So Salila has moved from the main marina to the “Vela Latina”, a massive distance of about 300 metres. It’s actually the marina for the local classic boat club, who have some very pretty wooden boats that they maintain beautifully. For several years all the catamarans have been berthed here, and this year there is a record number.

Not only that but there are some seriously big boats arriving. I was the first in, and with a little trepidation negotiated the narrow entrance. For those of you who know Beaucette on Guernsey its not nearly as scary as that, but care is needed. I shouldn’t have worried. The next craft in was a 74 ft monster, which is as wide as Salila is long, and at night its lit up like Blackpool Tower. Also here is a 66 ft Gunboat (that’s the brand name not its function), and apparently during this year’s Fastnet it passed the Needles at 20 knots with one hull in the air.

Not only do we have lots of nice boats to look at, but the company on the pontoon (where we “smaller” craft are moored) is terrific. All nine boats have a different nationality, with Norwegians, Canadians, Kiwis, Ozzies, Americans, French, Italian, and German. Its great fun, and everyone helping each other out with all those things that go wrong. Just this morning my electric water heater went “off the boil”, and the guy on the boat opposite turned out to be an electrician who diagnosed the problem immediately – mainly because the same thing had happened on his. So this afternoon I’ve ordered two of the required elements, one for each of us.

And the socialising is frenetic. Monday was the first of the nightly “Sunset” drinks, last night was a party with live band and food sampling, and  I’ve had to turn down dinner with the Ozzies tonight because I’m already booked. Don’t worry crew members, I’m leaving some for you (as well as some of the jobs I won’t have got round to)