Well, Peter, you were almost correct....it didn’t quite take one day but just a few days to agree the sale of Balthazar! 

There was a lot of interest from wonderful folk around the world and I was about to start arranging viewings in Toulon.

Then one couple took the plunge and committed to buying Balthazar unseen, subject to survey of course and wired a deposit. They won’t be disappointed and it’s an absolute pleasure working with them to agree a handover. 

Bill Rouse might blush, but there is naturally a ‘circle of trust’ in that the new owners and I are both clients of his. Thank you Bill for ‘oiling the wheels’ - well, Corrosion X’ing them in your case :)

David Crisp (A54 Wilna Grace) deserves a special note of thanks too, for introducing me to Antoine Hutter of Nautiplus Yacht Services, here in Toulon (+33 6 12 66 58 20) - he is hugely experienced in Amel and has been superb at welcoming us to France and rapidly making survey lift out and winter arrangements - he even tracked us on AIS on passage from Corsica, phoned me as we entered the harbour and took our lines for us! Wow. (Side note - I haven’t had an invoice yet....!). 

All interested buyers of Balthazar have been advised by me personally of the sale - I was sorry to disappoint them on this occasion and wish them all well in their search for a fabulous 54. Whilst COVID has created challenges in all walks of life, it’s evident that sailors everywhere - and none more so than the “famille Amel” -  have a resilient and especially ingenious and pragmatic DNA! 

Enough effusive ‘gushing’ from me. Thanks to All on the forum and Facebook for the good wishes and I look forward to introducing Balthazar’s new owners when the sale closes. 

Tony Wells

Balthazar A54 #102 (2008)

Toulon, S France 

On 24 Aug 2020, at 18:51, Peter Forbes <ppsforbes@...> wrote: