Afloat At Last!

Looking back over the last week, I feel it's better to focus on the result rather than how we got there, it was a tad stressful and touch and go to say the least! The good news is that Lively Levante is now safely moored in Chichester marina as we had hoped and in time for a week's holiday we've planned starting from the bank holiday next weekend.
We knew it was going to be challenging as everyone in the yard has been under pressure from owners to get their boats back in commission and in the water by the weekend to catch the tide to be ready for the bank holiday weekend, just like us. Due to the bad weather during March most owners had given up trying to get the season started with an Easter cruise so the yard was jammed full. Boats had to come out in a pre-defined order and if one had problems...
The start of the week was relatively calm with the engine being craned in which happened

without too much trouble. Having been cleaned up and with new ancillaries in a refurbished engine bay it looked like it should do with everything in good shape and in sharp contrast to it's original state.  Paul managed to finish off fitting the cooker and to install the anchor winch; he also managed to fit the collar for the mast on the coachroof by Wednesday.
The difficulties then started with the mast when Barry, the rigger, identified a number of additional items that had been missed out; fortunately he had been able to get a mast coat which could have sunk our plans, without that we would have been in trouble. With all the halyards rigged and the mast dressed he was ready for the hoist which should have been at 11am on Thursday. 
Unfortunately the crane was stuck on another yacht that had problems with the fitting of a new keel that wouldnt fit. Eventually in mid afternoon the new mast was raised into

position and, just as it was about to be lowered, the crane came to a halt! Barry requested valium, other jobs were slipped and after more sitting on hands the crane eventually got re-started setting the mast in position on top of the keel. Naturally much of the work that need to be done to set the mast up had to slip to Friday, the day she was meant to be going into the water.
Although many boats were being queued up for launched our slot came up on time just after mid day and Lively Levante was gently lowered into the water with the rigging still being completed. This was just as well as there's less than a two hour window when there's enough water to take her to a berth. It was a wonderful moment to see her back in her element at last as she was towed away to her berth, looking just resplendent in the bright sunshine. Seeing her from astern her beamy hull was deep down in the water, so different from more modern yachts that seem to sit on the water rather than in it.
That afternoon the plan was for Dale to run up the engine and make sure she was ok for the trip, yet another emergency intervened and despite the best of intentions

Dale didn't arrive. Soon the water had disappeared and there was no chance of completing this task, it would have to be done just before we left on Saturday.
Barry finished off his work as far as he could without parts such as the fitting to take the strut for the boom; we'd just have to manage with an improvised kicker. It was now up to us to set the sails and flush out any issues before we were due to sail away the next day. Naturally enough there were surprises such as a lack of mast slides and a boom that would not accommodate the stack-pack; however after a quick dash to the Marine Super Store we got on top of them. The more significant problem was that the shackle on the Furlex was much higher above the deck that the old Hood furler so we couldn't tension the genoa, not much sailing tomorrow, it would be for emergencies only!
The following day Dale arrived just as the water was flooding in and soon got the engine running sweetly. Re-assuringly it started with the first flick of the switch and water was soon splashing out of the exhaust, showing all was well. After a few more improvisations and safely stowing everything on board we were ready to go the moment there was enough water to leave the berth. Impatiently, we tried an hour and a quarter before high tide but couldn't get out, 15 mins later it was a whole foot deeper and enough to clear the mud around the berth. I was pleased to have Clive on board who knew Mill Rythe well as we followed the narrow, shallow channel out to the deep water mindful of the yacht, Sparkle, that we'd watched go aground the previous day.
We were free of the Yard at last but this pleasure was tempered by the wind suddenly piping

up from 10 knots to 25, not exactly as forecast! Despite this It didn't take long to motor round to Chichester which was all we could do really and with the lock in free flow were soon in the marina. The gusty northerly winds made mooring a final challenge but we got there in the end. It had been touch and go all week but thanks to the many players who had helped us overcome a succession of problems we'd stayed on track, she was now afloat and safely in her new home at Chichester.