Friday 1^st August

Spent a frustrating morning not really achieving any of our plans. Rather fruitless shopping trip which resulted in a lot of walking and very little success. After hunting for two days for a computer shop, I finally tracked one down (they rarely have useful signs outside shops) and it was perfect, except that they could not sell me anything as they do open properly until 20^th August. To get to the internet cafe, we had to pass the railway station and Sarah was pointing out the bundles of belongings that were wedged up in the trees surrounding the square. These belong to the North Africans who all congregate here, sleeping rough during siesta and in the evenings and then go off in the day to work in the fields where they can earn six times what they could back in Tunis. Trapani is very much in the front line of the immigration problem they have in Sicily, because it is the closest point to Tunisia, which makes it the first landing point for migrants fleeing poverty and persecution in Africa. Unseaworthy boats laden with would-be illegal immigrants regularly ply the brief stretch of water. Hundreds each year fail to make it, as their vessels sink or they are forced overboard by unscrupulous members of smuggling gangs. The navigation warnings that we received on our Navtex machine on the passage over to Sicily warned of several drifting and abandoned boats in the sea between here and Africa and it seems sadly that these are all that remain of some of these desperate flights to a better life.

Raymarine in Milan confirmed that they have sent the cable to Trapani by courier, but this is not a perfect service and despite all promises to keep me fully informed, it has ended up that the part may not arrive here until Saturday, or perhaps Monday! Then we have the issue of our man coming along to do the job, so we might not be moving on to Marsala for a few more days.

Got chatting to the Australian owners of a Falcon 90 (very posh, brand new Italian built Gin Palace) moored near us. Sarah is very much hoping for a guided tour at some stage over the weekend and I have to admit I am pretty intrigued as to what they are really like inside. Mind you even the crew are dressed better than us to just clean the outside of the boat, (something they have been doing for nearly two days now) so we might need to smarten ourselves up a bit to get the invite!  Stop press – Just been invited to go over at 9.30 on Saturday to watch the Tri-Nations All Blacks v. Australia rugby match on Satellite TV. I offered to bring beer etc. but the offer was waived away as they have loads!! (Might have to support Australia, which sticks in the throat a bit.) Must remember not to mention the World Cup too often..... but come to think of it, isn’t this game just a replay of the 7 & 8^th playoff....Opps!