Diary Entries

• 2010
  • Jun 2010
    • Mon 21 Jun
      • The story continues
• 2009
  • Jul 2009
    • Fri 17 Jul
      • 16th to 17th July - Levanto to Santa Margherita to Genoa (The end of the trip)
      • Photo - Arrival in Genoa
      • Photo - Successful first attempt at docking
      • Photo - Less successful second attempt at docking
    • Thu 16 Jul
      • Photo - Santa Margherita
      • Photo - Portofino
    • Wed 15 Jul
      • 14th to 15th July - Porto Venere to Levanto (exploring Cinque Terre)
      • Photo - Levanto
      • Photo - Stacy's pesto pasta for kings
      • Photo - Cinque Terre
    • Mon 13 Jul
      • 12th-13th July - Isola Capraia to Le Grazie to Porto Venere (the Italian Riviera)
      • Photo - Porto Venere
    • Sun 12 Jul
      • Photo - Le Grazie
      • Photo - Neal and Emma
    • Sat 11 Jul
      • 11th July - Portoferraio to Isola Capraia (being stalked by Mirabella V)
      • Photo - One of Stacy's culinary creations
      • Photo - Another boring white hulled boat
      • Photo - Odd Mooring
    • Fri 10 Jul
      • 9th to 10th July Portoferraio (Greg, Rob and Ben's excellent adventure)
      • Photo - Greg the mechanic
    • Thu 09 Jul
      • Photo - The Stow Crews meet
      • Photo - The Stow profile
    • Wed 08 Jul
      • 7th to 8th Anse de Cannella to Marina di Campo then on to Portoferraio (Greg makes a salad)
      • Photo - Portoferraio
      • Photo - Arrival lunch at Portoferraio
    • Tue 07 Jul
      • Photo - Marina dell Campo
      • Photo - Greg's Salad
    • Mon 06 Jul
      • 5th to 6th July - Porto Vecchio to Anse de Cannella (and it had all been going so well.....)
      • Photo - Rob at work
    • Sat 04 Jul
      • 1st to 4th July - The Maddalena Islands to Porto Vecchio (Rob offers male grooming tips)
      • Photo - Emma raises the flag
    • Fri 03 Jul
      • Photo - Shamens Drum in Bali Hai's wake
    • Thu 02 Jul
      • Photo - Cala Spalmatore
    • Wed 01 Jul
      • Photo - John prepares dinner at Isolotto Porco
  • Jun 2009
    • Tue 30 Jun
      • 29th to 30th June - Porto Brandinchi to Cala di Volpe (in the company of Superyachts)
      • Photo - Mirabella V comes to check out Bali Hai
      • Photo - Rob remembers San Francisco
    • Sun 28 Jun
      • 26th to 28th June - Dell'Ogliastra to Porto Brandinghi (then on to Rome)
      • Photo - Classy and chic party
      • Photo - Classy and chic boat
    • Thu 25 Jun
      • 25th June - Villasmius to Dell'Ogliastra (sexy pasta and Rob's bottom)
      • Photo - The pasta
      • Photo - Dinner at Isola dell'Olgiastra
      • Photo - "Non-fishing" John
      • Photo - Cocktail man with his rum punch
      • Photo - Rob's namesake sympathises with his hangover
      • Photo - Rob meets his namesake
    • Tue 23 Jun
      • 21st to 23rd June - Cagliari to Villasimius (the Railway Children)
    • Mon 22 Jun
      • Photo - Luxury train travel in Sardinia
      • Photo - John takes a new job
      • Photo - Lunch, the highlight of the train trip
    • Sun 21 Jun
      • 19th to 21st June - Capo di Pula to Cagliari (the big fight)
      • Photo - John with his hands on another cheese
      • Photo - the Big Fight
      • Photo - Crew under sentence of hard labour
      • Photo - "Oh! So that is the pointy end"
    • Fri 19 Jun
      • 19th June - Malfatano to Capo di Pula (visiting old Nora)
      • Photo - Bali Hai as seen by Nora
      • Photo - Emma and Neal in their rubberwear
    • Thu 18 Jun
      • 17th to 18th June - Carloforte to Malfatano (into a war zone)
      • Photo - Malfatano
      • Photo - Ian Calzaghe
    • Tue 16 Jun
      • 15th to 16th June - Buggerru to Carloforte (preparations for the big fight begin)
    • Mon 15 Jun
      • Photo - Arrival in Carloforte
      • Photo - Guess Who?
