Our 2017 cruise

Simanderal
Michael Hughes and Ger White
Sat 11 Nov 2017 17:30
Well despite good intentions to maintain our blog regularly through our 2017 cruise---we failed so to do!
So herewith a very brief synopsis.
We did a fair bit of work to Simanderal over the winter. Apart from the normal servicing, anti-fouling, general maintenance and dealing with the few points coming from the purchase survey, we also fitted 2 large solar panels on the hard-top, installed an Iridium satphone and fitted fans below.
We set off from Malta on the 2 June, leaving before 0600 in order to be in Syracuse, Sicily in good time for dinner. As ever, the first trip produced a couple of gremlins to be sorted. First, the automatic bilge pump for grey water was not pumping---we had to resort to the manual one. More importantly, the fridge packed up. A phone call the following morning to George Rizzo promised a quick fix in Riposto, so on the 2nd we sailed up to Riposto for a couple of days and had the problems fixed. After a few days in Taormina, we did an overnight sail to Crotone on the foot of Italy, then on to Santa Maria de Leuca and an overnight to Montenegro arriving there on the 14th. We loved Montenegro--stayed a couple of weeks in various places--Kotor was the highlight---before sailing to Cavtat in Croatia on the 27th.
We sailed the coast and islands of Croatia through to the beginning of August---Mljet, Lastovo Island,  Korcula, Loviste, Split, Venisce, and many island stops up to Mali Losinj where we arrived on 18 July. We then spent a couple of weeks--including one with Eric on board--on the islands between Mali Losinj and Pula before sailing up via Rovinj and Umag to Slovenia--spending a few days in Piran.
From Piran to Venice on 5 August for a week--loved it!
And then back across to Croatia and down the coast re-visiting the places we loved and some new ones--Trogir, Brac, Havr and Vis.
Back to Montenegro on 15 September, to Italy on the 22nd and across to Sicily on 1 October--Riposto, Syracuse and then some time in Marina di Ragusa--hired a car and spent a couple of days in Agrigento.
And finally we sailed back to Malta on the 12th.
A rather brief synopsis for 4 and a half months enjoyable and relaxed cruising.