SICILY EAST COAST

MOUNT ETNA

TURAMINA

 We left the Aeolian Islands on Monday 13th May and had a breezy sail down towards the Straits of  Messina.

This narrow stretch of water separates Sicily from mainland Italy.  We had 25 to 30 Knots of wind and we sailed down on Genoa alone averaging 7 to 8 knots.

As we gibed and entered the straits the wind was coning over the top of the Sicilian mountains and really blew up !!


We then had a beautiful strong wind sail in flat water down the East coast. We saw Dolphins and a Sword Fish was jumping in front of us.

The Italian waters pilot says that it difficult to see Mount Etna, but we had perfectly clear views of it for two days.

The photograph above with Etna in the background doesn't make it look very high. But this was taken some 40 miles away from it !

ENTRANCE TO SIRACUSA

We anchored overnight below the cliffs of Turamina, a picture post card town perched on the side of a mountain, and with Etna towering above it.

We are now in Sircussa a beautiful old city situated in the south east of the island.. The harbour and town are gorgeous. We intend to stay here for a few days and then set off for the Greek Islands. Hopefully this 260 NM trip will be our last long leg.



RAY & MANDY

APPROACHING USTICA

                 THE AEOLIAN ISLANDS


After along and laborious sail overnight we arrived in the first of Aeolian islands Ustica.

Everywhere we go we say it can not get better than this, and then it does.

JOSEPHINE IN CALA SANTA MARIA
USTICA

                                                                            This group of volcanic islands in the south of the Tyrrhenian sea and to the north of Sicily are a perfect cruising ground and area.

Each island is individual and very attractive. Ustica is the most westerly and some distance from the main group of islands







 

T

ISOLA VULCANO

The next island was Isola Vulcano approx 25 NM from our stopover in N Sicily.  This is a still active volcano.  We anchored in Porto Di levante directly beneath the still smoking crater. And could we smell it ?


The island smells of rotten eggs, with steam/smoke coming out of the mountain in several places. It is inhabited and has an amazing number of ferries speeding into the harbour and disgorging day trippers from the nearby adjacent islands.

  

THERAPEUTIC MUD BATH
(JOSEPHINE IN BACKGROUND)

                                                                 

        
The tourists trek to the peak of the crater some 1578 ft.

There are numerous hot springs and people bathe in them and coat themselves with the rotten egg smelling volcanic mud, and then waddle towards the sea wearing there overall cracked mudpacks.

It is said that it has medicinal benefits but we did not try it!

ISOLA SALINA

Our third Island is Salina. We arrived in scorching hot heat to this steep and very high island and were immediately struck by its greenness.

We will spend a few more days in the area and then move on to the Straits of Messina and the E coast of Sicily and prepare for what is hopefully our last long sail to the Greek Ionian.

RAY & MANDY

Thurs 9 May 2013

38 33.5 N x 14 52.3 E

MAHON TO SARDINIA & SICILY

ENTERING BONIFACIO

With some sadness we left Mahon on Thursday April 11th.  We had become very settled there and almost become locals !

We left and headed for Sardinia some 200 miles to the east. What a fabulous sail we had.. Josephine with her "clean bottom" just flew and after a day and an exciting night at sea we arrived in Sardinia.

THE CITY ON TOP OF A CLIFF

                                                                 





     Sardinia is a truly beautiful and amazing Island and cruising area, and we were so lucky to arrive when we did. The weather conditions were very good and we were able to cruise the La Madelana Archipeligo thoroughly enjoying the numerous anchorages and harbours.

Across the infamous Straights of Bonofacio lies Corsica and the amazing harbour of Bonifacio. The straights, only fifteen miles wide, lived up to there reputation and we sailed across in a brisk twenty five knot breeze on the nose.

The harbour is almost impossible to see from the sea. The entrance   is via a narrow gap between sheer cliffs with a dogleg to the East.

Once inside this beautiful old city opens up. It is possibly one of the most attractive harbours in the entire Mediterranean.


SARDINIA TO ISOLA USTICA

Having cruised the Archipelago we sailed the East coast and then on Wed 1st May we left La Calleta for Ustica.  This island is literally a dot on the map and also has a mysterious history. I can only say that we had a strange passage. Winds up and down and swinging in all direction, particuly in the middle of the night.

When we arrived and re read the pilot guide we realised that we were in the "Aeolian Triangle". An area of sea with an awesome reputation for strange and unpredictable winds.  Odysseus in Homers Odyssey refers to this area and blames the various gods of ancient Greece for the strange winds. In the middle of the night we were experiencing winds changing direction by 180 deg, and zero to 25 Kn  in seconds.

The island  of Ustica proved to be delightful and very beautiful.  This volcanic rock in mid Med is very famous for Sub Aqua activities.  The entire islands economy seems to be based on fishing and diving tours.

SICILY
We are now cruising along the N coast of Sicily.  The coast line is stunning and mountainous. On Tues 7h May we plan to leave for the Aeolian islands.  This archipelago of volcanic islands are to the North of Sicily and include the isle of Stromboli, a still active volcano , known as the "Oldest light house in the world".  You can see it glowing at night.

Many apologies for the gap in blogs but WI FI access has been difficult. It is Italy after all !!

RAY & MANDY

THREE COUNTRIES IN ONE WEEK!

Well today is 25th April and we are in Olba on Sardinia and it is a lovely place we have been away from Mahon for 2 weeks we left 2 weeks today and arrived north of the island on Friday after a good sail across and through Passagio de Fornelli beautiful welcome to the island after the nights sail.

     then the following week-end we ventured to Corsica a french island and to Boniffacio a special habour and out of season very quiet and free! We were storm bound for the week-end and then on Monday made our way back to the Isle of Maggdelena north Sardina and now we are on our way down the coast.

       It has been awhile since thet last blog as internet connections are few and far between as we have not been in a Marina and have to real lie on Bars and cafe's . Anyway found one today and we are entertaining  Rikardo this eve on board an friend of Ray's who he has done Yacht Master exams for his students. Rikardo run 's a sailing school here in Olbia.

   Ray will write a more creative blog with pictures soon.

      We are both well and enjoying ourselves!

MENORCAN GOV DECLARE JOSEPHNE A NATURE RESERVE !!

The prop before

 On Tuesday 2nd April we had the boat lifted out for her annual anti foul in preparation for the next stage of our journey.

We were amazed at the amount of growth beneath the waterline. We had swam and dived around the boat late last year and all was fine.  However a few months standing still over the winter in the relatively warm waters of Mahon resulted in the growth that you can see in the photographs.

under water forest

The boat is now looking much better and has been re painted and is ready to go.

All appears to be working well and we will re launch  on Monday 8th and go out and have a sea trial.

Whilst the boat has been ashore we have been staying and having an excellent time at the White Sands beach club which is situated in a beautiful bay at Arenal d,en Castell in  the North of the Island.

CLEAN PROP &
NEW ANODE

Coming out early and spending a month here has been proved to be a good idea. We have managed to do a lot of preparation work on the boat at a sensible pace and without any pressure of deadlines etc.. In addition  it seems that we have missed some pretty bad weather at home. Here the weather has been good and we have been wearing shorts and T shirts most of the time.

Our next blog should hopefully be from Sardinia, following a 36 to 48 hour passage from Minorca. We hope to arrive n the North of the island and we are looking forward to spending some time in Bonifacio, Corsica and the La Madelaina archipelligo.

Looking forward to hearing from you all,

RAY & MANDY

TWO WEEKS IN MAHON

Well we have been back on Josephine for 2weeks now time seems to be racing by ,we have been cleaning and checking everything still is functional,and so far so good!
        Both toilets work the forward head didn't and apon investigation what we thought would be weed was in fact a fish and not just 1 but 2 fish had swam in the seacock we think that is a first well it was for us the fish were returned to the harbour sadly not alive it was traumatic for them!
         The engine started first turn or the key and the batteries have held their charge and the alternator is working so now to sails,we had a very windy 4 days winds up too 80kms so once that had calmed we got up early as there was no/little wind to put the fore sail back on an easy job we thought! Not so! After the difficult bit that was moving the heavy sail from the aft cabin to the fore deck up the companion way but we manged without any injuries so attached the sail to the halyard and pull it up and the furl it, in practise not so easy it would not pull up however 2 hours later and flapping sail it was up and furled phew !!!
       We have had some quotes for lifting Josephine out and antifoul  and it has been arranged for 2nd April and anodes have been ordered so they can be renewed and accommodation  booked as I don't want to live on board whilst she is propped up on dry land. Once back in the water following that we shall be watching the weather waiting for a westerly breeze to take us to Sardinia . Talking about weather we have been listening to the radio and our family back home are struggling with the snow as in a lot of the U.K. It is much better here warm dry slightly overcast this morning but we will cope.

                    Keep well and next time I write will have some pictures to add
                             Mandy and Ray (23/03/13)

WE ARE BACK!!!

11th March 2013

We are back home on Josephine we arrived on 8th March after an uneventful journey with a lot of luggage.We were dropped off at Stafford station by our good friend Mark thank-you .We had 2 folding bikes a large bag and 2 bits of hand luggage.We had help from the train guard and the train was on time and we were on our way.

Departure from Stafford train station 

The underground across London seemed a journey too hard with the luggage so we had a Taxi from Euston to Victoria and thanks to the Taxi driver who took us to the entrance closest too the Gatwick Express platform and luggage trolleys were easily obtained so now the last part of our journey on Thursday and into the premier inn Gatwick .
 
After a nice dinner and some sleep up early for a 06.55 flight to Mahon we thought the flight may have only been half full how wrong we were it was full! So very little room it was foggy so we were very pleased to take off almost on time and arrived in Mahon 2 hours later and all the luggage arrived with us ! So taxi to the marina and there was Josephine just as we left her waiting for us and the sun was shining and a gentle wind .








So we set about checking that everything still worked and so far so good.

I will say good bye for now and up date you all soon . Sorry about the snow you have today the sun is shining here .

Mandy

RETURNING HOME

We are writing this on a cold afternoon back home in Little Haywood. We returned back to the UK on Monday 5th November.

We have had a wonderful time and seen many interesting and beautiful places. There have been so many highlights to the trip that it is difficult to chose which was the best. My best was possibly the city of Cadiz, whilst Mandy's best moment was our arrival at the south west corner of Ibiza at sunrise following a beautiful night crossing from the mainland.

Having visited and explored all the Balearic Islands we finally arrived in Minorca which we have enjoyed immensely . We ave now fully recovered from our traumatic fire experience and   have decided to winter the boat there.

Next year we will continue to enjoy the Island whilst we also prepare ourselves and Josephine for the next stage of the adventure. Our plan is to head East to Sardinia and then on to the Greek islands via Sicily.

Thank you all for your comments and messages which were very important to us.

                                                                Mahon Harbour 

A Visitor to Mahon

We will continue with the blog early next year.

RAY & MANDY

OCTOBER IN MENORCA

Reflections of Menorca

        Well it is as if some one has switched off summer and now the weather is unsettled not cold but wet and windy. On Monday we set off to sail around Menorca we left Mahon in sun shine as we left the harbour entrance we could see black storm clouds and rain ahead however we would not move that fast so we would not get to that storm however when we turned to look back it was just as black and the sun was shining above us so we set off north towards Puerto Addeya a new destination for us.
       One squall hit us and we got wet for about 5 mins and the the sun was shining as we entered Addeya alovely small port and  we went ashore it was very friendly and an very English resort. We departed the next day and the weather was mixed but little wind so motor sailed around to Ciutadella the old capital of this island and when we arrived and it rained very hard and we did not leave the boat. The next day we waited for the rain to stop and set off south no wind so we had to motor but there is a storm on it's way so we need to be in the harbour.

       We have fallen in love with this island she is beautiful with many pretty anchorages and very often good wind for sailing. So next month we are on our way home for a few month's. It has been fun and we have had many laughs my inability to tie knots some days I am knot blind and have 2 left hands and other day's it is easy the clove hitch and I don't tie Bowline; Ray has christened my knot the Mandylin it is a backwards knot!

         For those who asked who fell in it was Ray and there was no witness's thankfully.

   We will put in something before our departure.
                           Mandy

ENJOYING MENORCA

      
                                            THE VIEW FROM OUR MARINA BERTH

We are continuing to enjoy Minorca.  From a sailing and cruising point of view this has by far been the best of the Balearic Islands for us.

     We have been exploring the Callas and anchorages and continue to find new places. One could easily cruise around this island for a whole season and if you wished not stay in the same place twice!

      The weather is still good, with pleasant winds. October would seem to be a very good time to visit. We have noticed that there are now far fewer tourists, less boats in the anchorages, and things in all the shops are all on offer with 50% off !!

This week we met up with Deidre Newsome who was out here on holiday with her sister Margo and brother in law Graham, and we went out for a very nice meal and evening to a restaurant well inland that they have been frequenting for many years.

The inevitable happened this week. Having been very diligent about about not carrying mobile phones in my pockets when in the dinghy, we returned to the boat after watching Stoke V Liverpool, and my phone and I went in !!. I have not only lost the phone but more importantly all the numbers and contacts stored in it. !!

We are now making plans to lay the boat up for the winter and have booked our flights home in November. The weather here at the moment can only be described as perfect and so we are bracing ourselves for the return!

We have had a great summer but we are looking forward to our return and meeting up with all our friends and family.We have already booked seats for Stoke v QPR and so things will be back to normal.

                                                   THE RED ARROWS OVER MAHON

RAY & MANDY












RAY & MANDY

MORE FIESTA PHOTOGRAPHS

 

A SELECTION OF FIESTA PHOTOGRAPHS

 

 

 

A QUIET STREET IN MAHON

 

 

 

 

 

 BRING ON THE HORSES

   COOLING DOWN AFTER THE SHOW

 

 

 

 

 ONLY ANOTHER 100 YARDS TO GO !

 

 

 

A BRIEF REFLECTION OF TWO VERY MEMORABLE DAYS

 

MINORCA

Having enjoyd Majorca very much, we left Alcudia and traveled across the thirty mile channel to Minorca. All the islands are very different. Minorca is very green and far less mountainous than its neighbours. There are numerous calas to anchor in, and most of them are totaly unspoilt.

                             
                                                  MAHON HARBOUR AT SUNRISE

On Fri 7h we arrived in Mahon, after having had some lovely gentle sailing along the south coast of the island.  We decided to have lunch at a waterside restraunt in the port and I remarked how quiet it was compared to the last time I was here some years ago. It was so quiet that we decided to go and have a look at the old city, which involves quite a climb to get there.

Well what a suprise. It was litterally like Wembley on cup final day!  There were thosands of people lining the streets having partys,dancing, and drinking a local speciaality, Pommada, a coctail of Minorcan gin and lemon. In one very crowded road there was a roar and then a procession of about 100 Magnificent black stallions was rode through the crowd. It was ;

FIESTA

These horses are unique and are bred here on the isand, and the riders can and do make them rear onto there back legs which when you see it close to is quite awsome. What an experiance we thought it cant get better than this. It did.

On Saturday our good friend Mick Naylor arrived from the Uk and we told him all about the horses that we had seen the day before, The Festa was continuing (four days) and we took Mick up to see what was going on. It was another day of partying and we got into the spiit drinking Pomada and enjoying the atmosphere . We rounded a very crowded corner and found ourselves in a square in front of the cathederal,  a brass band was playing wild music and a mass of people dancing clapping and cheering. There were TV cameras on swinging booms. Then came the horses again. It seemed impossible that  they could possibly get through .The band increased the tempo, the crowd went wild and the first horse reared to his full height and surged foreward. The crowd  then just went into a frenzy, people holding up the horse at his breast whilst others supported the rider hanging onto the near vertical back of his stallion. This continued for some time for the entire procesion of horses. How no one was seriously hurt we do not know but we did see ambulance crews  treating injured spectators. .

We eventually got away and had a few Pommadas and the party went on (without us) untill about 6am the next morning.

FIRE AT SEA
It is always said that one of a sailors worst nightmares is a fire at sea. Well we have had one and can tell you it is pretty hairy. On the Sunday we had a pleasant sail along the south coast as we were taking Mick to a very attractive calla that we had found, Calla Porter. We furled the sails and started the engine. A few seconds later smoke was coming out of the hatchway at an alarming rate. We stopped the engine and rushed below to investigate. What ever it was it was in the engine compartment. All the hundreds of safety briefs that I had given as an instructor clicked into place. The golden rule being do not open the compartment to look, it will only supply the fire with more Oxygen! We let off two entinguishers through the hole in the casing that is there for that very purpose. The cabin was now full of smoke and we were adrift out at sea with no engine! After a few miniutes I ventured a look inside, and imediatly shut the door. The fire was still burning with flames on the port side of the engine. We let off a third and larger extinguisher which thankfully and eventually put out the fire.

We then sailed the boat into Calla Porter, which is very narrow, and was thankfully empty, and dropped the anchor. All the electrical wiring on that side was totaly burnt out and it would seem that most of the flames and smoke had actually come from the so called "fire resistant" lining to the engine compartment !

The next day sods law of the sea worked its normal way with the wind blowing into the narrow calla and making it impossible to raise our anchors and sail out. After some time a passing French yacht, who had only come in to take photographs, was hailed and they kindly and skillfully took us alongside and towed us out to open water. We were then able to sail the boat back to Mahon, and bring the boat to an alongside berth under sail.

We are now fully repaired and all is well again, although we are considerably poorer having paid a substantial bill !   It would seem that the starter motor had burnt out and that the heat from this spread the damage to the adjacent wiring and also destroyed the alternator. (I suspect the powder from the extingushers did this ?)

Quite an experaince and congratulations to Mick and Mandy for helping to deal with what could have been a very serious situation.

LAYING UP FOR WINTER
After our experiances we have made the decission to keep the boat here in Mahon for the winter and have found a very sheltered and nice  friendly Marina at the head of Porto Mahon . It is only a few minutes from the airport, with regular inexpensive flights to the UK.

We will spend the rest of the time continuing to explore the island.

Ray

Next Island new adventure

Well we are in Menorca and in Mahon Harbour and it is beautiful but every adventure has a big story and I think we have had ours and are now storing it out.
    Our sail over to Menorca was interesting as the weather was mixed left in sunshine but ther were black clouds about and a squall came over and Ray got very wet I put on waterproofs and we continued sails out in and reefed etc. a good work out for the crew and as Mallorca disappeared in a black cloud so infront of us appeared Menorca in sunshine so first bay/cala on the south west corner of Menorca was our home for the night and the water to swim in was refreshing. The next morning the sun ws shining so head east to Mahon to meet up with a guest on saturday. Arrived at a beautiful Cala Porter and spent the night sandy beach and lovely cliffs. The next day sailed on and got to Mahon on friday to prepare and shop for food however it was Fiesta week-end and they know how to party here and the shops are all shut! So party and eat out a good time was had by all and Ray has photo's and will show you the Fiesta.
   On sunday we set sail all the south coast and not much wind but it filled in and we had a great sail and decided to take Mich  to Cala Porter as we loved it and a swim ashore to the bar was possible, to enter the Cala we started the engine to furl the sails as it is a narrow entrance and we had smoke coming out of the engine compartment and a different engine noise yes Josephine's engine was on fire so the fire extinquisher was deployed well 3 to put the fire out and we turned out to sea to sort ourselves out and plan what to do next Skipper Ray was great calm and we had good wind direction to sail into the Cala no other boats in there so plenty of room to manover and drop the anchour quickly as no engine = no breaks! so in we go anchoured ok then the 2nd anchour out quickly to stop us swinging into the cliffs. Safe and sound!
     We are now in Marina Menorca getting the engine fixed an electrical fire started it we think by the starter motor. Mich our guest for the week sadly has not experienced much of Menorca and not much sailing alot of Mahon and tender rides to get about.

