Well that was an interesting 6 days!!
Destination Malta , yet here I am in southern Italy 😂. Funny little thing had 4 house 
Martin’s or swifts? Stay on the boat for a night ,two inside two out. One left and came back a few times . Very cute and friendly. I may have seen a shark when the sea was calm. 50 metres away but two vertical dorsal fins as opposed to one vertical and one horizontal as on dolphins ; and again two small turtles on the surface getting a lot of motion from the swell.
Intention was to head to Malta, forecasts were ok , maybe requiring some tacking late on but intention was to sail not motor! Two days out from Crete I’d had some good sails but heading too far south although level with Malta channel . Then it all started . My forecast got on Monday departure would last till Thursday and although showing 6 different models were only accurate in certain sections at some point but some showing no wind others for same time/ place 30 kts winds.
After battling with the winds and sea state getting bigger both from the west which was my heading, I decided to head north to east coast of Sicily. Libya being only a dire emergency option! East coast of Sicily was a battle ,wind picking up to >25 kts sea, 2 meter swell with white horses . Sailing close hauled keeps everything in check and for the record even when calm my engine only gives 5 kts . In to wind it will struggle with even 2 . Motor sailing is good so long as wind is not too high but it has to be favourable. Wednesday night, I was running engine to charge batteries then it stopped. Here we go .Floor engine cover up , not simple.Boat rocking ,sails still up with auto helm on . Decided I needed a crap first! Not a common event but awkward in a rolling sea with things to do! Opened fuel tank hatches , multiple bolts- changed fuel filter, bled system all lying on my stomach above warm engine, bilge and diesel fumes . Decided I needed a chunder. Obviously all this time keeping a trim on sails and look out. 5 am job done .Engine started , massive relief. Off I trundle in more or less right direction. Determined not to go back to Greece. Upside is I checked out of Schengen so clock not ticking. During Thursday wind really picked up from the west so still no good for me . Sea state confused but 2 meters and higher , Sicily now looking doubtful. I could stay out with provisions for a couple of weeks but that would not be an achievement if driving round in circles avoiding or fighting the weather!
Friday. Rain storm came in, low vis, higher gusts. OK plan change head for Italy proper, the bunion on Italy’s boot, Calabria. Slowly but surely getting there with a designated marina. Bear in mind no phone signal so no weather or marina image. Closer still I picked up signal so called ahead and warned Francesco I would be coming in but would mooch about till next day . At one point with some great sailing I was getting 7 kts in right direction eta 8 pm . It later became apparent that this target was unattainable as after rain wind shifted 40° to north . Right on the nose. About 1am decided to try motor sailing into port but was at my last 20 litres of fuel 6. -7 hrs could give 30 miles or 8 . Which was more likely 🙄 Turned on the engine 2 minutes spluttered and died. Here we go again! Same procedure minus poo and puking but no success this time. 4 am Saturday had to have a snooze as still had the marina docking to perform. Hadn’t realised time zone change so rang Francesco at 6.30 who was very obliging . Told him I was going to need assistance but at 15 miles his tender was not up for the job. He knew a fisherman who had helped some other boat last week. Was € 400 ok. Yes of course , I’m happy to pay for Enricos new Vesper!. Forgot to mention , got a bout of the squits Friday night, don’t know where that came from but at least I was in sight of the end and it disappeared as fast as it came!
Here I am tucked up on emergency berth as winds have been too strong to move me with tender but no problem . Safe . Fridge stopped working. Now fixed , just the big job to do . Talking to the fishing boat beside me that I was oblivious of arriving , he said we saw you on TV . I’m thinking oh no that’s not good. Fortunately it was a Spaniard . I attach the clip. Same departure ,same area, same time, same length and he ended up in this marina !! His boats still out there.
Makes you think though. Here’s a thought . I hadn’t seen the plane or anyone else. 
Had the coast guard come over and said do you need assistance, I. E. Rescuing ,the answer should have been yes .Did I need it in hindsight ? No. Oh well hypothetical 🤡
Sea miles 460 about!
Update!! Just went to pay the fisherman and he says it’s €400 / hour which is 1600!! I can feel a discussion coming on! I’m not willing to pay for his family holiday in Dubai bearing in mind I wasn’t a salvage case!
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