      • Photo - Carloforte
    • Sun 14 Jun
      • 13th to 14th June - Alghero to Buggerru (Yes - that really is a place!)
      • Photo - Buggerru
      • Photo - Ian takes the plunge
      • Photo - Another good sail
    • Sat 13 Jun
      • Photo - Jackie and Ian
      • Photo - Neal and Emma
      • Photo - Capo Mannu
      • Photo - Jackie modelling her rubberwear
      • Photo - A good sail
    • Fri 12 Jun
      • 11th to 12th June - Bonafacio to Alghero (a giant leap for Iankind)
      • Photo - Breakfast in Alghero
      • Photo - "Non-drinking Jackie"
      • Photo - Jackie assumes the position
      • Photo - Alghero
    • Wed 10 Jun
      • 9th to 10th June - Campomoro to Bonifacio (Blog paranoia and another davit handle incident)
    • Tue 09 Jun
      • Photo - Bali Hai
      • Photo - Bonafacio
      • Photo - Ian and Jackie thinking of buying a yacht
      • Photo - Dinner in Bonafacio
    • Mon 08 Jun
      • 7th to 8th June - Ajaccio to Campomoro (A Blonde Moment)
    • Sun 07 Jun
      • Photo - Neal with sausage
      • Photo - Repairwoman Emma in action
      • Photo - En route to Campomoro
    • Sat 06 Jun
      • 3rd to 6th June - Calvi to Bonifacio (looking much like Ajaccio)
      • Photo -" Loved up and mushy"
      • Photo - The most considerate crew
      • Photo - On a packed bus tour of Ajaccio
      • Photo - Pete modelling the latest lenseless diving mask
      • Photo - Pete in action
      • Photo - Calvi
    • Tue 02 Jun
      • 2nd June - Girolata to Calvi (a costly mistake?)
      • Photo - Romantic arrival in Calvi
      • Photo - Dave the repairman
      • Photo - Recovery of a repairman overboard
    • Mon 01 Jun
      • 31st May to 1st June - Ajaccio to Girolata (the stress of a sailing holiday)
      • Photo - Gourmet dinner on board
      • Photo - Pete and Dave man the barbeque
      • Photo - Girolata
  • May 2009
    • Sun 31 May
      • Photo - Pete and Tina join the crew
      • Photo - Napoleon's birthplace
    • Sat 30 May
      • 29th to 30th May La Ciotat to Calvi (or so we thou ght…)
      • Photo - New crew join in Ajaccio
      • Photo - Classic yacht racing in Ajaccio
      • Photo - First sight of Corsica
    • Thu 28 May
      • 26th to 28th May - La Ciotat ("the not so Competent Crew")
    • Tue 26 May
      • Photo - Crew with saviours Tom and Carolina
      • Photo - La Ciotat
    • Mon 25 May
      • 24th to 25th May – Barcelona to La Ciotat (“the Co mpetent Crew in action”)
    • Sat 23 May
      • 23rd May 2009 - Barcelona (“the Competent Crew”)
• 2008
  • Oct 2008
    • Thu 09 Oct
      • 8th Oct 2008 - End of the trip
    • Wed 08 Oct
      • Photo - Home again
      • Photo - Fleeing from the storm
      • 7th Oct 2008 - Sore bum
    • Tue 07 Oct
      • Photo - Jolly Boys
      • Photo - Bali Hai cycle team
      • Photo - Richard making egg mayonnaise
      • Photo - Cala Morell
      • 6th Oct 2008 - A smelly day
    • Mon 06 Oct
      • Photo - Ciutadella
      • Photo - Dancing?
      • Photo - Arrival at Ciutadella
      • Photo - Mo at the helm
      • 5th Oct 2008 - A lovely anchorage and more trouser problems
    • Sun 05 Oct
      • Photo - The Menorcan coast
      • Photo - Mo barbequing with his son
      • Photo - Cala Macarella
      • 4th Oct 2008 - Boat holed
    • Sat 04 Oct
      • Photo - Mo and the "Big Gun"
      • Photo - The Nuclear Bunny
      • Photo - Inside the fort
      • Photo - Outside the fort
      • Photo - If Mo was a yacht
      • 3rd Oct 2008 - Damaging crew
    • Fri 03 Oct
      • Photo - Mahon Harbour
      • 2nd Oct 2008 - Off to Menorca and another tricky docking
    • Thu 02 Oct
      • Photo - Mo with a small seafood snack
      • Photo - Everyone at dinner
      • Photo - Happy to be heading to Menorca
      • 1st Oct 2008 - Port Colom to Cala Ratjada
    • Wed 01 Oct
      • Photo - Richard with two remedies for jellyfish stings
      • Photo - Crew being sociable on arrival at Cala Ratjada
      • Photo - Cala Ratjada
      • 30th Sept 2008 - New arrivals at the crack of dawn.
