The 1st of March saw me still in La Maddalena patiently waiting for my new engine. I can't remember what date it arrived but it didn't take more than about four days to get it installed and plumbed and wired in once it did arrive
So after three months in La Maddalena where I was beginning to think of myself as a resident, Jack and I set sail on the 12th heading for Alghero for the first of our 2012 crew/guests. Well, we set sail but motoring was mainly the order of the next few days as we covered the 130 miles to Alghero. We were both extremely bored and stopped off in Santa Teresa, Castelsardo and Stintino to break the monotony
We arrived in Alghero on the 15th where Micky (Scottish) and Annie (French) were waiting for us. They were joined later by Minna (Finnish) Micky had sailed with me before and also has his own yacht as well as having gained his RYA Day Skipper since I saw him last. Annie was comparatively new to sailing but took to it like a duck to water. Minna was no stranger to boats of the motoring variety having grown up in a boat building family. She also proved to be a natural and definitely has a future in sailing. She also put Micky and me to shame by doing some astro nav!
So with a variety of nationalities on board we left Alghero on the 16th. I let Micky pick the route and act as skipper to put his new qualifications into practice, but even with his RYA qualification he could not do a great deal with the lack of wind so it was mainly a motor back to Stintino. The light winds continued for the next few days as we slowly headed east to my beloved Bonifacio in Corsica, all the time hoping that the forecasted easterlies would kick in for the return. And they did!
The return via Castelsardo was much more exciting and even gave us a little excitement when negotiating the Forneli Passage on the north-west corner of Sardinia. It started with a controlled gybe in a F5/6 but the stainless steel strop which is part of the mainsheet broke, causing the boom to swing across with some speed and resulted in the boom fitting at the goosneck to also fail.
Nevertheless, we limped on until Micky had the brainwave of flying the main without a boom and sheeting it back through the cruising chute blocks. It worked. However, we did arrive in Alghero with a broken boat which, because of lack of suitable bits meant it was two days before I got it repaired bu which time my crew.guests had left.
Miles for the month. 330.
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Lady H blogs
March 2012
WHAT THEY SAID!
Been sitting in the cockpit now for 10 minutes now, wondering how to describe the past week - - - and I still don't know, just because words seem a bit dull. It's a bit like when you take a photo of an amazing sunset - the photo does not catch how beautiful it is.
Never spent a week on a boat before and don't know how to sail but I have learnt a great deal - Not what is in the RYA book but better, those little tricks that you will not forget. Add to this Tim's knowledge, a great deal of humour, a tablespoon of wisdom, a pinch of kindness and you have all the ingredients to spend a week afloat.
Betwen sailing times, deep conversations, good laughs and quality times with Jack , and, at the risk of repeating myself, we had a great week. I hope to come back! We will depart today and I guess we will leave ---- when we are ready (Lady H in joke!) - Annie and Jack. (Yes, Jack is leaving with us! He told me he has had enough of having to search for his lead each time he is going for a walk!)
Another fantastic week with Tim and Sparrow (we are only on last name terms) Despite light winds Tim managed to get us quite a long way and experienced different sailing and pilotage. Some great conversations, some peaceful reflections and rejuvinating of energy. Many thanks to Tim and Jack - Hopefully will be back soon. - Micky.
PICS - from top.
- Engine has arrived!
- Engine installed.
- Engine in use with Annie, Minna and MIcky.
- Minna's 1.25 metre dreads
- Castelsardo
- Mina on the helm
- Jack smells land!
- How to use your main sail after breaking the boom