Snow on the Pyrenees and sun on the waves

A Window of Opportunity.

Last week our boat was almost ready to be launched for the new season. B. had finished the carénage, which involves scraping and painting the boat and its propellor, and painting it with anti fouling. He had also fitted a photo voltaic panel on the front of the boat, as we plan to moor it away from the busy port, where there will be no electricity supply. As we planned to do the trip by sea, we began to search anxiously for a day when the sea would remain calm. It would have to be Friday, for after that the winds would return, with gusts of up to 80km per hour over the whole of the following week. So we planned to launch Njiva II , our newly named boat, last Friday afternoon. This would give us time to complete a few jobs and reach our new mooring by early evening. But by the time we reached Chantier Allemande that morning the forecast had changed and rising winds were predicted for later that day. Could we possibly be launched earlier? The trouble was, quite a number of other boats were lined up to be launched that day too. Indeed the boatyard was a hive of activity as some boat owners prepared for launching , while others struggled to finish painting jobs. Before each boat is launched, the spaces where the chocks have been holding up the boat need to be anti-fouled too, at least 30minutes before the boat hits the water.

Painting...

Moving towards the water

Launching

But with all this activity going on , could Henri possibly find the time to launch our little boat before midday?

Yes! Merci Henri!

After loading our boat, we were ready to set out for our new mooring. As we left the piers of Grau d'Agde behind and headed north for Cap d'Agde and Sète, the full range of the Pyrenees came into view behind us, still well covered in snow, while bright sunlight played over the sparkling waves. This is one of those moments that makes boating so exciting. The largest snow covered peak is Mont Canigou.

We filled up with fuel at our old haunt of Cap d'Agde, and then proceeded up the coast. We could see Sète, a small hump that is Mont St Clair, in the distance. As we got closer we spotted two large oil tankers moored off the coast, and we were passed by a couple of small fishing boats. Apart from a few yachts sailing further out, the sea was empty and peaceful. Cranes and a large sea going ferry came into view as we came closer. But today, we weren't heading into port, we had decided to take the sea route instead. We had to find an opening in the vast sea walls that lie beyond Sète which leads to the Port du Pecheur . From there a large sea canal leads to the town of Frontignan , which is traversed by the Canal Rhône Sète. To my great relief the Moroccan bound ferry had stayed safely within the port, and we were able to traverse this section without any problems. The opening in the sea walls lay just ahead.

We reached Frontignan just in time to go under the lifting bridge that opens at 4.30p.m. every day for passing boats, then proceeded towards the Etang de Thau. Our mooring lies a small distance before the canal opens into this large inland sea. But suddenly our best laid plans came adrift. For tied up at our allotted mooring was a traditional old fishing boat. It was far too substantial to move, and we fear that it has been abandoned. We turned round and spent the night at the stone quay at Frontignan. Our boat will remain there until we can sort this problem out with the VNF canal authorities. So far, their phone line remains decidedly unanswered! TO BE CONTINUED.

Disaster strikes!