After Maddy left us on 11th August, Barrie and Margery joined
Peejay. The crew for the passage from Sicily to
Menorca was complete.
Barrie did some serious haggling
over price and upset the taxi driver from the airport. He then spent the next 24
hours looking out for the Mafia.
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Nick, Margery, Barrie, Pat and
Paul |
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We had a lazy day trying to provision the boat and use the WIFI internet
to update the blog. The important word was trying. It was very trying. Tomatoes
came in half ton packs and meat was non existent.
Barrie thought it was a Mafia plot
against him. Paul spent hours trying to get a WIFI connection which proved near
impossible. Barrie got more
suspicious. Barrie went off to get
some diesel for the boat and was told there wasn’t any.
Barrie looked visibly older at this
point.
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Pat with the WIFI office in the
background |
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We left Castellamare del Golfo without diesel and went to Capo St Vito to
try again. Guess what – no diesel.
Barrie started choking at this
point. After a 5 hour wait we finally got what we wanted and left
Sicily behind.
Barrie spent the first night
watching carefully over the stern.
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Goodbye
Sicily |
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Once he thought he might live after all
Barrie cheered up.
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Barrie
tweaking the sails |
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We finally plucked up courage to fly the parasailor for the first time.
This is a huge technical sail for downwind sailing which we hope to use to cross
the Atlantic. We had to practice. With a list of
instructions in one hand and lots of different coloured ropes in the other we
got started.
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The big sail starting to emerge |
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And finally it was up |
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Amazing sail – it kept the boat moving at speed even when the wind was
too light for the other sails to be effective. Voted a huge success by all on
board.
Two days out -10 miles off the coast of Sardinia
and no wind. Good recipe for a swim round the boat.
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Refreshed crew after a swim in very deep
water |
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Life at sea always gives the best sunsets and sunrises
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Nick at Sunset |
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Beat this one if you can ! |
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Another milestone as we passed from Italian Waters into Spanish Waters.
Barrie asked if there was still an
extradition treaty between Menorca and
Sicily.
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Nick raising the Spanish flag |
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Life on board carries on. Pat never tires of serving up great food in
sometimes difficult conditions. Nice one sweetheart. You are the most important
person on board. Thanks.
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Pat preparing banana
pancakes |
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Paul spent a few hours trying to get to grips with modern
technology
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No you can’t use predictive texting – it’s a camera
stupid. |
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We soon had a stowaway on board. He even brought a few of his mates along
for the ride.
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Didn’t realise dragonflies used sun tan
cream |
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The wind was kind to us and we reached
Mahon in 87 hours – much better than
the 120 hours allowed.
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Going up the river in
Mahon,
Menorca |
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We picked up a mooring in the centre of town and the crew immediately had
a hearty breakfast. Beer and bran flakes.
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Sicilian beer –
Barrie was starting to feel
lucky |
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Soon after Nick launched the dinghy so we could go and explore the
town
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Nick launching the dinghy |
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But the moment overwhelmed
Barrie as he realised he had finally
escaped the Mafia.
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Either that or he can’t handle beer for
breakfast. |
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