Chloe's Launch day finally arrived. We've pulled out of Ireland and took the brand new W.B Yeates ferry from Dublin to Cherbourg. It's a super new ferry service that offers a comfy overnight bed and great food. For a Dublin to Cherbourg trip, its essentially a door to door service. Far simpler than dealing with airports, hotels & trains and having to pass through the UK.
Ireland and France are actually, really well connected.
Once back in Cherbourg, we met newly completed Chloe for the first time. She was perfect.
The workmanship of Garcia Yachting was again highlighted to us as of an extremely high standard. It's great to know that this form of craftsmanship is still alive in the world today. We tend to think of this skill set as something of bygone years, only. Chloe's internal woodwork alone was flawless.
Chloe's new RIB was loaded up. We chose the new Folding Rib or F-RIB for Chloe. It's a new design than offers the advantages of a rigid hull while also being foldable so that it can be stored in a small bag, inside for if the wind really picks up, or for when on passage. And sorted out it's name: T/T Chloe.
The US government had decided to defund the US Coast guard however, which led to a ~6 week back log queue - for yachts trying to get documented. Chloe was caught up in this delay and so we had to leave her sitting on the hard while the US government got around to creating her documentation number. Without this done we could not, legally, sail her away or even drop her into the marina's water.
As part of the documentation process, we also had to make up an engraved stainless steel USCG number plate in large 3" font, permanently fixed to the inside of the boat.
We spent the time waiting by getting ready all the various bits of equipment we'd need. We bought Dawn a nice bosun's chair and a full safety harness so that she could be secured up the mast and even left over night, if she was miss behaving. All in the spirit of preserving history and the old ways...
We also enjoyed the Cherbourg lifestyle. Traditional Normandy markets, every Saturday are such fun - full of new sorts of veggies, food and bread. Many of which, we had never seen before.
As soon as we had her documentation number in hand, Chloe was launched. Here's a video of her big splash...
We next spent the week reading up on all her systems, learning her navigation systems and trying to become familiar with every wire, tube and box that was visible. And many that were not...
Next, our plan is to start to sail her around the local coast, so as to become familiar with sailing her. We have just sat out a storm, while docked up in the marina and even with 40 knot gusts outside, Chloe's inside was calm and serene. This, thanks to her super solid build and neoprene insulation all over...
