BACK ABOARD RESTLESS WITH FAMILY IN SPAIN after 2 Covid years of nothing, June 2022, 39.33.80N, 02.38.40E
Restless of Auckland
Roland and Consie Lennox-King
Sun 19 Jun 2022 15:41
Restless had been on the hard standing at Sant Carles de la Rapita, south of Barcelona.
We had shipped her there from Antigua at the start of Covid in April 2020. 2 years of Nothing. The fenders were still hanging where they had been 2 years earlier.
Roland returned to Restless together with Gilbert, who speaks Spanish, and could help with translation, but he could only stay 4 days, and helped with ordering batteries, organising engine checks, etc.
Roland spent the next 6 weeks emptying dirty rainwater out of the bilges, antifouling, checking electrics, cleaning 2 years of red Sahara dust out of every crack, on his own, with no power and a walk to showers, loos, food shops.
By the time Consie arrived, with Shenton, Olivia, Hector (2) and Agatha (6 months), he was much in need of some company, and fell instantly in love with the 2 grandchildren.
After settling aboard and provisioning, we set off on 28 May for Mallorca, 145 miles away, Hector saw some dolphins, we sailed overnight, and arrived at Alcudia Beach.
GIlbert, Pip, Emmeline and Frederick, and Pip’s mum Tessa, were staying in a hotel ashore, and the next morning Gilbert swam out a mile to welcome us. We spent the next few days together, and out on Restless, swimming, and sailing, and the 4 cousins played together, until it was time for Gilbert and Pip to return to London, and the kids to school.
Shenton, Olivia, Hector and Agatha continued sailing with us around Mallorca until 18 June, to Pollensa, Cala da Calobra, Soller, San Telmo, Andraitx, Santa de La Ponsa, Puerto de Palma Nova, Magaluf, the Reserve at Cabrera, Playa del Trench, with amazing clear aqua water, and to the marina at Real Club Nautic de Palma.
18 June Olivia, Shenton, Hector and Agatha left for Hong Kong and a week quarantine.
Jane and Oliver arrived from Canada in time to see Olivia and family, and Jane left for Canada on 19.6, while Keir arrived from Edinburgh, for a few weeks sailing with us and Oliver to Menorca, Sardinia, Sicily, the heel of Italy, and Greece, probably to Corfu.
