From Le Havre to Paris, an unusual trip
By Tara's captain, Loïc Vallette
 
The adventure began in Le Havre alongside an obscure commercial quay. To get to Paris via the Seine and its bridges, we had to take down Tara’s masts: not a small undertaking.
 
First, we began by dismantling all of the fittings and rigging. Then the booms were lowered onto the deck and the spans (“maroquins”) were dismantled. These are the two cables that connect Tara’s two mastheads. Hanging in a harness up at 27 meters, it takes a bit of unselfish concern to loosen the turnbuckle with 2 oversized wrenches.
Using two hydraulic jacks, we raised a mast by 1 mm to remove shims that maintain the compression and tension of the rigging.
The only thing left to do was disconnect all the guys so that the crane could lift the mast. This was an awesome moment when everyone had to know exactly what to do in order to avoid damaging the equipment. While part of the crew worked on the masts, others constructed   wooden structures on the deck where the dismounted masts were placed.
 
Friday at 2am: our strange journey began with the crossing of the Quinette lock and a harsh reunion with the ocean – wind at 35 knots and a choppy sea. Some rocking swells confirmed the solidity of our constructions before we entered the access channel to the Seine.
With the tide rising, we went up the Seine to Rouen at an average speed of 9 knots. Here we finally left the ocean world for the realm of the river: after a few bridges, we were passing cargo barges. 
Two days of bucolic navigation between cows and locks brought us to the capital. Since last Sunday at 3pm, Tara has been docked in the heart of Paris.
Wednesday we put up the masts, and curious people gather around, wanting to know what this strange boat is doing here.
 
After the Statue of Liberty in New York in February and Tower Bridge in London a month ago, we are now at the foot of the Eiffel Tower!  A very special stopover before heading back to sea.