The Misadventures of Melemele Manu
Melemele Manu is a custom built Harris 51. She's a 51 foot (15.1 meter) catamaran with a beam of 22.5 feet (6.5 meter) and a draft of 4.5 feet (1.5 meter). She was built in Austria in 1983 and purchased by the current owner in February 2008.
Dear Diary :-)
November 19, 2009
Arrived in Rubicon Marina at the the south end of Lanzarote, Canary Islands. Will be here until the 24th then on to Las Palmas. Bought a hard dinghy in Arrecife for a good price. We got tired of trying to find all of the leaks in the rubber dinghy. The seams were separating, so decided to get a hard one.
Weather here is warm with light winds during the day and a little chilly at night.
The marina is really nice and designed for catamarans and large monohulls. There are some really nice boats here. Some are waiting to cross the Atlantic either with the ARC or after it in December. The boat next to us is planning on crossing to Antigua the middle of December just like us. Will probably meet along the way.
Well, TTFN
November 15, 2009
We are safely in Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands. On the way down from Ayamonte, Spain, we ran into the worst storm anyone here can remember. We closed up the boat and thought we could ride it out. After two days of being tossed around, we decided that we had drifted enough for the storm to put us within fuel range of Las Palmas. However, our port engine failed to turn over. Waves were getting bigger, so called for assistance. A Maritimo rescue boat came out to tow us in. At this point, we were 243 miles from Las Palmas. The rescue boat, however, was from Arrecife, so they towed us here. It cost us far more than I expected for the tow. I asked my son for a loan and he tried to wire the money from the BofA to the Spanish bank of the towing service. But, the BofA would not recognize the other banks IBAN Code. So, had to develop a new plan. Decided to use credit card and ran into a slight problem that, hopefully, is all worked out. Will know tomorrow.
The engine is repaired and we are ready to leave as soon as the towing bill is paid. The waves washed salt water into the exhaust pipe of the engine and mixed with the engine oil preventing the engine from turning over. A mechanic found this. He just drained the oil, put new oil and filter in, and engine started right up. We let it run for an hour and then changed the oil and filter again. Now, everything is okay. This was far less expensive than we expected. Nice after seeing the towing bill!
We hope to be going to Rubicon on the south end of Lanzarote about mid week. We have heard from other sailors that Las Palmas marina is filled with boats that are part of the ARC and with a world cruising race that is getting ready to start. The ARC is a race for boats crossing the Atlantic to the Caribbean. They will be leaving about Nov. 22 if the weather is good. We hope to sail to Las Palmas about Nov.23 or 24. Will spend Thanksgiving there on the 26th. (I think that is Thanksgiving?)
Expect to set sail across the Atlantic in Mid December. Sailors tell us that the Northly trades are more steady and mild in December and January. This way we should have a comfortable 3 to 4 week sail to Antigua.
Well, that's all for now!
October 31, 2009
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!
Tomorrow we set sail for Las Palomas, Canary Islands. Should take us 3 to 6 days depending on the winds. So far, the weather report looks good all week with 10 to 20 knot winds coming from the stern. If these winds hold, we should make good time. Will be checking out our new genoa this trip. Haven't taken the time to post any more pictures. Too many other things to do.
All-in-all, our stay in Ayamonte has been pleasant and relaxing. As for the robbery, all of the documents and pictures have been entered into public record and the investigation as to what compensation, if any, we will receive has been started. As with any insurance company, they will take their time and try to get out of paying anything. As of now, we do not expect anything from them.
Weather here is warm during the day and slightly cooler at night. Quite comfortable!
TTFN
October 10, 2009
It's been a while since I last wrote in the diary, so I will try to catch everyone up.
On July 30th, we left the boat at the marina in Ayamonte, Spain (because of its security). We then flew to Rome to meet my son, Brian, and daughter-in-law, Rodica, Rodica's sister and her boyfriend. We spent 4 days going all over seeing the sights. Rodica kept us going from early morning till late at night. I think we saw more in 4 days than most people see in 2 weeks. I even climbed the 381 steps to the top of St. Peter's Basilica. Not bad for a 62 year old! Then, Brian, Rodica, Rodica's sister, Willie and I flew to Chisinau, Moldova to visit Rodica's relatives. We spent 2 weeks visiting everyone. Stayed at Rodica's grandparenst farm for about a week. It was really great, quiet and relaxing.
When we arrived back on the 18th of August, we found that the boat was broken into and all of our old computers and computer equipment was stolen along with the ship's documents and some personal items. I made out a claim with the marina and filed a police report. Still waiting to see if the marina's insurance will cover the loses. Fortunately, the computers and equipment that was taken were old and not working well and due to be replaced. Just don't know why they would take the ship's papers!
Ordered and received a new Genoa sail from the Hong Kong Sailmakers. They did an excellent job making the new sail. It fit perfectly and looks really nice. It is a heavy sail made with 9.3 oz material. A Spanish sailor we met in Califorte, Sardinia, said we should have a heavy cruising sail instead of a lightweight racing sail. It will last longer. So that is what I ordered. Only problem I am having now is with FedEx who handled the shipping. They were suppose to bring the sail in under Yacht-in-Transit packaging, but, instead, imported it which meant that I had to pay VAT taxes. I talked with a very pleasant and helpful Spanish customs agent in Huelva and he said that FedEx errored and they are the ones who must straighten it out and refund my money. Of course, I'm having trouble getting the FedEx customs broker to answer my emails. Seems that they are in a hurry to get their money, but not in a hurry to correct their mistakes and make a refund. I had another package sent from the US by UPS and had no trouble getting it here. Guess UPS is the way to go!!!
From August 25 to October 1, we were up the Guadiana River at Sanlucar, Spain with Alcoutim, Portugal across the river. Made some great friends up there. All British execpt for one sailor's lady who was German. Had some wonderful typically English food there. Rob, from the Moody Goose, is an excellent cook and Sheila, who with her husband Robert, has a nice home in Sanlucar, made some wonderful English desserts. We really hated to leave them. Hope we all meet again in the future.
Also, while up the river Alcoutim had a music festival. They had some good bands and they had some bad bands. The music went almost 24 hours a day over a 3 day weekend. A little difficult sleeping!!!
Still working on getting some pictures ready to make slide shows out of. Just a little lazy. Will try to do some before we head for the Canaries. TTFN
July 12, 2009
Today, I have added some photos of where we are anchored up the Guadiana River. It is definitely a strange sensation living along the line of two different time zones since the river is the division line. We have to remember which time we are working with. Is it one hour ahead or one hour behind? TTFN
July 8, 2009
Left the Ayamonte Marina yesterday morning and caught the low tide to go under the bridge so we could head north up the Guadiana River. Cleared the bridge with plenty of room to spare. Motored up the river about 20 miles to an area that has Alcoutim, Portual, on one side and Sanlucar, Spain on the other side. Both are nice small towns with stores for us to get supplies. We are now at anchor in the river and will try to stay here until we are due back at the Ayamonte Marina on the 28th. It is interesting that the time on the Spain side is 1 hour ahead of the time on the Portugal side. Have to remember this when going from side to side. TTFN
July 4, 2009
Happy Fourth of July!!
Yesterday we finally arrived at the Rio Guadiana for the summer and fall. Docked on the Portugal side at the marina Vila Real de Santo Antonio. Could only stay one night because the marina was not able to handle a catamaran our size. Seems that the marinas are only built for small boats.
This morning, we left the marina and went across the river to Ayamonte to the marina where yesterday I contacted them and reserved a dock space. They only had one left so I got it. The prices are high now because it is the tourist season (called high season in Europe). Everything is double what it is in the off season (low season). Because of this, we are staying here for only 3 days to take care of a few things and then head up river and do some anchoring. I finally bought a Garmin GPS with and anchor drag alarm. Now we won't have to take turns all night checking the computer to see if the anchor is dragging. The gps will sound an alarm and wake us up. This will really make anchoring easier. Also, people we met who have been up the river say it is a "must see" trip.
On July 28, we will be returning to this marina. I have made confirmed reservations. The boat will be left here while Bill and I go to Rome to meet Brian and Rodica and spend some time there sightseeing with them and Rodica's sister and friend. Then on the 4th of August, Brian, Rodica, Bill and I will be flying to Chisnau, Moldova until the 18th. Then we will return to the boat and head back up stream. Will probably stay there until the end of October, then make a stop in Ayamonte to replenish water and food, then on to the Canary Islands.
We are both very happy to finally be here. It has been a long and tiring struggle getting out of the Med. I hope I don't see the Med again for many years. Will be very happy when we are in the Caribbean.
I hope to be able to process more pictures of the trip while we are anchored. So keep looking for them. TTFN
July 1, 2009
Made it to Mazagon okay. Good weather, light winds, light seas. Will stay here for 2 nights and then head for the Guadiana River. TTFN
June 30, 2009
Here it is the end of another month. Guess I'd better catch things up. We arrived in Barbate okay. Spent a couple of days there and then headed for Rota. Arrived in Rota and was only allowed to stay overnight. Seems that the marinas don't have very much space for transient vessels as big as ours. So, we headed up the coast to Chipiona. We have been allowed to stay here for 2 nights and then have to leave. Now, we will be heading for a marina at Mazagon for tomorrow night. I think they will let us stay only for the night. Right now, we are only 60 nautical miles from the Guadiana River and our summer stop over. I hope we will be able to stay on the Portugal side of the river at Vila Real de Santo Antonio. Everyone says that it is really nice and inexpensive. I hope they have room for us. Will know in a couple of days. Our trip north has been a long and hard one with the wind and waves on our bow. Makes for slow going. Hope things start to die down. Well, guess that's it for now. TTFN
June 26, 2009
Well, we finally cleared the straits of Gibraltar. It was a real hassle. Tried once, but the waves and wind were too much so turned back to Tarifa to wait for better weather. Anchored in the harbor for a day, then the weather got better and today we made another run for it. This time we made it through okay. Still a little rough with huge waves coming from all directions and banging into each other. Really bounced us around. Once we cleared them, it wasn't too bad sailing the rest of the way to Barbate, Spain, up the west coast. Arrived late this afternoon and found dock space available. Will get a good night's sleep tonight. Plan on staying here till Sunday morning, then it's off to Rota, Spain, and then to Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Portugal for the summer. TTFN
June 20, 2009
Went to a Food Fiesta here in Gibraltar last night. It started at 2100 and went to 0100 today. There were 13 food tents serving ethnic foods from many of the different people making up the citizens of Gibraltar. Tried to get to the Moroccan tent to try there food, but there were huge crowds around it all night. Did try German, Nepalese, Indian, and British food. All were great and the price was 2.50 BPS (British Pounds Sterling) or less. Very reasonable.
