GOZO,,,!!!

After our quick exit from Sicily anticipation was high
with the next planned port being our goal of Gozo,
with a favourable wind and slight sea all was well,
hmmm, too good to be true, by sunset a wild vibration
had formed from the prop shaft,,
few hours of inspection and we had narrowed it down
to being something cought around the prop,,,bugger,,
we limped into the nearby port of
Empolducle for a first light inspection with snorkel and mask,
a mucky comercial port and murky water was not the most inviting.
Still needs must but luckily as we moored this
orange python looking thing appeared from the stern,
quickly wrestled by Malcolm and myself we
pulled around 15 meters of this 4 inch diameter
rope from under the boat,
with some testing all seemed fine and we were again out and on our way,,
loosing just 4/5 hours.

Our new eta to Mgarr, the port of Gozo was looking like 18.30 perfect for a celebration beer or two. Anticipation was once again high as we arrived as expected all showered shaved and ready for a few cold ones,,,,,nice.....

Marsala Sicily

After a gentle evening in sardinia time and wind dictated pushing on to Sicily,
a leg of around 180nm, the port of Marsala was elected as our stop which would be just for fuel and a restock of the larder.
Marsala is the town with the largest population in the provice of Trapani. It lies on Cape Boeo, otherwise known as Cape Lilybaeum, at the westernmost tip of Sicily. Well known for the locally produced sweet red wine.
Having previously visited its not the prettiest port around or the sweetest smelling, but it is the first in Sicily for provisions.
After a short 3hr stop we were on our way again.

Carloforte - Isola San Pietro

After saying our goodbyes to Mallorca and Palma it was time for the 300nm leg to Sardinia, Thursday was just about as good as we could order on the wind and 11am saw Malcolm and myself head out for the two and a half day sail,
Typical Med weather provided some reasonable
wind during the afternoon with next to
nothing at night, with watches sorted every 4 hours
a reasonable sleeping pattern was formed.

Very quiet on deck with very little shipping
and a half moon gives a stunning insight into the warm night sky
with stunning sunrises and sunsets a mind could wander into infinity,

Carloforte was to be our landfall.
Located approximately 7 km from the
South Western Coast of Sardinia,
Carloforte is a picturesque fishing village located on
Isola di San Pietro (Saint Peter's Island).
World renowned for its tuna fish,
Carloforte maintains the intrigue of an ancient village with its pastel-coloured houses and cobbled streets.

Mallorca For Sunday Roast

With a not so good forcast and strong wind warnings it was a 4am departure and off to Mallarca for much anticipated Myra Sunday lunch and a chance to catch up with the Monroes,,
The wind as expected picked up around 10am after a stunning crimson sunrise, it was soon blowing around 30kts picking up a good size sea, Pete once again slipped quietly into his well rehursed coma while Malcolm and paul caught up with thier beauty sleep on deck,, right on que as the snoring started a fine size wave introduced itself, for a startled awakening of our sleeping beauties,,,

Mallorca soon appeared and we were met by Andreas, all moored by 5pm and off to Banyalbufar, the pretty hillside village on the rugged North West coast, which is home to the Monroes,
As expected the beer soon started to flow and a fine catchup evening was upon us.
Sunday saw a slow start as the cobwebs from the previous evening were showing no signs of an early departure,, even a brisk swim in the pool at around 15deg was shocking but not lasting,,
The mouthwatering feast expertly prepared by our hosts Myra and Wilton soon filled us and an early evening sleep was beckoning.
Monday and all rested and refreshed Myra, Wilton, Paul and Zoe joined us for a brisk sail around the Bay of Palma. .. flat sea and 20kts , fantastic,,

Crazy in Ibiza,,,,,Yeehaa

Calpe and mainland Europe behind us it was off to the Balearics,
The party island of Ibiza being the first port of call at some 70nm,
a relityively relaxing sail,
Pete was still working hard on his disturbed gyros
with the aid of sea sick pills he slipped gently into a coma,
awakening as the sea calmed for our port entry at around 10.30,


Tiredness and a slight hangover from the Calpe evening kept us from exploring the nite life in the buzzing marina, still we are all getting on a bit now,,,,,,
Next day we checked out the old town and visited the Castle,
No not a buzzing Ibiza nightclub but the actual Moorish Castle
set high on the port entrance, protecting the natural harbour.
NICE!!
The evening was soon upon us and a film night was chosen,,
hmm! so all was well in the party town, probably>>>

OH NO,,!!! The Boys are In Town

Saying our farewell to Mar Menor for the short hop up towards Alicante
to await the arrival of Paul Monroe and Pete,
our would be sailors imported especially from the UK for the trip from Santa Pola,
to Mallorca, with a few initial nerves concerning sea sicknes the crew was bound for Calpe,,
our new lillywhites were oiled and ready to go,
with a fine 'Malcolm' breakfast inside them the
calm seas prevailed and all was well for thier introduction to med sailing,,
the boys were kept busy with the light and variable winds to start,
and ever changing sail plans,,, ha ha,, the afternoon breeze soon settled down for a constant direction from the SW and some rest was at hand,
the anticipation of making the port of Calpe seemed all too much for Pete, who deployed his lunchtime burger,, all in aid of feeding the fish,,,,
Calpe looks like a mini Gibraltar with the large rock peninsula standing proud in the evening sunshine,, the pretty port is sure to hold some treasures,,, so all showered and fed with fine pork chops and roasties by our steely eyed chef Malcolm its off to explore,,, great!!

Mar Menor (The Inland Sea)

La Manga, Home of the late eighties football training camp for the England squad and all the anticks that went with it, now gently occupied by quietly behaved british and spanish tourists alike this thriving town nestles the edge of the Mar Menor, an inland sea of around 12miles long by 4 wide, protected from the open sea by the long built up sand bar which forms the subbase for the towns.
The only entrance being via a small canal of some 3mt deep and 50mt wide, with a lifting bridge for the sailing yacht access. unfortunatley the bridge only opens twice daily at 10 am and 7 pm for around 5 mins,,, lucky arrival then at 7 pm on the numbers for us,,, no judgement just luck!!
Two days on the free waiting pontoon with wi-fi and electric, with lots of freindly bars and restuarants,,,,, fantastic,,,!!!
Within the Mar Menor itself there are many anchorages surounding the shores and islands,, nice spot,, more time needed,, shame we only have one lifetime,,