  • Sep 2008
    • Tue 30 Sep
      • 29th Sept 2008 - Day trip to Palma
    • Mon 29 Sep
      • Photo - Palma cathedral
      • Photo - Emma reading
      • 28th Sept 2008 - Lazy day in Port Colom
    • Sun 28 Sep
      • Photo - View of Restautante Mestral, Port Colom
      • 27th Sept 2008 - Mastervolt generators are still useless
    • Sat 27 Sep
      • Photo - On mooring buoy at Port Colom
      • 26th Sept 2008 - The Training of Ardva
    • Fri 26 Sep
      • Photo - Ardva concentrating on her position
      • 25th Sept 2008 - Sunny sailing at last
    • Thu 25 Sep
      • Photo- Two boys in pink
      • Photo- Puerto Pollensa
      • Photo - Enjoying sunshine at last
      • Photo - Cala Magraner
      • Photo - BBQ at Sunset
      • 24th Sept 2008 - Day in Pollensa
    • Wed 24 Sep
      • Photo - Pete enjoying the cheerful weather
      • Photo - Calvari at Pollensa
      • 23rd Sept 2008 - Man overboard
    • Tue 23 Sep
      • Photo - Cala Formentor
      • 22nd Sept 2008 - A day of nothing but rain
    • Mon 22 Sep
      • 21st Sept 2008 - Human castles and the rest of the crew
    • Sun 21 Sep
      • Photo - Maniac behind the wheel
      • Photo - Human Castle
      • Photo - Dave, Ardva, Tina and Pete
      • 20th Sept 2008 - Crew arrive to streets of fire
    • Sat 20 Sep
      • Photo - Big Pete and his Friend from Swindon
      • Photo - The Fire Run
      • Photo - Dragon breathing fire at the crowd
  • Jul 2008
    • Sun 20 Jul
      • 19th July 2008 - Sitges to Barcelona (the end of the trip)
    • Sat 19 Jul
      • Photo - Finally moored at Barcelona
      • 18th July 2008 - Pensicola to Sitges (the motoring holiday continues at night)
    • Fri 18 Jul
      • Photo - Sitges
      • Photo - Dinner at Alfresco
      • Photo - Sitges beach with dangly bits
      • Photo - Sitges marina
      • 17th July 2008 - Valencia to Pensicola (the motoring holiday continues in the rain)
    • Thu 17 Jul
      • Photo - Authentic paella at La Pepica
      • Photo - Andy fishing at Pensicola
      • 16th July 2009 - Valencia (another walking tour)
    • Wed 16 Jul
      • Photo - Home of the 32nd America's Cup
      • Photo - Lunch with Steve's extended family
      • Photo - Steve selecting a small paella pan
      • Photo - Valencia old city
      • 15th July 2008 - El Rinconet to Valencia (the motoring holiday continues)
    • Tue 15 Jul
      • Photo - Andy just before his 120lbs tuna got away
      • Photo - Where are the fish for the barbie?
    • Mon 14 Jul
      • 14th July 2008 - Alicante to El Rinconet (Happy Birthday Nat)
      • Photo - El Rinconet
      • Photo - Yvonne with her bucket
      • Photo - Steve and Jane in the Mistral
      • Photo- A bad hair day
      • Photo - Provisioning the boat in Alicante
      • 13th July 2008 - Alicante (a day of rest)
    • Sun 13 Jul
      • Photo - New crew (Neal, Yvonne, Jane, Andy and Steve)
      • Photo - Alicante Marina
      • Photo - Paella
      • Photo - Alicante nightlife
    • Sat 12 Jul
      • 12th July 2008 - Mar Menor to Alicante (a confession)
      • Photo - Tracy muddling
      • Photo - Single handed barbequing
    • Fri 11 Jul
      • 11th July 2008 - Aguilas to Mar Menor (almost a perfect Mediterranean day)
      • Photo - Swimming in Aguilas
      • Photo - Mike focused on keeping the spinnaker flying
    • Thu 10 Jul
      • 10th July 2008 - San Jose to Aguilas (The Davit Handle Part II (the Anchor Snubber))
      • Photo- Big Pete and his rescued snubber
      • Photo - Anchored off Aguilas
    • Wed 09 Jul
      • 9th July 2008 - Almerimar to San Jose (death of the crew)
      • Photo - Anchored off San Jose beach
      • Photo - Big Pete helming while the boys recover
      • 8th July 2008 - Marina del Este to Almerimar (Rolly night and a flat night)
    • Tue 08 Jul
      • Photo - Dinner at Marina del Este
      • Photo - Anchored off the beach
    • Mon 07 Jul
      • 7th July 2008 - Benalmedina to Marina del Este (A massive sperm count!)