Also, came across a graduation ceremony for new police officers. We got to hear the police band which was most pleasant. The people were very appreciative of the new police officers.
Later, there was a laser light and fireworks show. It was FANTASTIC. The fire works were simple, but the way they were used was great. Really enjoyed the night. Glad we were here for the Food Fiesta.
Tonight we ate at a Mexican food restaurant called "The Mexican Grill and Bar" at Ocean Village (Marina Bay). It is right down at the end of our dock. We had their famous fajitas, which, by the way, were excellent. Also tried their nachos, which came highly recommended. Also, excellent. If anyone comes to Gibraltar, I would advise giving this restaurant a try. I don't think you'll be disappointed. Also the manager/host is excellent, very friendly and spends time visiting with each customer. Didn't have room for dessert, but understand they have an excellent one. Something about wrapping a banana in a tortilla, adding cinnamon, deep frying it and serving it with ice cream. Must check it out before leaving Gibraltar.
Well, that's all for now. TTFN
June 18, 2009
Have finally arrived in Gibraltar after trying to get here for over a year. Have a good dock space at Marina Bay till Wednesday morning when we have to leave. The spot is reserved after that. We will then head for the Guadiana River that runs between Spain and Portugal. Was planning on staying in Ayamonte, Spain, but have been told that the marina on the Portugal side is much cheaper. Will have to check on this further.
Tomorrow night there is a food fiesta here in Gibraltar. Foods from all over Europe. We will need to check this out!!! :-)
TTFN
June 17, 2009
Arrived in La Duquesa this evening. Was to stay in Estepona, but no room so moved a little further south. Will stay here the night and then head for Marina Bay, Gibraltar in the morning. Just 20.6 nautical miles to go. Have been trying to get there for a year. TTFN
June 12, 2009
Arrived in Almerimar at 12:00 today. Trip went well. No problems. Marina is fairly empty right now. People here say that at this time of the year it is usually full with a waiting line. The hard economic times seems to be really hitting the tourist businesses. If you come to Almerimar, you must go to Leo's for fish and chips on Friday. It is the best I have ever had. And the "mushy peas" are out of this world. Everything was really great. And so much of it! We will be here until Sunday and then head for Marina Del Este in Almunecar. Should be just a day trip if the weather cooperates. Until then, TTFN
June 10, 2009
Arrived in Cartagena, Spain yesterday. It was a good, safe trip from Torrevieja. Took about eleven hours with a slight headwind and seas on the bow. Will stay here today and do some sightseeing and picture taking and then on to Almerimar tomorrow morning. If we have the wind and waves with us, it should take us about thirty hours to get there. We continue to get closer to our summer destination, Ayamonte, Spain.
June 2, 2009
Arrived in Torrevieja, Spain this afternoon. Staying at the Marina Salinas. They made me an offer for a week stay that I just could not refuse, so will be here for a week. This is good, since the weather report for heading south looks bad for the next couple of days. Weather here is hot, but the people are very friendly and speak English very well. The marina is only 1.5 years old and in beautiful condition. Seems to be one spot where not too many English, French, and Germans have discovered. Will check out the town and probably get to know it pretty good. And of course, will take more pictures.
TTFN
June 1, 2009
Arrived in Alicante, Spain this evening after a 12 hour smooth trip. Will stay the night, gas up, then on to Torrevieja. Hope we can spend a couple of nights there before going on to Cartegena. Tis expensive here, but everyone says the prices will go down as we head south. Sure hope so!!! TTFN
May 31, 2009
Enjoying our stay in Moraira. Raining today even though all of the weather forecasts only predict clouds. (go figure!! :-) ) Anyway, hope it stops so I can take some more pictures of the town before leaving tomorrow. We will be heading for Alicante, Spain, south of us along the coast. Should be just a day sailing trip. TTFN
May 29, 2009
Have arrived in Moraira, Spain this morning. That completes the big crossing of the Med. Now we will just sail down the Spanish coast to the Atlantic. Tried to stop in Palm, Mallorca, and Ibiza, but no room at the marinas. The marina Nautico here is nice and reasonably priced. We will stay here through Sunday, then leave for Valencia on Monday. We will be making day trips now and pulling into a marina for the night. Sure does feel good to finally be here. Well, TTFN
May 22, 2009
Update. We will be staying in Mahon until Tuesday. Weather looks bad for sailing to Mallorca until then. Will enjoy the flower Festival this weekend. TTFN
May 20, 2009
Arrived in Mahon, Menorca at 1:00 pm today. All went well. Took a day longer because we hit a doldrum on Monday, no wind, no following waves, very slow going. Fortunately, the wind and following waves picked up on Tuesday and we made good time. It's off to Mallorca on Friday. TTFN
May 16, 2009
With the port engine repaired, we plan on heading for Mahon, Menorca tomorrow. It should be about a 40 hour trip, so plan on arriving sometime on Tuesday. Weather forecast is for mild winds and seas. Getting tired of the 40 knot winds in this area. Sailors in the Med tell me that the Med is not a good place to sail. If there is any wind, it will always be on the nose. I'm beginning to believe that, and it will also be too strong to sail in. Hope the trip tomorrow is pleasant. Going to try to make the Spanish coast by the end of the week. Met a nice family from Spain here who gave us lots of good information. Well, TTFN.
May 10, 2009
High winds, high seas and some damage to the genoa caused us to head for Carloforte, Italy. The genoa furler jammed and the genoa was severely damaged before I could unjam it. Also, have problem with port engine that will not start. Looks like the battery, but will check it out tomorrow. We are both safe and tired. Now plan on leaving after repairs are made and going to Mahon, Menorca, then to Palma, Mallorca, then to Ibiza, and then over to the Spanish coast. TTFN
May 9, 2009
Heading west again!!!
We plan on leaving early tomorrow morning and setting sail to the west. The weather has changed with winds from the east and Southeast. Just what we have been waiting for. We hope to reach Spain, will head for Ibiza if weather turns sour, or to Gibraltar if weather remains good. Trip should take four to seven days, of course, depending on weather. Will write when we arrive at a destination. TTFN
May 6, 2009
Good News and Bad News!
The bad news: We tried to sail to Gibraltar, but ran into very strong head winds. According to the weather report those winds should not have been there. But, someone forgot to tell the wind!!!!
The good news: We turned around and made it back to Cagliari safely. We will wait here for another good weather report and try again. However, this time instead of going all the way at once, we will make some shorter stops; Caloforte, Ibiza, along the Spanish coast to Gibraltar.
Also, checking on getting a diver to go down and clean our props and the bottom of the hulls.
That's it. TTFN
April 29, 2009
Hooray!!!
If the weather reports are right, we will be leaving for Gibraltar this Friday, May 1. The winds are finally suppose to change in our favor so we can sail west. We will be leaving around noontime. Should be in Gibraltar in 7 days, more or less depending on the wind. Will try to update the blog then. If we can't find any room at the marina, we may decide to continue on to the Canary Islands. Stay tuned for further information.
Have enjoyed the past 6 months in Cagliari, but it is time for us to move on. I will write more about our stay here later. Well, TTFN.
P.S. Still working on the slideshow of the Sartiglia.
March 28, 2009
Finally uploaded the program for the Sartiglia Festival in Oristano, Sardegna. I scanned the program in, leaving out the pages that just had ads, into a PDF file and uploaded it to Scribd. Seems that slideshows and documents need to be uploaded to other sites and then their HTML code added to the blog's HTML code. That even takes a while to figure out how to do. Anyway, I hope everything loads fast for you viewers and that you enjoy it all. Still gathering pictures of Sartiglia to add to the slideshow. I have more than 10 minutes so far and can only upload 5 minutes, so will probably have to break it into parts. Stay tuned for the continuing saga!
Had a birthday party for Bill last night at the marina gazebo. Everyone at the marina came. Had lots of goodies. Everyone likes to party and that makes it fun. All said they had a good time and so did Bill. Have another surprise birthday party to go to tomorrow night. Ah, the sailing life, one party after another!!!! TTFN
March 23, 2009
Added a new slideshow "Christmas and New Year's Eve 2008." It still needs some work, but thought that I would upload it for now while I see if there are more pictures to add. Also updated the "Italy, Sicily, Sardegna" slideshow. Corrected the name of the Santubrio e Basilica di Bonario and added a picture of Via Roma in Cagliari. Be sure to turn your volume up to hear the music on all of the slideshows. Still working on gathering pictures from the trip to the Sartiglia Festival. Keep your eyes open for that one. I hope you enjoy the slideshows. TTFN
March 22, 2009
Added slideshows, "Italy, Sicily, Sardegna" and "Mediterranean Dolphins." I hope you enjoy them. TTFN
March 19, 2009
Have done some work on the blog. I removed most of the pictures and added a slideshow of our stay in Croatia. I will be putting together more slideshows now that I know how to do it. I hope things will load faster and be more enjoyable than just looking at pictures. Please bear with my while I put them all together. I have lots to show you. TTFN By the way, just click on PLAY to run the video.
March 15, 2009
I didn't realize that it has been so long since I last wrote in the diary.
Well, we are still in Cagliari, Sardegna. Weather has still been bad. Several wind storms have hit us at the marina. Gust in excess of 45 mph and steady winds of 35 mph. It was like riding a bucking bronco! Anyway, we survived the storms.
Lost both computers to a bad virus. Had to format the hard drive on the notebook and reinstall everything. Now it is working fine. The small netbook computer can not be rebuilt until we get back to Florida where I have the external disk drive stored. I did replace it with and Acer Aspire One. It is even smaller but works great. Of course, it comes with everything in Italian including the keyboard. I reformated the hard drive and installed my English software on it. As for the keyboard, I made some sticky tabs with the correct lettering and special characters and put them on the keys. Seems to work fine. The computers are important because they carry the electronic charts that we sail by, so was glad to see them working again.
We have decided to head straight for Marina Bay in Gibralter rather than stopping in Spain. Everyone says that we should have the wind and weather with us by the beginning of April. So, we are getting ready for a departure around the first of April. The trip will be 725 nautical miles and will take 7 days more or less depending on the wind and seas. After a stay in Gibralter to see about getting a Single-Side-Band radio installed, we will head for the Canary Islands (about a 5 day trip), replenish our stores and head for Saint Lucia in the Caribbean; a trip of about 30 days.
I am working on changing the blog format a little. I am trying to replace the individual photos with filmstrips. You will get more pictures to look at that way and, hopefully, it won't take so long to download the blog to view.
A few weeks ago, we took a train ride with other boaters from here to the Sartiglia Festival in Oristano up the west coast about half way. It was really nice. Will be making a film strip of the festival and the trip. I have made a copy of some of the pages of the program and will try to put it on the blog. It is in Adobe pdf format.
Also, went to a festival here in Cagliari that runs for a week just before Lent begins. It was kind of like the Mardi Gras, parades, bands, fireworks. On the last night they burn a big straw man. Archers dressed like Crusaders come out and fire flaming arrows at it. Will also put a filmstrip of it together.
Bill and I fueled the boat up this past week. Since the gas at the local filling station nearby was only charging 1.04 euros (about $1.40 USD) per liter and the boat dock gas station was charging 1.64 euros (about $2.14) per liter, we opted to take our gas cans to the filling station.
Things are looking pretty good for us to continue our journey home to the US the end of the month. We are both anxious to get back to the Caribbean. We will be cutting it close to hurricane season, but I think we should make it okay.
TTFN
January 26, 2009
Still windy and wet here. Wind is not as bad as over the weekend.
Added pictures taken on the 25th as well as more Christmas and New Years Eve pictures.
January 25, 2009
Well everyone, we survived hurricane force winds from a storm that came down on us from Spain and France. Fortunately, the marina personnel expected it to hit us, so they were out in force, six of them, putting extra ropes on the docks, they are floating docks, and extra ropes on the boats. They added an extra one to our port bow. Because of their foresight, all the boats in the marina were riding well and none were damaged. This marina is top-notch. It's called "Marina del sol." It's nothing real fancy, but the prices are reasonable, the people friendly, and they take excellent care of their customers. It is just like one big happy family here. Very pleasant.
Even though Bill and I would like to head to Spain as soon as possible, it looks like we may be unexpectedly wintering over here. We have been here 3 months already and looks like we will be here through February. Hopefully by then the weather will be better.
I have posted some pictures I took during the storm on Saturday. The main part hit us on Sunday. The weather station on board registered one reading at 50 mph. I think there were some higher than that that we didn't see on the indicator. I have some pictures taken today, but haven't downloaded them yet. Will post those when ready.
Now, as I look out the cabin window, the water is perfectly calm. The sky is cloudy, rain is forecast for the next couple of days.
January 21, 2009
We are still in Cagliari waiting for some good weather.
Added some Christmas pictures. More to follow along with some New Year's Eve pictures.
Those are hats we are wearing. The men had fez-type hats, and the women had oriental type hats.
Sailors really know how to party!!!!!!!!!!
January 11, 2009
And a belated "Happy New Year" to everyone. Have been a little on the lazy side in keeping up with the blog. Up until Wednesday past, we were going to an internet cafe to access the internet. Was rather expensive, so we did not stay on long.
We now have internet dongles on the computers, so we can access the internet from the boat while in Italy. It is much nicer now in that we can be on whenever we want and as long as we want. It costs about $45 a month for 400 hours.
We had a great Christmas and New Years here at the marina. we joined all of the other boaters for Christmas Caroles and Christmas cheer on Christmas Eve, a nice Christmas dinner, a leftover Christmas dinner the next day, and a live band and dancing the following Saturday. On New Years Eve, we all got together along with the owners of the marina and their friends and enjoyed an evening of food, dancing, and music. At midnight, we celebrated New Years with champagne and kissing. ( I love the kissing on both cheeks!!!) At one o'clock, since most of the people at the marina are from England, we celebrated New Years Eve English style. More champagne, dancing, and a traditional New Years Eve snack. I can't remember the name of it, but it was interesting. Finally headed back to the boat around 2 o'clock New Years Day. This Christmas and New Years was are first since we have been sailing. It was, indeed, a most wonderful and enjoyable time. I have read about sailing families getting together to celebrate holidays, but this exceeded my wildest expectations. It seems that we are just one big family. We look forward to many more holidays with many more new friends that we make along the way.
When will we be heading west to cross the Atlantic? I do not know for sure. We hope to leave Cagliari and head for Spain when the weather is with us. So far, the weather has been terrible. The residents here say they have never seen it so bad at this time of year. So right now, it is anyone's guess as to when we will be able to leave. We are hoping to go by the end of February. I hope the weather will be in our favor. We want to get to the Caribbean as soon as possible.
As I get pictures from the other sailors of the holiday celebrations, I will post them.
PS. As a side note, one of the reasons we have been here so long is that during a severe storm, one of the marina lines holding the port bow broke and the boat was rammed into the dock putting 5 holes ing the starboard hull and tearing up some of the fiberglass. Since it was the fault of the marina, they were nice enough to repair the damage and it looks pretty good. The guy who did the work is said to be the best in the area. The only problem was that every time he tried to do some work, the weather went sour and was windy and rainy. So, the repair work took a while. I will post some pictures of the damage.
November 17, 2008
Added pictures of Cagliari, Sardegna taken at the Torre dell'Elefante Castle. The castle was built in the early 1300's.
To the right of center and over the building of picture "Cagliari, Sardegna 7" you will be able to see our boat at the dock in Marina del Sol.
November 15, 2008
Have added pictures that were taken as far as Trapini, Sicily. Will take some of Cagliari and post them soon.
November 13, 2008
Arrived in Cagliari, Sardegna about a week and a half ago. Ran into a storm on the way here and wound up closing up the boat and staying inside and letting the storm blow over. It lasted five days. Ended up with mainsail and genoa damaged so had them repaired here. Much less expensive than in Trapeo.
Weather here has been cool, rainy, and windy. Looking to sail to Menorca, but the weather there and on the way is worse than here, winds at 30 to 42 knots from the north. Not good sailing weather to get there in. We will stay here until the weather is good. Do not like getting caught in storms and having to get sails repaired. The storm did show us how fit the boat is. At times we thought she was going to split apart, but she held together nicely and brought us safely to port. Can't ask for more.
While here in Cagliari, we are doing some installation and minor repair work. Have installed hot water on demand units for the shower and one of the compost toilets in the Captain's head. Also installed AC converter, and one of the inverters. The other inverter isn't working so will get that checked out later. This is a nice town and the people are friendly although not many speak English. Have had trouble finding English speaking Italians where ever we have been. I expect that with the weather outlook, we may be here another 2 weeks. I know I need to add some pictures so will try to do so while here in Cagliari.
October 22, 2008
Arrived in Trapani, Sicily this morning after a 2 day sail from Tropea. The sailmaker who looked at our main sail said the material was good. He just made some repairs to it for us. Will be heading for Cagliri, Sardinia, in two days. On the way over saw two pods of porpoises. Suppose to be good luck in sailor lore. Working our way to Gibralter where I hope to get some equipment installed. All goes well, but so far the winds have not cooperated. Hope this will change on our run to Sardinia. Pictures will be added as I get time.
October 13, 2008
Arrived in Tropea, Italy after a fun(?) time coming through the Messina Straits. Seven to eight knots of headwind and rolling seas. Very slow going. Tropea is located on the west coast of Italy, so we finally made it from coast to coast. Have travelled about 650 miles so far. A long way to go. Will stay here for 2 to 3 days to rest and replenish our food and water supplies. Also looking to replace the main sail. The one we have is kind of old and, I've been told by an Italian sailor that there are bargains to be had on sails at this time since it is the off season. So will be on the lookout. From here, we plan on a long 3-4 day continuous run to Amalfi, Italy, which is located by Salerno. Of course, Bill and I have discussed heading for Gibralter straight out once we find a new main sail. I guess we are both getting anxious to cross the Atlantic. TTFN from the hapless crew of the Melemele Manu.
October 3, 2008
Arrived in Brindisi, Italy two days ago. Weather has been uncooperative. Either no wind at all or a little head wind. Would like to sail more but end up motoring mostly. We manage about 4 knots against the coming seas and headwind. We plan on leaving Brindisi for Otranto, Italy on Monday. We have been riding out some thunderstorms over here. Almost daily. Have pictures to download, but not enough internet time at the cafe to do so. Will do so later.
September 25, 2008
Arrived in Vis, Croatia. All went well on the trip. Will stay here until Saturday, then head for Monttinado, Italy. The trip to Italy should take about 18 hours. Haven't had any winds over 2 knots yet, so have been motor-sailing. Will take some pictures of Vis and post them shortly. It is a very nice anchorage. Bill and I are both glad to finally be heading home. It's been a long wait over here for the shipment. Once in Italy, we currently plan on sailing down the east coast, around the boot, and up the west coast and around to Monaco, France, Spain, and Gibralter. The Melemele Manu is homeward bound!
September 23, 2008
Sorry everyone about the span of time since I last wrote. Up until now nothing new has been happening. Bill and I have just been getting bored waiting for the shipment from the states.
Finally received the shipment today after telling NY International Shipping the I would be sue them when I get back to the states and how much depended on how long it takes me to get the shipment. Shipment left Vienna where it sat for 2 weeks and was in Zagreb within 2 days. The import agency here was great. The two guys who delivered the shipment to customs in Sibenik, Boris and Dario, were great at helping me get everything through customs. The customs agent was also very helpful and polite. A very nice guy. I would advise any one reading this blog to never deal with NY International Shipping. That company is bad. Anyways, Bill and I are docked for the night in Sibenik and plan on leaving for Vis tomorrow morning and then on to Italy. We are finally starting our voyage home. Will try to keep coastal cruising so we can have a different view of the coast every day. Well, TTFN. Will write more later.
August 21, 2008
Last night, Bill and I went into Murter for a concert. It was 9 male singers from Pako(sh)tane, a small town to the north on the mainland. They sang local songs. Again, we couldn't understand the words, but the music and talent of the singers was very good. I've added a picture of the group.
Our shipment from the states was due in on the 18th, but so far no word on it. The importer informed me that it is not unusual for a boat to be late, so will just have to keep waiting.
Otherwise, all goes well. Still fixing up a few minor problems. Getting anxious to get going on our trip back towards the states.
August 18, 2008
Last Friday, Bill and I decided to take the day off from working on the boat and go on a boat tour to the Kornati National Park. The park consists of 89 small islands with one long island that expands the length of the park. The islands are rocky with small scrubby trees on some of them and small bushes on others. At one time they were covered with trees, but were cut down for some reason I can't remember. Anyway, all of the top soil was washed or blown away leaving just the rocky outcrops. I've added some pictures of the trip.
Also, I've added some pictures of Murter where we have been anchored waiting for our shipment from the states. Hopefully it is due to arrive in Croatia today.
Repairs are going well. We had trouble finding out what has been draining our batteries so fast. Finally narrowed it down to the refrigerator. The specs say it only draws 1 amp, but we found that the control board draws another 12 amps. This is just too much strain on the batteries. Have disconnected the frig and bought an ice chest for now until we can find a small cooler that draws very little amps. We also bought two new house batteries of 225 amps each to replace one that has gone bad. This should give us plenty of power if we don't run the frig.
Otherwise, all is going well. We are both getting anxious to start our trip back to the states. Hope we can do so soon.
August 6, 2008
Tonight, we are being serenaded by a local folk band and chorus. Not like the music played last night, but the soft, serenade-like music from the heart. The night in the little village and harbor, however, is like last night as we sit and listen to the melodious sounds drifting across the calm waters of the bay to the many boats from different nations anchored here. To say the music is beautiful would be an understatement. I wish everyone could be here to listen to it. The perfect ending to a day!
August 5, 2008
Just had to share last night with everyone. It was a "Dreamer's Dream" and what sailing the world is all about. I don't think anything I write will do justice to last night, but I shall give it a try.
Picture if you will:
The sun has set. We are sitting on a large catamaran anchored in dark, calm waters offshore about 100 yards from the central plaza in the small village of Murter, Croatia. It is holiday time (vacation time) in Europe and the small village is packed with vacationers. We are surrounded by about 15 sailboats and motoryachts flying many different flags; Spain, Australia, Austria, Germany, Croatia, and of course the Stars and Stripes on our yacht. The sky is clear and starry with an occasional shooting star whizzing by. Up on a hill behind the village is a small church lit up by pinkish/orange lights. It all looks like a picture postcard.
The water front is lit up with a multitude of lights from the narrow streets, street vendors, and the many restaurants. The street vendors are selling souvenirs, clothes, diving equipment, fruits and vegetables, and my favorite, Croatian ice cream (like a soft-serve ice cream, but in many different flavors). There is a bandstand set up on the edge of the plaza near the water where the band is performing and people are all gathered around it. The smoke and smells from the restaurants slowly drifts into the sky as they grill meats and make pizzas in wood fired ovens.
The band is terrific. The music drifts across the water to the boats in the harbor. They play fast waltzes and polkas and the music reminds us of the Mexican music we used to hear back in New Mexico. It is amazing how much the two sound alike. One doesn't have to know the language to enjoy the music, and we are taking it all in.
We sit on the bow and listen to the music and enjoy the surroundings from 9:30 to 12:30 remarking, "this is what sailing the world is all about. This is the dream."
The very fortunate crew
of the Melemele manu
August 2, 2008
Great news!
We finally left the dock at the Marina-Betina. All went smooth leaving the dock. Surprised a lot of people there. They didn't think the boat would go or that I could handle the twin engines. Boy! Were they mistaken on both counts. Sailed to a new anchorage a short distance west of Betina near the town of Tisno. Reached a sailing speed of 5.5 knots with light wind. Set the anchor first try and stayed there 2 nights.
We then weighed anchor and set sail for the other side of the island to another cove, but had trouble setting the anchor. It would grab and then pull loose. Probably wrong type of anchor for the bottom conditions. Did not want to take the time to change anchors, so headed for the harbor at the town of Murter. Set the anchor with no problems right near the docks. Just a short dinghy ride. We will probably stay here until the shipment comes from the states, making short day trips out to check the systems. We'll head back to Marina-Betina to pick up the shipment when it arrives. Suppose to be here on Aug. 18th. Then it has to go through customs.
Ran the dinghy for the first time. New 6hp Mercury outboard ran great. Operator (me) had a little trouble getting used to the handle control! :-) Bill and I decided to go into Murter for a nice steak dinner. Have a good restaurant that we like to go to. Oh, and we are both hooked on the local ice cream. It's like the Dairy Queen's soft serve, but with all different kinds of flavors. Only about $1 USD per scoop. Great!!!!
Sailing gear is working well. The winds have been really light since we left Betina but we still made over 5 knots. Sure hope they will blow stronger when we head to Venice. We will probably have to leave the confines of the islands and get out into the open Adriatic.
Added some more pictures. One is of our English friends, Ben, Margaret, and Liz. Another is of Walter, a friend from Switzerland. Also added some pictures of the cove that was our first anchorage, Kokoc Lovista.
Bill and I took a side trip to Bosnia to get our passports stamped and then reenter Croatia. We are only allowed 90 days here before we had to leave. So we decided that, since Bosnia is only about a one and a half hour drive, we would go there. The customs and immigration officers were very friendly. They said we needed to spend a little time in Bosnia before going back through. They told us about a restaurant a little ways down the road, so we stopped there and had a coke. I've added a picture of each of us outside the restaurant.
Still doing some minor repairs as we go. Big problem right now is the refrigerator. I'm trying to get a 12vdc to 230vac inverter to operate it. At 230vac it only draws 1 amp and at 12vdc it draws a whopping 15 amps! Really do need that inverter! The local hardware store is going to see if they can get one in for me. Sure hope so. Did buy a 230vac gas generator for back up. Not too good on gas, so will try to use it sparingly.
Well, guess it's time to close this entry. Thanks to everyone who takes the time to check this blog out.
The Hapless Crew
of the Melemele Manu!
July 6, 2008
Here we are in our 3rd month in Croatia. We have the boat just about ready to set sail. Right now, we are just waiting for out shipment of household goods and boat parts to arrive. Shipping agent says sometime this coming week. I'll believe it when I see it. Still have to get some papers notarized and sent to the import agent in Zagreb. Then who knows how long to get everything through customs??!!!!!
Finally received the U.S. Coast Guard registration for the boat. I've been working with them since Feb. 18th. It was tough because the previous owner never registered the boat, so had to go back to the last registered owner for a bill of sale to the previous owner. Then, since the documents were in German, I had to have them translated. And, of course, no one at the document center knew how to work with translated documents even though everything was done according to their procedures. Glad to have it all finally over with.
With the new registration, we were able to put the boat's new name on. The old name was "C7" but wanted to give the boat a Polynesian name. It translates to "Yellow Bird." I have posted some pictures showing the old name being put into the new name. The pictures were taken by a Swiss friend, Walter, here at the marina.
I've also included two pictures of our Austrian friends, Doris and Ziggy. If everyone we meet is as nice as these two people, we will have a great and wonderful sailing adventure.
Finally have the electrical wiring pretty much straightened out. Bill and I pulled out a lot of old wire. I rewired the inside helm instruments to a new power control panel. Everything works much better now. Will wire up all of the new items in the shipment when they arrive and as we are sailing around.
Installed a booster pump for the shower. The regular pump can only pump to a height of 8 feet and the shower head is another 5 feet higher, so needed a booster pump. It's working okay.
While Bill was getting ready to disconnect some old fuel tanks so we could get rid of them, he found that the tanks were 3/4's full of diesel. Bill said the fuel is still good, so looks like we have more fuel to use. All we need to do is pump them out and run the fuel through a filter. At the price of diesel over here this will really help.
One good thing about making friends at a marina is that there is always lots of free advice. We've been getting a lot of it which will help us in our travels of the Adriatic and the Med. From weather to port entry requirements. All information that changes daily that you can get only from other sailors. This information is invaluable and I make notes on all of it.
Well, guess it's time to close this entry. Thanks to everyone who takes the time to check this blog out.
The Hapless Crew
of the Melemele Manu!
Funds are running low, so Bill and I are doing only the items we need to do to get sailing.