     Anyway we are all well and now experienced fire fighters ( wish we weren't ) and Josephine has or is getting as I write new wiring.
     Adove is Ray and Mich enjoying a drink during the fiesta.

Menorca

We have made it to another island and it has been beautiful difficult crossing weather wise but now back to sunshine .lots to tell you all but we have a guest to look after and are off to dinner chat longer next time.
      M&R

Weather!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Well what can I say we are now in Alcudia hiding from a storm! us sailors never happy too much wind not enough, in the wrong direction ,however we are also hiding from a northerly swell of 3/4 metre's in height which would make for an uncomfortable crossing to Menorca this week -end. So we plan to go tomorrow or sunday,watching some football here on sat. may delay us a day!

         The wind last night was strong whistling through the rigging and today is cool and dull no sun and we are loving it it is the 1st day without sun since middle of june sorry to all those on holiday here who want the sun but it is nice today.

ILAS BALLEIRAS
We have really enjoyed cruissing the Balleric Islands and would recomend them to any one who is considering chartering in the future. Majorca from the sea is in many places very unspoilt and quite beautiful, with many anchorages and harbours wwell away from the mass tourist areas. Much to my suprise we have also had some excellent sailing. Most mornings start off calm and serene but by miday a very pleasant breeze sets in to give perfect sailing conditions to our next anchorage or port.

Regular reaaders may find the weather site that we use interesting it is called passage weather. It gives very detailed weather and swell information together with barometric charts etc.

For some time now i have been considering entering into a tirade of my opinion of people who drive around in large and small power boats and of their ingnorance and rudeness, but i am still managing to contain myself and may save it for a very strong letter to be hopefully published in Yachting monthly or better still in Motoer boat monthly if such a publication exists !!

Ray and Mandy x

   P.S the sun is out again in Mallorca!
    

Waiting for the wind!

Well we have been in Mallorca for a week now and have seen a beautiful island from long unspoilt beaches too magestic cliffs and rocks and caves.I have swam in clear blue seas and seen a Ray(not the Skipper Ray a fish!) of some sort making its way along the sea bed.

   We have had some of the best sailing here and now are in Porto Cristo waiting for the wind to change direction it is northeasterly today and we want to go that way and there is a 2 metre northeasterly swell which would make for an uncomfortable sail so the north coast will have to wait for a day or 2 but we have been stuck in worst places so we will just have to relaxe and enjoy ourselves! I think we have been diung that for the last 4 months! so well practised at it.
      The 2 picture's are of a sunset from Ibiza the eve before we set sail for Mallorca.

                             bye for now mandy

Mallorca we made it !

I have to pinch myself when I think it is 4 months since we left home and we planned and dreamed of making it to the Med and here we are! and in Mallorca with hundreds of Spainish holiday maker's and Spain is poor well this lot are not in their speed boats etc. Anyway just a short hello we are both good and in puerto rapita a very beautiful beach area and anchorage we have cleaned Josephine of red dust again and filled with water and tomorrow will move on.