      • Photo - Marina del Este
      • Photo - Lots of dolphins
      • Photo - Not so gourmet lunch
      • Photo - Mike hard at work
      • Photo - Thin Pete in comand
      • 6th July 2008 - Benalmadena (Large crew change)
    • Sun 06 Jul
      • Photo - Shopping for food
      • Photo - Tracy, Big Pete, Thin Pete and Mike
      • 5th July 2008 - Gibraltar to Benalmadena (No wind in the Med and the frustrations of Spanish manyana)
    • Sat 05 Jul
      • Photo - A tight squeeze
      • Photo - Benalmadena marina
      • Photo - Julian sailing
      • Photo - Europe's southern most point
      • 4th July 2008 - Gibraltar (a day spent with some monkeys)
    • Fri 04 Jul
      • Photo - Julian continues to be sociable
      • Photo - A family of monkeys
      • Photo - Moorish Castle
      • Photo - Cannon in the Great Siege Tunnel
      • Photo - The quiet location of Gibraltar marina
      • Photo - Spain from Gibralter with monkey
      • Photo - View from the Rock
      • Photo - Julian being sociable
      • Photo - Main Street Gibraltar
      • 3rd July 2008 - Cadiz to Gibralter (Looking for the French fleet)
    • Thu 03 Jul
      • Photo - When the carbon fibre gangplank does not fit!
      • Photo - Gibralter Ho!
      • Photo - Rounding Cape Trafalgar
    • Wed 02 Jul
      • 2nd July 2008 - Cadiz (Jim morphs into the Duracell Bunny)
      • Photo - Typical early evening in a plaza in Cadiz
      • Photo - Jim back to full fitness
      • 1st July 2008 - Cabo de Santa Maria to Cadiz (a long motor, a short sail and a long walk)
    • Tue 01 Jul
      • Photo - Julian hams it up in a tapas bar
      • Photo - One of Jim's sunsets
      • Photo - Bali Hai in Cadiz marina
      • Photo - Lyn takes the helm while everyone is sick
      • 30th June 2008 - Alvor to Cabo de Santa Maria (hole in the hull and our first fish)
      • Photo - Crew having a nightcap
  • Jun 2008
    • Mon 30 Jun
      • Photo - Sunset at Cabo Santa Maria
      • Photo - Julian tries to lure fish with radioactive sausage
      • Photo - Barbeque supper
    • Sun 29 Jun
      • 29th June 2008 - Lagos to Alvor (with new crew)
      • Photo - Julian takes the plunge at Alvor
      • Photo - The new crew
    • Wed 25 Jun
      • 25th June 2008 - Lagos
      • Photo - Old Lagos is not so bad
      • Photo - Final lunch at Linda's beach bar with Paul and Jackie
    • Tue 24 Jun
      • 24th June 2008 - The Final Day
      • Photo - Andrew, Rob, John and Neal at the Final Prize Giving in Lagos
      • Photo - A toast to the end of the Rally
      • Photo - Rob in bed with John
      • 23rd June 2008 - Leg 7 Sines to Lagos
    • Mon 23 Jun
      • Photo - Blue Beyond's pontoon party on arrival in Lagos
      • Photo - The start of the final leg
    • Sun 22 Jun
      • 22th June 2008 - I eat my words, I was completely wrong...
