one to have any doubts!

In the event it was perfect and she settled spot on her marks and the bilge was bone dry.

THE CHRISTENING & MAIDEN VOYAGE

On the 2nd of September 2000 we had the naming ceremony and Sue broke the bottle (having been warned it was not easy but very important to break it on the first attempt, we had an explosion that christened most of the boat and a few spectators!).

We put the mast up on 30th August in perfect weather and once again everything went better than we could have hoped.

Over the next few days we completed most of the essential tasks and on the 5th September we travelled down through the Caledonian Canal.

The pictures show us at Fort Augustus & the west end of Loch Lochy

On the 11th September we had our sails fitted and went for a short sail off Fort William.


It was a huge relief and a great thrill to find that she sails powerfully and smoothly and even in the lightest of airs she was making reasonable progress. The list of jobs for next winter is getting longer by the day and there are frustrations with electronics that are not working (brand new having to be returned for repair) but over all she is a delight to sail and very comfortable to live on.

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