WATER WATER EVERYWHERE

Now that we are here in Ibiza water is not as readily avilable as it was on the mainland. It really is a commodity that we take for granted and then realise its impotance when you have to start being carefull. We are quite lucky as Josephines tank holds 400 litres and this will last us a week quite easily without being to carefull. WE shower severall times a day off the back of the boat after swiming etc.

However we are now down to our last 50 litres and need to go into the Club Nautico San Antonio to see if they will sell us some! Our pilot book describes the water here as "Brackish and not nice tating"!

The other problem is we also now have a very dirty boat, and we are not allowed to hose it down. Every night we get considerable condesation on the decks and windows and this combines with a sprinkling of red dust that comes over from the Sahara in N Africa to leave a unattractive coating every where.
     Above is the boat we are saving for!!!!!

Ibiza south coast 1st rock on the left

Well we have now left mainland Europe and started our sequence of island hopping. The Spnnish coast was quite wonderfull and extremely varied. So many contrasts from Coruna and the Rias in the north to the Cotas on the med coast.

WE left fromAltilia and had a very nice night crossing to Ibiza.. There was a full moon and Venus the brightest star in the sky seemed to stay on our bow all night to guide us.

The photograph above was litteraly the first rock on the left as we arrived at 0700hrs on the sat morning. It really is a most stunning and very high islet. Its name is Isla Vedra and together with its neighbour Isla Vendral stands only a short distance off the main coast of the island . The passage is quite narrow but has a min depth of 30 metres and it is quite dramatic passing through to the west coast. After a few days of being facinated by its rugged beauty we found out that it was in fact the island that was used as "Bali HI" in the film South Pacific, much of which was filmed here on the island.

Ibiza is supprissingly nice and an excellent cruissing area. with numerous callas and anchorages. The water is cristal clear and 25 deg C. WE swim and snorkel everyday.

Ibiza

We have made it and it is not just a disco island the coast is beautiful the sea is warm but good enough to cool off  in on a hot day! The Cala's are idilic and some very busy others very quiet we are just south of San Antonnio at Cala Basa enjoying lunch and will be setting off  up the north  west coast before leaving for Menorca ray will do a better tale with pictures when we get the computer ashore and not just the tablet.

About to leave mainland Spain to party on the Islands

Hello Everyone!
            We are enjoying the heat! The internet is frustrating at times new problem last night got on line at a bar could see the screen well because it was dark unlike daytime use when the sun makes it difficult in the dark I can not type I need to see the keys I am not a touch typist it is 2 fingers and a thumb.
   Anyway we are in Altea just north of Benidorm and south of Calpe and tonight we are setting off for Ibiza the party island as those who know me my night clubbing days are over but looking at the charts and reading the Bays and Natural habour's around the island are beautiful so we have just been to the supermarket and loaded the boat with food and drink and to let you all know what we are up to we have had to stop at a bar with internet access and have a beer what a hardship for us both!
      After we have caught up with e-mails we will be casting off to anchour off the Rock at Calpe to relaxe and swim cook dinner and set off at 21.00hrs approx it will have cooled down and there is a full moon and so we are looking forward to a night passage and Ray thought he would never say that .

                               next time we will contact you from Ibiza
                                          Mandy & Ray

Costa del Sol & Blanca

Well we finally got away from Gibralter and we are now in Cartagina. This is a very attractive city steeped in history.

We stopped of at Fuengerolla and met up with Ellie, my grand daughter, and family. We suddenly had eight people on board . We and they had a gerat day partying at anchor of a very nice beach. The teenagers were jumping and diving off the front of the boat, and after a few sangrias the adults joined in.
We have been most impressed and very pleasantly suprised by the Costa Blanca.  Miles and miles of unspoilt and beautiful mountainous coast line. with attractive harbours and anchorages. Unspoilt Spain.
We are about to turn North and hopefully will soon be in Ibiza which we are looking forward to.
The weather is, as you would expect, very hot, but at sea it is not so bad when the afternoon sea breeze sets in. We have therefore been doing shorter sails and having lunch time stops to swim and snorkell etc.
Hope you are all enjoying the Olympics

Ray & Mandy

We are Leaving the Rock!!!!!!!