Arrived in Rubicon Marina at the the south end of Lanzarote, Canary Islands. Will be here until the 24th then on to Las Palmas. Bought a hard dinghy in Arrecife for a good price. We got tired of trying to find all of the leaks in the rubber dinghy. The seams were separating, so decided to get a hard one.
Weather here is warm with light winds during the day and a little chilly at night.
The marina is really nice and designed for catamarans and large monohulls. There are some really nice boats here. Some are waiting to cross the Atlantic either with the ARC or after it in December. The boat next to us is planning on crossing to Antigua the middle of December just like us. Will probably meet along the way.
Well, TTFN
November 15, 2009
We are safely in Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands. On the way down from Ayamonte, Spain, we ran into the worst storm anyone here can remember. We closed up the boat and thought we could ride it out. After two days of being tossed around, we decided that we had drifted enough for the storm to put us within fuel range of Las Palmas. However, our port engine failed to turn over. Waves were getting bigger, so called for assistance. A Maritimo rescue boat came out to tow us in. At this point, we were 243 miles from Las Palmas. The rescue boat, however, was from Arrecife, so they towed us here. It cost us far more than I expected for the tow. I asked my son for a loan and he tried to wire the money from the BofA to the Spanish bank of the towing service. But, the BofA would not recognize the other banks IBAN Code. So, had to develop a new plan. Decided to use credit card and ran into a slight problem that, hopefully, is all worked out. Will know tomorrow.
The engine is repaired and we are ready to leave as soon as the towing bill is paid. The waves washed salt water into the exhaust pipe of the engine and mixed with the engine oil preventing the engine from turning over. A mechanic found this. He just drained the oil, put new oil and filter in, and engine started right up. We let it run for an hour and then changed the oil and filter again. Now, everything is okay. This was far less expensive than we expected. Nice after seeing the towing bill!
We hope to be going to Rubicon on the south end of Lanzarote about mid week. We have heard from other sailors that Las Palmas marina is filled with boats that are part of the ARC and with a world cruising race that is getting ready to start. The ARC is a race for boats crossing the Atlantic to the Caribbean. They will be leaving about Nov. 22 if the weather is good. We hope to sail to Las Palmas about Nov.23 or 24. Will spend Thanksgiving there on the 26th. (I think that is Thanksgiving?)
Expect to set sail across the Atlantic in Mid December. Sailors tell us that the Northly trades are more steady and mild in December and January. This way we should have a comfortable 3 to 4 week sail to Antigua.
Well, that's all for now!
October 31, 2009
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!
Tomorrow we set sail for Las Palomas, Canary Islands. Should take us 3 to 6 days depending on the winds. So far, the weather report looks good all week with 10 to 20 knot winds coming from the stern. If these winds hold, we should make good time. Will be checking out our new genoa this trip. Haven't taken the time to post any more pictures. Too many other things to do.
All-in-all, our stay in Ayamonte has been pleasant and relaxing. As for the robbery, all of the documents and pictures have been entered into public record and the investigation as to what compensation, if any, we will receive has been started. As with any insurance company, they will take their time and try to get out of paying anything. As of now, we do not expect anything from them.
Weather here is warm during the day and slightly cooler at night. Quite comfortable!
TTFN
October 10, 2009
It's been a while since I last wrote in the diary, so I will try to catch everyone up.
On July 30th, we left the boat at the marina in Ayamonte, Spain (because of its security). We then flew to Rome to meet my son, Brian, and daughter-in-law, Rodica, Rodica's sister and her boyfriend. We spent 4 days going all over seeing the sights. Rodica kept us going from early morning till late at night. I think we saw more in 4 days than most people see in 2 weeks. I even climbed the 381 steps to the top of St. Peter's Basilica. Not bad for a 62 year old! Then, Brian, Rodica, Rodica's sister, Willie and I flew to Chisinau, Moldova to visit Rodica's relatives. We spent 2 weeks visiting everyone. Stayed at Rodica's grandparenst farm for about a week. It was really great, quiet and relaxing.
When we arrived back on the 18th of August, we found that the boat was broken into and all of our old computers and computer equipment was stolen along with the ship's documents and some personal items. I made out a claim with the marina and filed a police report. Still waiting to see if the marina's insurance will cover the loses. Fortunately, the computers and equipment that was taken were old and not working well and due to be replaced. Just don't know why they would take the ship's papers!
Ordered and received a new Genoa sail from the Hong Kong Sailmakers. They did an excellent job making the new sail. It fit perfectly and looks really nice. It is a heavy sail made with 9.3 oz material. A Spanish sailor we met in Califorte, Sardinia, said we should have a heavy cruising sail instead of a lightweight racing sail. It will last longer. So that is what I ordered. Only problem I am having now is with FedEx who handled the shipping. They were suppose to bring the sail in under Yacht-in-Transit packaging, but, instead, imported it which meant that I had to pay VAT taxes. I talked with a very pleasant and helpful Spanish customs agent in Huelva and he said that FedEx errored and they are the ones who must straighten it out and refund my money. Of course, I'm having trouble getting the FedEx customs broker to answer my emails. Seems that they are in a hurry to get their money, but not in a hurry to correct their mistakes and make a refund. I had another package sent from the US by UPS and had no trouble getting it here. Guess UPS is the way to go!!!
From August 25 to October 1, we were up the Guadiana River at Sanlucar, Spain with Alcoutim, Portugal across the river. Made some great friends up there. All British execpt for one sailor's lady who was German. Had some wonderful typically English food there. Rob, from the Moody Goose, is an excellent cook and Sheila, who with her husband Robert, has a nice home in Sanlucar, made some wonderful English desserts. We really hated to leave them. Hope we all meet again in the future.
Also, while up the river Alcoutim had a music festival. They had some good bands and they had some bad bands. The music went almost 24 hours a day over a 3 day weekend. A little difficult sleeping!!!
Still working on getting some pictures ready to make slide shows out of. Just a little lazy. Will try to do some before we head for the Canaries. TTFN
July 12, 2009
Today, I have added some photos of where we are anchored up the Guadiana River. It is definitely a strange sensation living along the line of two different time zones since the river is the division line. We have to remember which time we are working with. Is it one hour ahead or one hour behind? TTFN
July 8, 2009
Left the Ayamonte Marina yesterday morning and caught the low tide to go under the bridge so we could head north up the Guadiana River. Cleared the bridge with plenty of room to spare. Motored up the river about 20 miles to an area that has Alcoutim, Portual, on one side and Sanlucar, Spain on the other side. Both are nice small towns with stores for us to get supplies. We are now at anchor in the river and will try to stay here until we are due back at the Ayamonte Marina on the 28th. It is interesting that the time on the Spain side is 1 hour ahead of the time on the Portugal side. Have to remember this when going from side to side. TTFN
July 4, 2009
Happy Fourth of July!!
Yesterday we finally arrived at the Rio Guadiana for the summer and fall. Docked on the Portugal side at the marina Vila Real de Santo Antonio. Could only stay one night because the marina was not able to handle a catamaran our size. Seems that the marinas are only built for small boats.
This morning, we left the marina and went across the river to Ayamonte to the marina where yesterday I contacted them and reserved a dock space. They only had one left so I got it. The prices are high now because it is the tourist season (called high season in Europe). Everything is double what it is in the off season (low season). Because of this, we are staying here for only 3 days to take care of a few things and then head up river and do some anchoring. I finally bought a Garmin GPS with and anchor drag alarm. Now we won't have to take turns all night checking the computer to see if the anchor is dragging. The gps will sound an alarm and wake us up. This will really make anchoring easier. Also, people we met who have been up the river say it is a "must see" trip.
On July 28, we will be returning to this marina. I have made confirmed reservations. The boat will be left here while Bill and I go to Rome to meet Brian and Rodica and spend some time there sightseeing with them and Rodica's sister and friend. Then on the 4th of August, Brian, Rodica, Bill and I will be flying to Chisnau, Moldova until the 18th. Then we will return to the boat and head back up stream. Will probably stay there until the end of October, then make a stop in Ayamonte to replenish water and food, then on to the Canary Islands.
We are both very happy to finally be here. It has been a long and tiring struggle getting out of the Med. I hope I don't see the Med again for many years. Will be very happy when we are in the Caribbean.
I hope to be able to process more pictures of the trip while we are anchored. So keep looking for them. TTFN
July 1, 2009
Made it to Mazagon okay. Good weather, light winds, light seas. Will stay here for 2 nights and then head for the Guadiana River. TTFN
June 30, 2009
Here it is the end of another month. Guess I'd better catch things up. We arrived in Barbate okay. Spent a couple of days there and then headed for Rota. Arrived in Rota and was only allowed to stay overnight. Seems that the marinas don't have very much space for transient vessels as big as ours. So, we headed up the coast to Chipiona. We have been allowed to stay here for 2 nights and then have to leave. Now, we will be heading for a marina at Mazagon for tomorrow night. I think they will let us stay only for the night. Right now, we are only 60 nautical miles from the Guadiana River and our summer stop over. I hope we will be able to stay on the Portugal side of the river at Vila Real de Santo Antonio. Everyone says that it is really nice and inexpensive. I hope they have room for us. Will know in a couple of days. Our trip north has been a long and hard one with the wind and waves on our bow. Makes for slow going. Hope things start to die down. Well, guess that's it for now. TTFN
June 26, 2009
Well, we finally cleared the straits of Gibraltar. It was a real hassle. Tried once, but the waves and wind were too much so turned back to Tarifa to wait for better weather. Anchored in the harbor for a day, then the weather got better and today we made another run for it. This time we made it through okay. Still a little rough with huge waves coming from all directions and banging into each other. Really bounced us around. Once we cleared them, it wasn't too bad sailing the rest of the way to Barbate, Spain, up the west coast. Arrived late this afternoon and found dock space available. Will get a good night's sleep tonight. Plan on staying here till Sunday morning, then it's off to Rota, Spain, and then to Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Portugal for the summer. TTFN
June 20, 2009
Went to a Food Fiesta here in Gibraltar last night. It started at 2100 and went to 0100 today. There were 13 food tents serving ethnic foods from many of the different people making up the citizens of Gibraltar. Tried to get to the Moroccan tent to try there food, but there were huge crowds around it all night. Did try German, Nepalese, Indian, and British food. All were great and the price was 2.50 BPS (British Pounds Sterling) or less. Very reasonable.
