Hammamet Departure

S/V Monterey
Les Crane
Wed 15 Apr 2009 13:00
36:22.30n 10:32.8w

April 15, 2009 11:30 We are finally off. Head due east into about 6 knots of
wind. About 30 minutes into it when a rib comes flying up behind us. It is
the Frontier Police saying we must go back as we did not check out with
them. Back we go. A major performance in their office for about 45 minutes
as they fill out copious forms - I can see the name Monterey amidst a screen
of Arabic as one of the suits writes us up. Finally apologies accepted and
we are off again 12:45

April 15, 2009 10:30 Boat is on the fuel dock, sucking up Tunisian Diesel at
E0.45/litre. The cheapest fuel since some Red Diesel from a tanker truck in
the fishing port in Mallaig Scotland. I am trying to clear out - using my
poor French against their Arabic and French. Go to the Frontier Police who
send me to Customs. Customs want a document I was sure they had held onto
when the boat was being checked in for de-commissioning. I check to see if
the yard had the document and then return to find they have it after all.
Alls well. I give them my Merci and head back for the boat. Meanwhile the
credit card machine at the dock is not working so Ronnie scoots up to the
bank as a bare headed pillion passenger on the gas jockey's motor bike.

April 14, 2009

Arrive back in Hammamet with the Oban crew - Jim Battison, Colin Mossman
and Ronnie Dagleish. The boat made it through the winter on the yard's novel
pile of blocks and shims! Get the sails back on and the boat prepped for our
trip to Malta. Gilles Rousse did a great job looking after the boat.
Everything ship shape on our arrival. We were surprised at the high
quotations Rodrigues gave us on some simple bottom painting so chose to
leave a bit early and have the winter work done in Manoel Island Malta.


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