The skipper returned to Kyra at Port La Foret, on Monday 18th December, having taken the overnight crossing to St Malo. The lift out was arranged for 2pm that afternoon. It was a relief to see Charlie from PLF MARINE was on station and organising matters with the crane driver.
Fortunately it was a calm day, so the skipper moved Kyra across the marina without any crew. He had positioned the fenders to protect her shiny hull from the narrow jaws of the lift dock.
She wiggled into position with about only 1 metre left before the anchor would strike the end wall of the dock. The canvas slings were roughly in position. The crane driver then asked the skipper to move Kyra forward so the anchor almost touched the wall. Easier said than done. Just putting the boat into gear and immediately back into neutral, moves Kyra about 2 metres. It would be safer to move the crane.
Finally the strops were in position and the lift started. As she came up, the skipper stepped ashore and watched nervously as Kyra continued to rise from the water. The crane driver was an expert. He made slight adjustments all the time to keep Kyra level and stable. Once clear of the dock, the crane trundled slowly across the yard to the waiting blocks that Kyra would sit on for the next 12 weeks.
Charlie from PLF Marine had made up some blocks and had three cradles in place to support and keep Kyra steady. She finally rested and the slings were removed.
Two willing yard workers set to work with the pressure washers to remove 6 months of accumulated slime and barnacles. It is a filthy and miserable job at the best of times, let alone on a cold December day. Some things are worth paying for! 
An inspection of the hull revealed some minor damage to the leading edge of the keel. This would need repairing. A meeting with Charlie to discuss Kyra’s needs over the coming months, resulted in an agreement to keep the heating on, check the batteries, clean the engine room, strip off all the old layers of anti-fouling before applying a new coat, and then polishing the hull. All this to be done by March 16th – the launch date for the new season.
So, with confidence in PLF Marine, the skipper departed for England. When he next visits Kyra, she should be looking great and ready for launching at the beginning of the next season.
Kyra 