Also, came across a graduation ceremony for new police officers. We got to hear the police band which was most pleasant. The people were very appreciative of the new police officers.
Later, there was a laser light and fireworks show. It was FANTASTIC. The fire works were simple, but the way they were used was great. Really enjoyed the night. Glad we were here for the Food Fiesta.
Tonight we ate at a Mexican food restaurant called "The Mexican Grill and Bar" at Ocean Village (Marina Bay). It is right down at the end of our dock. We had their famous fajitas, which, by the way, were excellent. Also tried their nachos, which came highly recommended. Also, excellent. If anyone comes to Gibraltar, I would advise giving this restaurant a try. I don't think you'll be disappointed. Also the manager/host is excellent, very friendly and spends time visiting with each customer. Didn't have room for dessert, but understand they have an excellent one. Something about wrapping a banana in a tortilla, adding cinnamon, deep frying it and serving it with ice cream. Must check it out before leaving Gibraltar.
Well, that's all for now. TTFN
June 18, 2009
Have finally arrived in Gibraltar after trying to get here for over a year. Have a good dock space at Marina Bay till Wednesday morning when we have to leave. The spot is reserved after that. We will then head for the Guadiana River that runs between Spain and Portugal. Was planning on staying in Ayamonte, Spain, but have been told that the marina on the Portugal side is much cheaper. Will have to check on this further.
Tomorrow night there is a food fiesta here in Gibraltar. Foods from all over Europe. We will need to check this out!!! :-)
TTFN
June 17, 2009
Arrived in La Duquesa this evening. Was to stay in Estepona, but no room so moved a little further south. Will stay here the night and then head for Marina Bay, Gibraltar in the morning. Just 20.6 nautical miles to go. Have been trying to get there for a year. TTFN
June 12, 2009
Arrived in Almerimar at 12:00 today. Trip went well. No problems. Marina is fairly empty right now. People here say that at this time of the year it is usually full with a waiting line. The hard economic times seems to be really hitting the tourist businesses. If you come to Almerimar, you must go to Leo's for fish and chips on Friday. It is the best I have ever had. And the "mushy peas" are out of this world. Everything was really great. And so much of it! We will be here until Sunday and then head for Marina Del Este in Almunecar. Should be just a day trip if the weather cooperates. Until then, TTFN
June 10, 2009
Arrived in Cartagena, Spain yesterday. It was a good, safe trip from Torrevieja. Took about eleven hours with a slight headwind and seas on the bow. Will stay here today and do some sightseeing and picture taking and then on to Almerimar tomorrow morning. If we have the wind and waves with us, it should take us about thirty hours to get there. We continue to get closer to our summer destination, Ayamonte, Spain.
June 2, 2009
Arrived in Torrevieja, Spain this afternoon. Staying at the Marina Salinas. They made me an offer for a week stay that I just could not refuse, so will be here for a week. This is good, since the weather report for heading south looks bad for the next couple of days. Weather here is hot, but the people are very friendly and speak English very well. The marina is only 1.5 years old and in beautiful condition. Seems to be one spot where not too many English, French, and Germans have discovered. Will check out the town and probably get to know it pretty good. And of course, will take more pictures.
TTFN
June 1, 2009
Arrived in Alicante, Spain this evening after a 12 hour smooth trip. Will stay the night, gas up, then on to Torrevieja. Hope we can spend a couple of nights there before going on to Cartegena. Tis expensive here, but everyone says the prices will go down as we head south. Sure hope so!!! TTFN
May 31, 2009
Enjoying our stay in Moraira. Raining today even though all of the weather forecasts only predict clouds. (go figure!! :-) ) Anyway, hope it stops so I can take some more pictures of the town before leaving tomorrow. We will be heading for Alicante, Spain, south of us along the coast. Should be just a day sailing trip. TTFN
May 29, 2009
Have arrived in Moraira, Spain this morning. That completes the big crossing of the Med. Now we will just sail down the Spanish coast to the Atlantic. Tried to stop in Palm, Mallorca, and Ibiza, but no room at the marinas. The marina Nautico here is nice and reasonably priced. We will stay here through Sunday, then leave for Valencia on Monday. We will be making day trips now and pulling into a marina for the night. Sure does feel good to finally be here. Well, TTFN
May 22, 2009
Update. We will be staying in Mahon until Tuesday. Weather looks bad for sailing to Mallorca until then. Will enjoy the flower Festival this weekend. TTFN
May 20, 2009
Arrived in Mahon, Menorca at 1:00 pm today. All went well. Took a day longer because we hit a doldrum on Monday, no wind, no following waves, very slow going. Fortunately, the wind and following waves picked up on Tuesday and we made good time. It's off to Mallorca on Friday. TTFN
May 16, 2009
With the port engine repaired, we plan on heading for Mahon, Menorca tomorrow. It should be about a 40 hour trip, so plan on arriving sometime on Tuesday. Weather forecast is for mild winds and seas. Getting tired of the 40 knot winds in this area. Sailors in the Med tell me that the Med is not a good place to sail. If there is any wind, it will always be on the nose. I'm beginning to believe that, and it will also be too strong to sail in. Hope the trip tomorrow is pleasant. Going to try to make the Spanish coast by the end of the week. Met a nice family from Spain here who gave us lots of good information. Well, TTFN.
May 10, 2009
High winds, high seas and some damage to the genoa caused us to head for Carloforte, Italy. The genoa furler jammed and the genoa was severely damaged before I could unjam it. Also, have problem with port engine that will not start. Looks like the battery, but will check it out tomorrow. We are both safe and tired. Now plan on leaving after repairs are made and going to Mahon, Menorca, then to Palma, Mallorca, then to Ibiza, and then over to the Spanish coast. TTFN
May 9, 2009
Heading west again!!!
We plan on leaving early tomorrow morning and setting sail to the west. The weather has changed with winds from the east and Southeast. Just what we have been waiting for. We hope to reach Spain, will head for Ibiza if weather turns sour, or to Gibraltar if weather remains good. Trip should take four to seven days, of course, depending on weather. Will write when we arrive at a destination. TTFN
May 6, 2009
Good News and Bad News!
The bad news: We tried to sail to Gibraltar, but ran into very strong head winds. According to the weather report those winds should not have been there. But, someone forgot to tell the wind!!!!
The good news: We turned around and made it back to Cagliari safely. We will wait here for another good weather report and try again. However, this time instead of going all the way at once, we will make some shorter stops; Caloforte, Ibiza, along the Spanish coast to Gibraltar.
Also, checking on getting a diver to go down and clean our props and the bottom of the hulls.
That's it. TTFN
April 29, 2009
Hooray!!!
If the weather reports are right, we will be leaving for Gibraltar this Friday, May 1. The winds are finally suppose to change in our favor so we can sail west. We will be leaving around noontime. Should be in Gibraltar in 7 days, more or less depending on the wind. Will try to update the blog then. If we can't find any room at the marina, we may decide to continue on to the Canary Islands. Stay tuned for further information.
Have enjoyed the past 6 months in Cagliari, but it is time for us to move on. I will write more about our stay here later. Well, TTFN.
P.S. Still working on the slideshow of the Sartiglia.
March 28, 2009
Finally uploaded the program for the Sartiglia Festival in Oristano, Sardegna. I scanned the program in, leaving out the pages that just had ads, into a PDF file and uploaded it to Scribd. Seems that slideshows and documents need to be uploaded to other sites and then their HTML code added to the blog's HTML code. That even takes a while to figure out how to do. Anyway, I hope everything loads fast for you viewers and that you enjoy it all. Still gathering pictures of Sartiglia to add to the slideshow. I have more than 10 minutes so far and can only upload 5 minutes, so will probably have to break it into parts. Stay tuned for the continuing saga!
Had a birthday party for Bill last night at the marina gazebo. Everyone at the marina came. Had lots of goodies. Everyone likes to party and that makes it fun. All said they had a good time and so did Bill. Have another surprise birthday party to go to tomorrow night. Ah, the sailing life, one party after another!!!! TTFN
March 23, 2009
Added a new slideshow "Christmas and New Year's Eve 2008." It still needs some work, but thought that I would upload it for now while I see if there are more pictures to add. Also updated the "Italy, Sicily, Sardegna" slideshow. Corrected the name of the Santubrio e Basilica di Bonario and added a picture of Via Roma in Cagliari. Be sure to turn your volume up to hear the music on all of the slideshows. Still working on gathering pictures from the trip to the Sartiglia Festival. Keep your eyes open for that one. I hope you enjoy the slideshows. TTFN
March 22, 2009
Added slideshows, "Italy, Sicily, Sardegna" and "Mediterranean Dolphins." I hope you enjoy them. TTFN
March 19, 2009
Have done some work on the blog. I removed most of the pictures and added a slideshow of our stay in Croatia. I will be putting together more slideshows now that I know how to do it. I hope things will load faster and be more enjoyable than just looking at pictures. Please bear with my while I put them all together. I have lots to show you. TTFN By the way, just click on PLAY to run the video.
March 15, 2009
I didn't realize that it has been so long since I last wrote in the diary.
