5 October 2005: The day we've been looking forward to for three years: Anahita is going to float today. It is freezing cold and it rains heavily. Benno is unimpressed. At 6 a.m. he takes his bike and cycles down the road of death to the yard. The crane is already waiting. Between two hefty showers, Anahita is lifted into the air, gets a bit of antifouling under the keel, and sits down on the lorry.

In the harbour, we park her between souvenir stands and Japanese Tourists. Alexa, Mila, and Max have joined the crowd. The harbour master doen't like us and hands out a ridiculous fine. Once again, the crane takes Anahita in the air. At the moment she touches the dirty harbour water, Benno opens the bottle of champagne - and the wind blows us half of it right into the face.

After that the action slows down. Sparcraft steps the mast. Tristan tinkers with the engine. The rain and cold get worse by the minute. Alexa capitulates and drives back with the kids to the flat. They miss the moment Benno parks the boat two hours later (under the first rays of sunshine) in the box.

In the afternoon, we all return to the marina. We are a bit disappointed - this is not the weather we had expected for this glorious moment. Still, Anahita lays there, looking very pretty. In fact, she is the most beautiful yacht in the marina and makes us feel very proud. We enjoy a sunset in the cockpit, the first of many to come.