01/06/09-31/07/09 Malta to Sardinia 635nm, 4,814nm Total

Mixed fortunes at the start of the trip for the year - delays with our insurance claim for generator meant delays in getting moving. Thanks to Charlie at Yacht Services for making it as quick as he could, we had a few days testing the new engine and generator round Malta before setting off for Tunisia and Sardinia. Sadly we had to get taken out of the water again to correct a fairly serious problem and had 3 weeks longer in Cagliari than we planned. Crew that joined us along the way were Rita and daughters, Gary and Marissa from Dive Shack in Malta (the only place to go for diving!) and Edel.





Blue Lagoon in Comino



OK so the haricut was a bit short!



Edel working hard on watch to Tunisia!


Monastir in Tunisia

Monastir again

and again

Dawn and Edel waiting for food!

Carpet weaver in Monastir

The souk in Monastir

The party boat parked behind us in Monastir

Hauling out again in Cagliari, Sardinia

Showers and haricuts in the cockpit while in the boatyard

Church in Cagliari

Another church in Cagliari

More sight seeing in Cagliari - what else to do?

Back in again, 3 weeks to do a 1 week job - they don't hurry in Cagliari!

Anchorage in La Maddelena archipeligo Sardinia

And last look at Sardinia before we go to Corsica

18/10/08-25/10/08 The Rolex Middle Sea Race 490nm, 4179nm Total

The race was not very kind too us, no wind - we covered something like 12 miles in 24 hours as opposed to a more normal 120 miles and you can tell from the photos, the batteries overheated so that they gave off sulphur fumes, the engine wouldn't start easily and we had to retire - other than that it was great! Crew for the race were, Richard and Dawn, Paul March, Kevin and Susie Harris, Joe Hatcher and of course Jim McKeogh.


Now you see them...

Now you don't!

And again...

and again...

and once more for good luck!

Putting the gear back on the boat - I think Joe believes we need a bigger dinghy!

And then it's out of the water for the winter while we go back to work and then to New Zealand

17/06/08-31/08/08 Genoa to Malta 700nm, 3689nm Total

We delivered the boat to Malta in stages to fit in with work, firstly from Genoa to Ostia (just outside Rome) and then from there to Malta ready for the Rolex Middle Sea Race. Crew that helped us down were Paul and Katie March and Joe Hatcher.

Sunset over Elba on way from Genoa to Ostia

The Isle of Capri - Paul remembers this for the most expensive beer and ice cream ever!

In the Med there is either too much wind or none at all - guess which we had most of the time?

Leaving Sorrento for Sicily

The infamous "conserving energy" approach to sailing (or motoring!)

But someone ate to many sweeties and suffered!!

Messina, Sicily where we ate in a "London Cafe" and drank at an Irish bar!!!



And finally Valetta, Malta

08/06/08-12/06/08 The Rolex Giraglia Cup 329nm, 2989nm Total

The crew finally joined us for three days of inshore racing then off from St.Tropez to Genoa in Italy via La Giraglia rock at the top of Corsica. Crew consisted of Richard, Dawn, Paul March, Jim McKeogh, Kevin and Susie Harris, Joe Hatcher and for a starring appearance in one race only Edel Gurry! We did OK, got a second place in class for one of the inshore races and second in class for the long race to Genoa but sadly no prizes – not even a fake Rolex for coming second!

I’m sure it’s not my job to go up the mast but…..

The “Ballerina Sisters” Jim and Joe in traditional workmans pose….watching!

Thought I’d better give them a wave

Looking for the wind or the start line I’m not sure-both were hard to find!

The party at St.Tropez was something else……

And a lot of people!

And the fireworks in front and behind us set to music were stunning..

A study in concentration….and crusty shorts. After a breezy start to the offshore race to Genoa, the wind went for a rest!

Finally crossed the line only a few minutes behind a boat 50% bigger than us – can’t be too bad!

And it wasn’t toooooo bad!

04/04/08-06/06/08 Valencia to St.Tropez 472nm, 2660nm Total

After a brief spell back at work we moved the boat up from Valencia to St.Tropez via Barcelona and Marseilles ready for our next race The Rolex Giraglia Cup. Crew that helped us along the way were, of course Joe Hatcher, Paul and Katie March and Edel Gurry.


The weather wasn't quite what Edel expected so it was safety first...


Lapping up the "sunshine"...!

The it really was sunny in Marseilles

The professional race crews were playing when we left

And so were the Grandma's!

Leaving Marseilles for St.Tropez

And finally at anchor outside the harbour waiting for the "gin palaces" to make way for us for a change!