Yesterday was a tough day - slogging directly into the wind for 8 hours with 15-20kts on the nose and very choppy seas (Inner channel is only 60-70' deep so no ocean swells, just short chop, but with a fifty mile fetch! Today was nerve wracking, but very successful. As planned, Half Inch showed up early this AM to help with stepping the mast and removing the front beam. With his experience, it went much better than I anticipated. We had everything ready for the crane before noon. At 1300, the crane arrived; I went up the mast to attach the sling; and we loosed the stays and lifted the mast free. (Wind at the time ~15 kts.) Landing the mast on 55 gal. barrels was a bit more exciting as it had its own ideas about how it wanted to lie and I ended up literally running around with the roller furler from side to side as it came down. All is well that ends well and it is on barrels awaiting the welder tomorrow AM. He has already looked at the job and knows what he needs to do. Next we removed the forward beam. That too was a bit exciting as the bolts had, of course, corroded in (ss. on alum.). But it came out and Davy jones only claimed one of four plastic washers, so life is good. Tomorrow, once we get the welder going, we will go buy the new parts needed (replacing all the bolts), get the turn buckles all freed up and happy, and hopefully get the forward beam back in place ready for the mast to be re-stepped Thurs. Stay tuned!