Well, we are still in Cagliari, Sardegna. Weather has still been bad. Several wind storms have hit us at the marina. Gust in excess of 45 mph and steady winds of 35 mph. It was like riding a bucking bronco! Anyway, we survived the storms.
Lost both computers to a bad virus. Had to format the hard drive on the notebook and reinstall everything. Now it is working fine. The small netbook computer can not be rebuilt until we get back to Florida where I have the external disk drive stored. I did replace it with and Acer Aspire One. It is even smaller but works great. Of course, it comes with everything in Italian including the keyboard. I reformated the hard drive and installed my English software on it. As for the keyboard, I made some sticky tabs with the correct lettering and special characters and put them on the keys. Seems to work fine. The computers are important because they carry the electronic charts that we sail by, so was glad to see them working again.
We have decided to head straight for Marina Bay in Gibralter rather than stopping in Spain. Everyone says that we should have the wind and weather with us by the beginning of April. So, we are getting ready for a departure around the first of April. The trip will be 725 nautical miles and will take 7 days more or less depending on the wind and seas. After a stay in Gibralter to see about getting a Single-Side-Band radio installed, we will head for the Canary Islands (about a 5 day trip), replenish our stores and head for Saint Lucia in the Caribbean; a trip of about 30 days.
I am working on changing the blog format a little. I am trying to replace the individual photos with filmstrips. You will get more pictures to look at that way and, hopefully, it won't take so long to download the blog to view.
A few weeks ago, we took a train ride with other boaters from here to the Sartiglia Festival in Oristano up the west coast about half way. It was really nice. Will be making a film strip of the festival and the trip. I have made a copy of some of the pages of the program and will try to put it on the blog. It is in Adobe pdf format.
Also, went to a festival here in Cagliari that runs for a week just before Lent begins. It was kind of like the Mardi Gras, parades, bands, fireworks. On the last night they burn a big straw man. Archers dressed like Crusaders come out and fire flaming arrows at it. Will also put a filmstrip of it together.
Bill and I fueled the boat up this past week. Since the gas at the local filling station nearby was only charging 1.04 euros (about $1.40 USD) per liter and the boat dock gas station was charging 1.64 euros (about $2.14) per liter, we opted to take our gas cans to the filling station.
Things are looking pretty good for us to continue our journey home to the US the end of the month. We are both anxious to get back to the Caribbean. We will be cutting it close to hurricane season, but I think we should make it okay.
TTFN
January 26, 2009
Still windy and wet here. Wind is not as bad as over the weekend.
Added pictures taken on the 25th as well as more Christmas and New Years Eve pictures.
January 25, 2009
Well everyone, we survived hurricane force winds from a storm that came down on us from Spain and France. Fortunately, the marina personnel expected it to hit us, so they were out in force, six of them, putting extra ropes on the docks, they are floating docks, and extra ropes on the boats. They added an extra one to our port bow. Because of their foresight, all the boats in the marina were riding well and none were damaged. This marina is top-notch. It's called "Marina del sol." It's nothing real fancy, but the prices are reasonable, the people friendly, and they take excellent care of their customers. It is just like one big happy family here. Very pleasant.
Even though Bill and I would like to head to Spain as soon as possible, it looks like we may be unexpectedly wintering over here. We have been here 3 months already and looks like we will be here through February. Hopefully by then the weather will be better.
I have posted some pictures I took during the storm on Saturday. The main part hit us on Sunday. The weather station on board registered one reading at 50 mph. I think there were some higher than that that we didn't see on the indicator. I have some pictures taken today, but haven't downloaded them yet. Will post those when ready.
Now, as I look out the cabin window, the water is perfectly calm. The sky is cloudy, rain is forecast for the next couple of days.
January 21, 2009
We are still in Cagliari waiting for some good weather.
Added some Christmas pictures. More to follow along with some New Year's Eve pictures.
Those are hats we are wearing. The men had fez-type hats, and the women had oriental type hats.
Sailors really know how to party!!!!!!!!!!
January 11, 2009
And a belated "Happy New Year" to everyone. Have been a little on the lazy side in keeping up with the blog. Up until Wednesday past, we were going to an internet cafe to access the internet. Was rather expensive, so we did not stay on long.
We now have internet dongles on the computers, so we can access the internet from the boat while in Italy. It is much nicer now in that we can be on whenever we want and as long as we want. It costs about $45 a month for 400 hours.
We had a great Christmas and New Years here at the marina. we joined all of the other boaters for Christmas Caroles and Christmas cheer on Christmas Eve, a nice Christmas dinner, a leftover Christmas dinner the next day, and a live band and dancing the following Saturday. On New Years Eve, we all got together along with the owners of the marina and their friends and enjoyed an evening of food, dancing, and music. At midnight, we celebrated New Years with champagne and kissing. ( I love the kissing on both cheeks!!!) At one o'clock, since most of the people at the marina are from England, we celebrated New Years Eve English style. More champagne, dancing, and a traditional New Years Eve snack. I can't remember the name of it, but it was interesting. Finally headed back to the boat around 2 o'clock New Years Day. This Christmas and New Years was are first since we have been sailing. It was, indeed, a most wonderful and enjoyable time. I have read about sailing families getting together to celebrate holidays, but this exceeded my wildest expectations. It seems that we are just one big family. We look forward to many more holidays with many more new friends that we make along the way.
When will we be heading west to cross the Atlantic? I do not know for sure. We hope to leave Cagliari and head for Spain when the weather is with us. So far, the weather has been terrible. The residents here say they have never seen it so bad at this time of year. So right now, it is anyone's guess as to when we will be able to leave. We are hoping to go by the end of February. I hope the weather will be in our favor. We want to get to the Caribbean as soon as possible.
As I get pictures from the other sailors of the holiday celebrations, I will post them.
PS. As a side note, one of the reasons we have been here so long is that during a severe storm, one of the marina lines holding the port bow broke and the boat was rammed into the dock putting 5 holes ing the starboard hull and tearing up some of the fiberglass. Since it was the fault of the marina, they were nice enough to repair the damage and it looks pretty good. The guy who did the work is said to be the best in the area. The only problem was that every time he tried to do some work, the weather went sour and was windy and rainy. So, the repair work took a while. I will post some pictures of the damage.
November 17, 2008
Added pictures of Cagliari, Sardegna taken at the Torre dell'Elefante Castle. The castle was built in the early 1300's.
To the right of center and over the building of picture "Cagliari, Sardegna 7" you will be able to see our boat at the dock in Marina del Sol.
November 15, 2008
Have added pictures that were taken as far as Trapini, Sicily. Will take some of Cagliari and post them soon.
November 13, 2008
Arrived in Cagliari, Sardegna about a week and a half ago. Ran into a storm on the way here and wound up closing up the boat and staying inside and letting the storm blow over. It lasted five days. Ended up with mainsail and genoa damaged so had them repaired here. Much less expensive than in Trapeo.
Weather here has been cool, rainy, and windy. Looking to sail to Menorca, but the weather there and on the way is worse than here, winds at 30 to 42 knots from the north. Not good sailing weather to get there in. We will stay here until the weather is good. Do not like getting caught in storms and having to get sails repaired. The storm did show us how fit the boat is. At times we thought she was going to split apart, but she held together nicely and brought us safely to port. Can't ask for more.
While here in Cagliari, we are doing some installation and minor repair work. Have installed hot water on demand units for the shower and one of the compost toilets in the Captain's head. Also installed AC converter, and one of the inverters. The other inverter isn't working so will get that checked out later. This is a nice town and the people are friendly although not many speak English. Have had trouble finding English speaking Italians where ever we have been. I expect that with the weather outlook, we may be here another 2 weeks. I know I need to add some pictures so will try to do so while here in Cagliari.
October 22, 2008
Arrived in Trapani, Sicily this morning after a 2 day sail from Tropea. The sailmaker who looked at our main sail said the material was good. He just made some repairs to it for us. Will be heading for Cagliri, Sardinia, in two days. On the way over saw two pods of porpoises. Suppose to be good luck in sailor lore. Working our way to Gibralter where I hope to get some equipment installed. All goes well, but so far the winds have not cooperated. Hope this will change on our run to Sardinia. Pictures will be added as I get time.
October 13, 2008
Arrived in Tropea, Italy after a fun(?) time coming through the Messina Straits. Seven to eight knots of headwind and rolling seas. Very slow going. Tropea is located on the west coast of Italy, so we finally made it from coast to coast. Have travelled about 650 miles so far. A long way to go. Will stay here for 2 to 3 days to rest and replenish our food and water supplies. Also looking to replace the main sail. The one we have is kind of old and, I've been told by an Italian sailor that there are bargains to be had on sails at this time since it is the off season. So will be on the lookout. From here, we plan on a long 3-4 day continuous run to Amalfi, Italy, which is located by Salerno. Of course, Bill and I have discussed heading for Gibralter straight out once we find a new main sail. I guess we are both getting anxious to cross the Atlantic. TTFN from the hapless crew of the Melemele Manu.
October 3, 2008
Arrived in Brindisi, Italy two days ago. Weather has been uncooperative. Either no wind at all or a little head wind. Would like to sail more but end up motoring mostly. We manage about 4 knots against the coming seas and headwind. We plan on leaving Brindisi for Otranto, Italy on Monday. We have been riding out some thunderstorms over here. Almost daily. Have pictures to download, but not enough internet time at the cafe to do so. Will do so later.
September 25, 2008
Arrived in Vis, Croatia. All went well on the trip. Will stay here until Saturday, then head for Monttinado, Italy. The trip to Italy should take about 18 hours. Haven't had any winds over 2 knots yet, so have been motor-sailing. Will take some pictures of Vis and post them shortly. It is a very nice anchorage. Bill and I are both glad to finally be heading home. It's been a long wait over here for the shipment. Once in Italy, we currently plan on sailing down the east coast, around the boot, and up the west coast and around to Monaco, France, Spain, and Gibralter. The Melemele Manu is homeward bound!
