Offer to French Boat

I spoke with John an hour ago regarding the resolution that he expected on Friday of his appeal to the Prefectura regarding the fine for visiting the Malvinas. 

The Prefectura has specified the following procedure to be followed before a reduction of the fine can be considered:

1.  The boat must be inspected.  For this to be done it must be taken out of the water and kept on a hard stand for up to 60 days.  Putting aside the question of why the boat must be inspected at all, John asked why the boat can't be inspected where she lies in her slip. That got him nowhere.

2. An investigation must be made of the meteorological conditions at the time to confirm that indeed there was an adverse wind that forced the boat to head for the Malvinas.  John replied that a few minutes on the internet should provide the answers.  That too got him nowhere.  A formal investigation must be made.

3. John will pay for the costs of the investigations.

Given the anticipated costs of the haulout, the cost of hard standing the boat for up to 60 days, finding alternate accommodation,  having to pay for the investigations, and no guarantee of any reduction of the fine, John decided pay the fine and expects to sail out on Tuesday for Uruguay.

It was already planned that Uruguay would be the end of their adventure.  They will sell the boat.  I asked John if he was returning to France but no, his mother is Brazilian, he is a Brazilian citizen, and that is where he will go.

It's a shame that their adventure ended on such a sour note.  John will write an account of this experience to one of the boating magazines.  I told him about my blog. 

In the meantime a member of the Prefectura stands guard over the boat 24 hours a day.

... Which reminds me ... I haven't read George Orwell for a while ....