Golden Mean gently lowered by (the very capable) Steve and Max

Things are literally up in the air

If you had turned up ten minutes earlier you would have seen Golden Mean reversing down a long narrow dyke trying to miss lots of cruisers moored stern on, on her way to the lifting basin. Once in the basin, with the 'lift here' stickers on the hull lined up with the wide straps hanging down under the water, the crane is moved into place. Although the mast remained up, a little tweaking was necessary to take the weight of the boom whilst the topping lift halyard was loosened to enable her to be raised to a sufficient height to have her bottom inspected, so to speak.

And up she goes! So which one is the Port rudder and which one is Starboard?

This one is Port!

Where's your bunk, Starboard?

Welcome to the Waveney River Centre - just don't be delivering anything in a big lorry today because Golden Mean is taking up most of the entrance!

Antifoul applied, rudders straightened and transducer fitted and she's ready to go back in. They don't hang about these guys.

Meanwhile Port Attenborough examines some long grasses on our woodland walk....

... glad to be back on board, Starboard knows where the Captain sits (although she is showing rather more leg than the usual skipper).