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Date: 08 Jul 2007 16:36:40
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So, hopefully this is the first of many diary entrances on the life, style and travels of Aqualuna. She was well christend going down through the Bay of Biscay at the end of May. We had winds gusting at 49 knots across the deck one night. the sea was rough and confused, but Aqualuna behaved very well, and not for one moment did any of us feel unsafe. Sleeping was interesting, a bit like trying to sleep on a trampoline with somebody jumping up and down beside you. I still managed to produce food and hot drinks for every body, six guys and myself, only one day I didn't make it when I awoke feeling green, made some mint tea to try and settle myself, up on deck for air after putting wetweather gear, lifejacket and harness on, within five minutes all the water and mint tea I had dissapeard over the side deck liberally washed down by waves on that tack. Felt much better after that, and able to carry on with my domestic duties unfazed. The galley works a dream, plenty of space, well configured and yet still able to wedge in in rough seas. Saw some whales, not sure what sort, blowing in the distance, also had pods of Dolphins joining us on and off throughout the journey. The engine cut out off Finistare, Jonathan remained dead calm, engine in reverse, changed tanks and forward again suspecting we had something around our prop, as we had been through a fishing fleet earlier. No problems after that, got to Lagos in Portugal within six days. Spent three days there seeing my niece her partner and great nephew and niece. Had lunch in a place near the Marina called 'The Garage' delicious fresh sardines and fish, salad and a nice light local vino verde out of carafes. Back to the yacht to wash her down, empty the lazerettes, wash down the new bikes etc. Dinnr, not spectacular, in a local marina restaurant. Early to bed.
Next leg of the trip was to Gibraltar, champagne sailing, lovely long rolling atlanic waves surfing along, asemetric up. Lunch underway of fresh prawns, cold meats and salad, steering on 'George' so that we could all sit and have a civilized lunch.
Thirty hours later in Gib', warm and humid, many mosquitos, shades of old Hong Kong. Definately a frontier town, the high street could be anywhere in the UK except in a warmer climate. Retruned to England for a couple of weeks for wedding and parties. Then back to Gib' not the most effecient town when it comes to yachts. No Gas to replace ther cannister that had run out. Sean and Scott from the Discovery Yard were already there working on the snagging problems with the yacht, inevitable after such a rough time in Biscay. We had a new door for the aft cabin due to arrive from Discovery as the glass mirror had cracked on both sides, due to movement of the yacht through Biscay. The idea was to replace in with just one mirror on the cabin side. It arrived on Friday morning (we had to leave by Saturday morning as meeting friends in Turkey) it was held up in customs, which closed at 2pm for the rest of the weekend so we couldn't get hold of it. Gibralter could make a lot of money if they tiedied things up a little, made a lovely restaurant on the top of the rock at the top of tram and generally had more effeciency about it.
Left Gib to sail to Bizerte in Tunisia, wind against us and sea so motor on. Later lots of wonderful sailing. Four of us on board, so did night shift in four hour slots as couples which works very well, lovely full moon. Two days later on the Monday we caught some blue fin Tuna a 10lb and an 8lb, J had one even larger on the line but the hook broke and it got away. We also caught a 25lb Tuna but dicided to let it go as we had enough. Fresh Sushi for lunch with wasabi mustard and soy sauce. I marinated four more Tuna steaks in lemon, olive oil and garlic for dinner that night, with fresh beans and new potatoes. A point on keeping vegetabls fresh, the 'Vegatable Keep Fresh Bags' from Lakelands in the UK work wonders and keeping fresh vegatables and friut on the yacht, and will buy many more to keep veg fresh when crossing the Atlantic.
Just inside Tunisian waters we were greeted by the Tunisian navy. They wanted to know where we were going and how many people on board, after giving them details they welcomed us to Tunisia and hoped we would enjoy our stay.
Safely moored up in Bizerte marina. The town is trying to modernise with some new apartments and marina buildings, and new hotels on the outskirts. Beautiful coastline with large sand dunes and long sandy beaches. The town has not been spoilt by tourisim yet. The old Medina has not been tarted up, and exploring the coublestone allyways was great fun, sometimes leading to dead ends. Could have been a scene from the bible with veiled ladies dissapearing through archways.
Bizerte appeared quite cosmopolitine lots of locals in european clothing and some in traditional muslim clothing, all very friendly and made to feel very welcome. Dinnr at 'la Belle Plage' was very good with a mixture of local food, lovely Harrisa dip. Atempts to fill gas bottle still failed, but they did make an adaptor for us to fit to a camping gas bottle which was all we could get. We still have gas left in the other container.
Friday 6th July. Left Bizerte to sail straight to Turkey, fantastic sail with winds blowing from the north west at 20-25 knots. We left a day earlier than planned as the wind is due to shift to the East, on our nose, so decided to make the best of the wind now.
Saturday 7th July. Pod of dolphins along with calves playing in our wake. Passed between Sicilly and Malta in the late evening. Marinated spare ribs, coucous, and roasted veg on the BBQ for dinner.
Sunday 8th July. Middle of the deep blue Ionian sea, just the odd ship passing by. No more fish caught yet. No wind this morning, so motor on making a gentle 7 knots.
Breeze picked up a little, asemetric up sailing noislesy along at about 6-7 knots this afternoon.



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