Monday, 23rd September – l’Herbaudière:
Yesterday, due to alarming forecasts, we had chosen to spend the day at the port. And as often, the weather played a trick on us: it is actually very nice.
Bruno and Christian visit the small local market and come back with a superb seafood menu.
Oysters are ready!
We enjoy oysters, shrimps, whelks and crabs, accompanied by the appropriate white wine. The meal is taken in the sun, in the cockpit…
With a great weather!
In the afternoon, Eric and I decide to put some very elegant orange SNSM look adhesive tape on the saloon portholes seals.
Nice DIY on the portholes!
It is ‘in principle’ a temporary solution to alleviate our leak problems.
Until today, I have not had the opportunity to implement a more conventional solution!
At 7 p.m., while we are having our first beers of the evening, we notice the SNSM boat leaving for a rescue mission.
Half an hour later, the boat returns with a sailboat in tow.
The sailboat must be moored behind us, so we leave our drinks to help with the maneuver.
We meet Didier Cormier, the unfortunate skipper, who seems a little in shock. His teammate was injured during a maneuver and had to be winched out by helicopter, and in the process a rope got caught in the propeller, making the boat unmaneuverable.
Didier feels better!
Eric takes matters in hand, and orders Didier to climb onto Paradox while we moor his boat. Didier joins us in the saloon, armed with a bottle of wine, and can finally recover from his emotions and tell us about his troubles.
Fortunately, the news from his teammate are reassuring.
Later on arrives his racing friend Noël , who has heard about Didier’s problems, and must take care of his propeller the next day.
Nono sets the mood!
Noël, known as “Nono”, a marine carpenter, is a colorful, voluble character, as passionate as he is fascinating.
The aperitif evening drags on, in a friendly and “dynamic” atmosphere.