The plan for 2011 was very different from our previous Mediterranean seasons. Malua, Denny and I would leave the sea, travel up the Rhône and Saône and try to reach Paris through the French canal system.

Preparing Malua

The mast had to come down and be transported separately. Malua had been built for the Southern Ocean rather than shallow inland waterways, and her draft was going to be the critical issue. The published depths suggested the journey might just be possible, but there was little margin for error.

With the mast wrapped and the boat prepared, the expedition into the unknown was ready to begin.