Preparations for the 2020 sailing season have stalled for the time being. The bad weather in the Med and the strikes which have brought France to a standstill (I was lucky to escape back to Blighty!) have contrived to prevent me moving Hejira to Antibes for a little TLC although neither factor can last forever... Continue Reading →
Galley sink drain
Ever since the purchase of my trusty Southerly 135, I have had an irritation with a fickle galley sink drain. Sometimes it runs away with alacrity and yet, sometimes the dishwater just sits there, seemingly forever. The problem has defied cleaning bleach and the handy plunger but it has never been at the top of... Continue Reading →
Blush
From the Yachting World website:- Help at hand Cliff Crummey joined the ARC Europe to take his Elan Impression 444Â AWOL to the Mediterranean, having also sailed across with the 2015 ARC. On the westward crossing he had been joined by his wife, eldest son and brother. However, work commitments meant his crew could not do... Continue Reading →
Tranquille
I really thought that the holidaying of Paula and her two friends would be the end of anything interesting to âblog aboutâ but I think I may have been wrong â you will be the judge... We had taken a temporary berth in St. Laurent Du Var as our winter berth in Baie des Anges... Continue Reading →
Crews over
Having booked a berth in advance, the Calvi marina staff saw fit to place us on the premium âAâ dock right next to the âactionâ. This was all very well but the loud music went on until 2am and rather took the gilt off the convenience. The visit ticked all the boxes for the ladies... Continue Reading →
Ladies and Gentleman
Paula has for many years taken holidays on Hejira and her predecessors, mostly with her two friends, Marie and Kate who go all the way back to Southampton University. These holidays have always been static and invariably in my absence. They have included locations like the Canaries, the Algarve, the Riviera and various UK destinations... Continue Reading →
Au revoir
Our passage to our overnight stop at Porto Pollo was only 30 miles but was memorable for the size of the swell left over from the previous gale in the Gulf du Lion. Keen to tuck ourselves out of the undulations we opted to pick up a mooring buoy behind a reef and close enough... Continue Reading →
Piracy
Before I forget this story, I have to tell you about our arrival in Bonifacio. We had pre-booked and were allocated a good berth on the âactiveâ side of the harbour next to a nice but old Halberg Rassey. The very tanned and clearly seasoned Italian owner ran around deploying fenders as we came in... Continue Reading →
Blow
The wind was due to pick up so we modestly put the main up with a reef and let the full jib out as it is easy to reef. It wasnât long before we were furling the jib to be replaced by the staysail and putting a second reef in the main. This did at... Continue Reading →
Rock
How can you extract interest or humour out of bliss? Windlessness apart, our passage to Santa Maria Navaresse was just thoroughly enjoyable passing the stunning Sardinian coastline and the approach to our destination was spectacular backed as it was by a colossal mountain. Along the way however, my bureaucracy paranoia was not eased by the... Continue Reading →