Sailing Calista14 April 2020
Splash Day
Bright and early on the morning that Calista was going to be splashed we started to drive out to the factory hoping to see Calista leave the Amel yard.
We had only got as far as the corner where our hotel was, when we saw an escort vehicle with flashing lights and a large truck following.
We couldn’t believe our eyes – it was Calista. She looked pretty impressive and so large balanced on the truck.
It seemed they were heading for the town marina so we followed them there. It wasn’t long before they realised they were supposed to have gone to Amel’s alternative launch site at Port Des Minimes. We all headed off again.
Now at the correct launch site Calista was prepared for the lift into the water.
It was a beautiful blue sky morning thou rather chilly and 8 degrees as we stood around waiting for the travel lift to become available.
Finally Calista was hoisted off the truck by the travel lift and manoeuvred to the launch area and gently lowered down into the water ever so slowly.
Stepping The Mast
Once Calista was in the water the boys from Amel stepped aboard, started her engine and reversed out. They then proceeded to motor Calista over to the side of the dock where she would get her mast and rigging installed.
We walked around to the other part of the marina to watch the mast and rigging being installed on Calista.
The boys were very proficient and all went like clockwork. They didn’t have a lot of time before the tide would be too low to stay much longer.
At 2.00pm the boys brought Calista around to her berth on the Amel pontoon where she would have her sails fitted and undergo sea trials, testing and commissioning.
