While in Tunisia we discussed wether to head for Sardinia or Sicily but Mercedes convinced me we needed to see more of the Aeolian islands north of Sicily upon return in April and with fond memories from VMV Mooring Marina in Trapani we arranged a place there whilst in Hammamet.

I have strong memories from VMV Mooring Trapani from my previous passage of the Med 2016. Through a chain of unlikely events a drifting megayacht managed to rip off both sternlines of Dora Mac as well as rip off the port side stern bollard that flew through the air and hit the leg of one marina staff (pic nr 2). The harbourmaster Mauritzio managed the situation with skills and bravery and now 7 years later Dora Mac was back in this very well managed marina (one of the best in the Mediterranean but more abouth that later).

Mauritzio,who remembered us well, arranged a place for Dora Mac to hibernate during our absence in March. 

When you call in at this marina you will be met by their rib already in the outer portbasin and no one is screaming "CAPTAIN DO THIS,DO THAT!!" (common in Turkey and Greece) but smoothly assists you with everything also collecting and tying up the bowlines .

We will spend St Valentine visiting the medival city of Erice and expecting settled weather in a couple of days, revert to the Egadic islands for some more days enjoying solitude and perhaps some cold baths.

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