Well it is 8am and we have the important chip and it has been fitted in to plotter and we are filling Josephine with water and then diseal and we are off up the cost to the Calahonda area for at least a night as Ray has family on Hols in that area so we hope to meet up.
   Last night the fans of Portsmouth F.C. were in town as they were playing a pre-season against Gibraltar sorry don't know the result we did go but could hear it.
    

                          Mandy

WAITING FOR THE POST ( Wed 18th)

We are still sitting here in Gibralter and waiting for the delivery of a small package from the Uk. We have enjoyed Gib but are now eager to get away and get back to our journey.

We visited La Linear across the runway and border. It is quite a unique experiance to cross across by foot from such a British enviroment to a buissy and bustling Spannish city. One of the most striking differences is the cost of living. In La Linear everything just seemed so much cheaper.

As for our package we are still waiting. Taking into account mooring fees and the cost of living etc it probably would have been cheaper and ceartainly quicker to have taken a flight back to the uk , collected it and then returned !  There are flights to Gib every day, we see daily easy jet, monarch and BA. I believe Easy Jet flys from E Mids.

The weather here is beautifull if any one would like to come out for a few days you would be very welcome, we may be here for some time as i was told the post can be anything between five days and three weeks !!!

As i am sitting here and typing  I have to stop every few seconds and litteraly put my fingers in my ears !? Four RAF tornados have just taken off and the noise is litteraly unbearable. The entire boat vibrates.  You can tell newcomers from people who have been here for a whille. The newcomers stand and watch or take photographs. The rest just stop and put there fingeers in theire ears, and then carry on.

Look forward to your messages and e mails

Cheers
Ray.

Some Pictures to accompany story

A FISHERMANS TALE

Fishing is a frustrating hobby, and if we had to rely on what we caught to survive we would have died of starvation a long time ago !

I have invested a considerable amount of time and money buying lures,,line, swivels the whole lot and what have we caught so far ? A seagull  !! The poor thing took far more interest in my superdooper life like swiveling and diving lure than any fish did. What do you do when you are towing a hooked sizable wing flapping and squealing bird along at six knots ? If you say i dont know that is what I said. The poor bird solved the probem by deciding to take off taking the lure and about 100 meters of line with it!  We have not bothered fishing since .

Ray 

Algarve & SW Spain

Hi and apologies for the delay in updaating but as usual we have had internet connection problems.

We have now sailed the entire coast from Cape St Vincent to Gibralter where we now are.

We can only say that it is an excellent cruissing area with lots of different harbours and anchorages. We had an excellent visit to the Rio Guadina, the river that forms the border between Spain and Portugal. We berthed in Ayamonte on the Spanish side and met Mike and Sheila, old and good friends of mandys from the Manor golf club,  who have a beutifull apartment there. We had a very pleasant evening but unfortunatly they were flying home the next day.

The highlight of the trip was undobtably Cadiz. An amazing city. If.any body would like to think where could we go for a holiday or a long week end then seriously consider this beautifull place. The entire city consists of narrow ancient streets leading to numerous plazas and squares, with mature shady trees and fountains etc. Numerous bars and restraunts everywhere, beaches, cathedrals, and lots to do and see.

We are now in Gibralter berthed below the rock and alongside the airport runway in Ocean Village. The RAF are here at the moment with eight Tornado fighter jets. When they take off (which they do severall times of day) the sight and noise is unbelievable.

Gib is an interesting place and fiercely loyal to the Uk with union jacks and banners everywhere. The cuissine is traditonal English food, fish and chips everywhere!

Next week we hope to leave and travel up the eastern Spannish coast and get to the Ballerics where we will spend some time enjoying the Callas of the islands.

Ray & mandy

more pictures before the next installment !

more picture of lisboa to cape st vincent