September 23, 2008
Sorry everyone about the span of time since I last wrote. Up until now nothing new has been happening. Bill and I have just been getting bored waiting for the shipment from the states.
Finally received the shipment today after telling NY International Shipping the I would be sue them when I get back to the states and how much depended on how long it takes me to get the shipment. Shipment left Vienna where it sat for 2 weeks and was in Zagreb within 2 days. The import agency here was great. The two guys who delivered the shipment to customs in Sibenik, Boris and Dario, were great at helping me get everything through customs. The customs agent was also very helpful and polite. A very nice guy. I would advise any one reading this blog to never deal with NY International Shipping. That company is bad. Anyways, Bill and I are docked for the night in Sibenik and plan on leaving for Vis tomorrow morning and then on to Italy. We are finally starting our voyage home. Will try to keep coastal cruising so we can have a different view of the coast every day. Well, TTFN. Will write more later.
August 21, 2008
Last night, Bill and I went into Murter for a concert. It was 9 male singers from Pako(sh)tane, a small town to the north on the mainland. They sang local songs. Again, we couldn't understand the words, but the music and talent of the singers was very good. I've added a picture of the group.
Our shipment from the states was due in on the 18th, but so far no word on it. The importer informed me that it is not unusual for a boat to be late, so will just have to keep waiting.
Otherwise, all goes well. Still fixing up a few minor problems. Getting anxious to get going on our trip back towards the states.
August 18, 2008
Last Friday, Bill and I decided to take the day off from working on the boat and go on a boat tour to the Kornati National Park. The park consists of 89 small islands with one long island that expands the length of the park. The islands are rocky with small scrubby trees on some of them and small bushes on others. At one time they were covered with trees, but were cut down for some reason I can't remember. Anyway, all of the top soil was washed or blown away leaving just the rocky outcrops. I've added some pictures of the trip.
Also, I've added some pictures of Murter where we have been anchored waiting for our shipment from the states. Hopefully it is due to arrive in Croatia today.
Repairs are going well. We had trouble finding out what has been draining our batteries so fast. Finally narrowed it down to the refrigerator. The specs say it only draws 1 amp, but we found that the control board draws another 12 amps. This is just too much strain on the batteries. Have disconnected the frig and bought an ice chest for now until we can find a small cooler that draws very little amps. We also bought two new house batteries of 225 amps each to replace one that has gone bad. This should give us plenty of power if we don't run the frig.
Otherwise, all is going well. We are both getting anxious to start our trip back to the states. Hope we can do so soon.
August 6, 2008
Tonight, we are being serenaded by a local folk band and chorus. Not like the music played last night, but the soft, serenade-like music from the heart. The night in the little village and harbor, however, is like last night as we sit and listen to the melodious sounds drifting across the calm waters of the bay to the many boats from different nations anchored here. To say the music is beautiful would be an understatement. I wish everyone could be here to listen to it. The perfect ending to a day!
August 5, 2008
Just had to share last night with everyone. It was a "Dreamer's Dream" and what sailing the world is all about. I don't think anything I write will do justice to last night, but I shall give it a try.
Picture if you will:
The sun has set. We are sitting on a large catamaran anchored in dark, calm waters offshore about 100 yards from the central plaza in the small village of Murter, Croatia. It is holiday time (vacation time) in Europe and the small village is packed with vacationers. We are surrounded by about 15 sailboats and motoryachts flying many different flags; Spain, Australia, Austria, Germany, Croatia, and of course the Stars and Stripes on our yacht. The sky is clear and starry with an occasional shooting star whizzing by. Up on a hill behind the village is a small church lit up by pinkish/orange lights. It all looks like a picture postcard.
The water front is lit up with a multitude of lights from the narrow streets, street vendors, and the many restaurants. The street vendors are selling souvenirs, clothes, diving equipment, fruits and vegetables, and my favorite, Croatian ice cream (like a soft-serve ice cream, but in many different flavors). There is a bandstand set up on the edge of the plaza near the water where the band is performing and people are all gathered around it. The smoke and smells from the restaurants slowly drifts into the sky as they grill meats and make pizzas in wood fired ovens.
The band is terrific. The music drifts across the water to the boats in the harbor. They play fast waltzes and polkas and the music reminds us of the Mexican music we used to hear back in New Mexico. It is amazing how much the two sound alike. One doesn't have to know the language to enjoy the music, and we are taking it all in.
We sit on the bow and listen to the music and enjoy the surroundings from 9:30 to 12:30 remarking, "this is what sailing the world is all about. This is the dream."
The very fortunate crew
of the Melemele manu
August 2, 2008
Great news!
We finally left the dock at the Marina-Betina. All went smooth leaving the dock. Surprised a lot of people there. They didn't think the boat would go or that I could handle the twin engines. Boy! Were they mistaken on both counts. Sailed to a new anchorage a short distance west of Betina near the town of Tisno. Reached a sailing speed of 5.5 knots with light wind. Set the anchor first try and stayed there 2 nights.
We then weighed anchor and set sail for the other side of the island to another cove, but had trouble setting the anchor. It would grab and then pull loose. Probably wrong type of anchor for the bottom conditions. Did not want to take the time to change anchors, so headed for the harbor at the town of Murter. Set the anchor with no problems right near the docks. Just a short dinghy ride. We will probably stay here until the shipment comes from the states, making short day trips out to check the systems. We'll head back to Marina-Betina to pick up the shipment when it arrives. Suppose to be here on Aug. 18th. Then it has to go through customs.
Ran the dinghy for the first time. New 6hp Mercury outboard ran great. Operator (me) had a little trouble getting used to the handle control! :-) Bill and I decided to go into Murter for a nice steak dinner. Have a good restaurant that we like to go to. Oh, and we are both hooked on the local ice cream. It's like the Dairy Queen's soft serve, but with all different kinds of flavors. Only about $1 USD per scoop. Great!!!!
Sailing gear is working well. The winds have been really light since we left Betina but we still made over 5 knots. Sure hope they will blow stronger when we head to Venice. We will probably have to leave the confines of the islands and get out into the open Adriatic.
Added some more pictures. One is of our English friends, Ben, Margaret, and Liz. Another is of Walter, a friend from Switzerland. Also added some pictures of the cove that was our first anchorage, Kokoc Lovista.
Bill and I took a side trip to Bosnia to get our passports stamped and then reenter Croatia. We are only allowed 90 days here before we had to leave. So we decided that, since Bosnia is only about a one and a half hour drive, we would go there. The customs and immigration officers were very friendly. They said we needed to spend a little time in Bosnia before going back through. They told us about a restaurant a little ways down the road, so we stopped there and had a coke. I've added a picture of each of us outside the restaurant.
Still doing some minor repairs as we go. Big problem right now is the refrigerator. I'm trying to get a 12vdc to 230vac inverter to operate it. At 230vac it only draws 1 amp and at 12vdc it draws a whopping 15 amps! Really do need that inverter! The local hardware store is going to see if they can get one in for me. Sure hope so. Did buy a 230vac gas generator for back up. Not too good on gas, so will try to use it sparingly.
Well, guess it's time to close this entry. Thanks to everyone who takes the time to check this blog out.
The Hapless Crew
of the Melemele Manu!
July 6, 2008
Here we are in our 3rd month in Croatia. We have the boat just about ready to set sail. Right now, we are just waiting for out shipment of household goods and boat parts to arrive. Shipping agent says sometime this coming week. I'll believe it when I see it. Still have to get some papers notarized and sent to the import agent in Zagreb. Then who knows how long to get everything through customs??!!!!!
Finally received the U.S. Coast Guard registration for the boat. I've been working with them since Feb. 18th. It was tough because the previous owner never registered the boat, so had to go back to the last registered owner for a bill of sale to the previous owner. Then, since the documents were in German, I had to have them translated. And, of course, no one at the document center knew how to work with translated documents even though everything was done according to their procedures. Glad to have it all finally over with.
With the new registration, we were able to put the boat's new name on. The old name was "C7" but wanted to give the boat a Polynesian name. It translates to "Yellow Bird." I have posted some pictures showing the old name being put into the new name. The pictures were taken by a Swiss friend, Walter, here at the marina.
I've also included two pictures of our Austrian friends, Doris and Ziggy. If everyone we meet is as nice as these two people, we will have a great and wonderful sailing adventure.
Finally have the electrical wiring pretty much straightened out. Bill and I pulled out a lot of old wire. I rewired the inside helm instruments to a new power control panel. Everything works much better now. Will wire up all of the new items in the shipment when they arrive and as we are sailing around.
Installed a booster pump for the shower. The regular pump can only pump to a height of 8 feet and the shower head is another 5 feet higher, so needed a booster pump. It's working okay.
While Bill was getting ready to disconnect some old fuel tanks so we could get rid of them, he found that the tanks were 3/4's full of diesel. Bill said the fuel is still good, so looks like we have more fuel to use. All we need to do is pump them out and run the fuel through a filter. At the price of diesel over here this will really help.
One good thing about making friends at a marina is that there is always lots of free advice. We've been getting a lot of it which will help us in our travels of the Adriatic and the Med. From weather to port entry requirements. All information that changes daily that you can get only from other sailors. This information is invaluable and I make notes on all of it.
Well, guess it's time to close this entry. Thanks to everyone who takes the time to check this blog out.
The Hapless Crew
of the Melemele Manu!
Funds are running low, so Bill and I are doing only the items we need to do to get sailing.
Melemele Manu
Under Sail
Melemele Manu in Croatia
Italy, Sicily, Sardegna
Mediterranean Dolphins
Christmas and New Year's Eve 2008
Crew List
Owner/Captain: Peter Manley
Chief Engineer: William Manley
Chief Engineer: William Manley