      • Photo - Andrew preparing to pounce
      • Photo - Marina at Sines
      • 21st June 2008 - Leg 6 Oerias to Sines
    • Sat 21 Jun
      • Photo - Bali Hai and China Blue from Blonde Moment
      • Photo - Bali Hai with no pole
      • Photo - Bali Hai with pole
      • Photo - Red nose day for Blonde Moment
      • Photo - The fleet's usual view of Bouzouki
      • Photo - Serafina from Bali Hai
      • Photo - Bribing the Rally organisers in Sines
    • Fri 20 Jun
      • 20th June 2008 - Lisbon
      • Photo - Lisbon Tram
      • Photo - Lisbon
    • Thu 19 Jun
      • 19th June 2008 - Oeiras
      • Photo - Prize giving dinner in Oerias
      • Photo - Artist's impression of Rob's brain
      • Photo - Mummified saint
      • 18th June 2008 - Leg 5 Peniche to Oerias (and Rodney's laundry adventure)
    • Wed 18 Jun
      • Photo - John's sausages
      • Photo - Speedy Arwen with no spinnaker
      • Photo - Pole dancing
      • Photo - Leaving the fleet behind
    • Tue 17 Jun
      • 17th June 2008 - Do not go to Peniche....
      • Photo - Prize giving in a canteen
    • Mon 16 Jun
      • 16th June 2008 - Leg 4 Fig da Foz to Peniche
      • Photo - The day after the party
    • Sun 15 Jun
      • 15th June 2008 - Party
      • Photo - Cocktail Man in action
      • Photo - Party outside
      • Photo - Party outside
      • Photo - Party Inside
      • Photo - John with his girls at the party
      • Photo - Party aftermarth
    • Sat 14 Jun
      • 14th June 2008 - Trip to Coimbra
      • Photo - Andrew lowers his trousers at sunset
      • Photo - University at Coimbra
      • Photo - Medieval fair at Coimbra
    • Fri 13 Jun
      • 13th June 2006 - Leg 3 Povoa to Figueira da Foz
      • Photo - John catching lunch en-route to Figueira da Foz
      • Photo - The alternative lunch being cooked en-route to Figueira da Foz
      • Photo - Sardines
      • Photo - Sardine dinner
    • Thu 12 Jun
      • 12th June 2008 - Day trip to Porto
      • Photo - Porto
      • Photo - Crew making an objective assessment of Taylor's port
      • Photo - Lunch in Porto with Blonde Moment, Vision and Sea Lion
      • Photo - John and Rob engaged in the sport of no hands flan eating
      • Photo - Jackie from Blonde Moment discussing tactics with a new "member" of her crew
      • Photo - Arwen having a civilised lunch in Porto
    • Wed 11 Jun
      • 11th June 2008 - Another 4th place price
      • Photo - Watching Euro 2008
    • Tue 10 Jun
      • 10th June 2008 - Leg 2 Bayona to Povoa de Varzim
      • Photo - Bali Hai under spinnaker taken from Seraphina
      • Photo - Leaving Blonde Moment behind
      • Photo - Dolphins off the port bow
    • Mon 09 Jun
      • 9th June 2008 - Last day in Bayona
      • Photo - Erotic coffee and a sliced loaf
    • Sun 08 Jun
      • 8th June 2008 - Another day in Bayona and a message for Helen Griffiths
      • Photo - Marina at Bayona
      • Photo - Prize giving in Bayona
    • Sat 07 Jun
      • 7th June 2008 - Trip to Santiago de Compostela
      • Photo - Incense burner in Santiago de Compostela
      • Photo - Jackie from Blonde Moment lets John get a feel for some local produce
      • Photo - Seeking divine guidance in Santiago de Compostela
    • Fri 06 Jun
      • 6th June 2008 - Day 2 in Bayona
      • Photo - Celebrating arrival in Bayona with some local produce
      • Photo - The skipper and his monkey
      • Photo - Tapas with Vision and Seraphina
      • 5th June 2008 - Safely in Bayona
    • Thu 05 Jun
      • Photo - Safely in Bayona
      • Photo - Off Cape Finisterre
      • Photo - Andrew's photo of John's bacon butties
      • Photo - The warm waters off the Spanish coast
    • Wed 04 Jun
      • 4th June 2008 - Somewhere near Wales
      • Photo - Dolphins off the starboard bow
      • Photo - Sunset over Biscay
    • Tue 03 Jun
      • 3rd June 2008 - Somewhere else in the Bay of Biscay
      • Photo - John in full foul weather gear
      • Photo - Rob, keeping his eyes peeled on his watch
    • Mon 02 Jun
      • 2nd July 2008 - Somewhere in the Bay of Biscay
      • Photo - Where are we?
      • 1st June 2008 - Back in Plymouth
    • Sun 01 Jun
      • Photo - Repairs in Plymouth
      • Photo - Up early and ready to go for the start of the race
  • May 2008
    • Sat 31 May
      • 25th - 31st May 2008 - Gosport to Plymouth
      • Photo - Yachts in Plymouth before the start