BREAKING NEWS!

So. Eight months after the ‘non event’ I have heard from my solicitor!

The suggested fine of 5000 euros reduced by 40 %  for prompt payment and gracious admission.Plus 3000 euros for capped solicitors fees; results in 6000 euros total for my alleged maritime divagation. My guarantee deposit of 12000 euros should be returned immediately or after at least a month, or when the Spanish treasury return from their August holiday and wake up from their daily 4 hr siesta, if there’s not a saints day or fiesta imminent.This is a satisfactory result from a lose lose situation.

I’m not left feeling particularly grateful to the third world, tapas munching, non maritime law complient thieving pirates in the General Directorate of the Maritime Marine and hope they appreciate my small contribution to sustaining their bumbling, shambolic, bureaucratic excuse for a government organisation. I trust also the interest from my 12k will help towards the non payment of Spains NATO contributions or at least some new plump cushions to support their fat lazy arses while sleeping at their desks between siestas. I do not include Veronica my solicitor in this matter, in the previous description as she has been more than efficient!

Batten down the hatches.290 miles to go

Time to head back to Spain. Destination Majorca.

Some friends I made in Gibraltar are there and so is dodgy John somewhere . 

Easy departure from Bonifarce after prerequisite wait for assistance. Then straight into a mistral which was behind me so good speed right direction , blue skies and sea. Estimated three days but totally weather dependent. As is the way, wind dropped at some point but still did 105 miles in first 24 hrs. Really nice passage . Ran generator a couple of times to tickle the batteries and had the best starry nights for some time. Second night I had positioned east of  Mahon by about 140 miles, hoping for winds to come from  north or south rather than on the nose. Used engine to head direct Majorca. Got some snoozes in and worried about having to use engine the remaining distance ( range anxiety!)

About 5 am  I looked over the bimney and realised I was wasting wind . Engine off and away we go. 15, 18, 22, 26 29 kts last I looked . One furl in main and most of genni out I was cruising between 6.5 and 8.5 kts. Only problem being as wind increased so did the wave size. The wind had veered nicely to the north from somewhere over France and had all the gulf of lion to build monster rollers!

Proper sail. Scary in the dark . Only buried the nose once ; decks awash. Initially I was paralleling the swell and riding along but had at some point to traverse . At speed this is quite daunting and one thought was if this keeps up I’ve got more than ten hours of trauma time. It never does last that long but comes and goes. The waves stay after the wind drops then the wind starts again😁 I was helming a lot and the sails were set perfectly for speed direction and load. Not wanting to overload and break the auto helm, twice I had to pee on my feet down the drain holes at the back. Too rough to go over the side and too tricky down below. That was a first and made me laugh. 

Two other things . Saw a turtle . About the fourth time I’ve seen them and it’s always been rough weather on the surface. With Mahon in sight, about 20 yds ahead, a whale fluke sticking out of the water. Really amazing , couldn’t film it and was concerned about him rubbing his back on my boat but didn’t see it again . Shame. No photos . The ones I took on passage just look like a Sunday jaunt .

Arrived safe and sound about 290 miles, not as the crow flies! 3 days 4 nights . Pulled in to an anchorage on Majorca at 0100 , couldn’t be bothered to motor for another 3 hrs as I knew there would be other boats anchored in that bay as well.

Exit point of Corsica.

After leaving Hannah and Henry , I pushed round to Bonifacio harbour. Forewarned I was armed but not for the utter chaos and confusion.

Booking in online , fuelling up, density and scope of traffic utter mayhem!

The narrowest point where the fuelling station is was about 60 metres wide. Picture a  channel with super yachts a 70 ft catamaran turning, day boats , ribs , superyachts reversing , people in tender dingys crossing to the anchorage opposite, fishing boats and sightseeing boats coming in and out the whole time. Half an hour using the engine to nudge forward and back trying to hold position to one side by the parked up super yachts while in a queue for the fuel station which was only twice the length of Kat and you have the perfect recipe for disaster . This is no exaggeration !! This was compounded by a wait for berthing assistance ( everyone not based there gets it) which was a boy who did not understand inertia or much English unfortunately. Ergo, 12 tons of pointy front boat is blowing towards a concrete pontoon. I had to jump off twice while he stood there with his thumb up his a… !

The town was amazing and pretty historic at the top . 

Well worth the angst and according to reports this is standard situation- amazing !

1st and 2nd daughter

Before heading off I met Nicks eldest daughter Emily in Elba .What a strange coincidence. Honeymooners🙄.Great to meet Emily and her new husband. They met me at an anchorage in their rental boat and I cracked open a bottle of champagne served in iced tumblers and tea glass. Never let it be said my old boat isn’t blessed with accoutrements !

We went ashore in my dingy after and it looked like I was going to get another fine and licence removed! Lots of arm waving and Italians shouting. Transpired, I shouldn’t have landed on the slip way with out board as swimmers were in the vicinity. Carabinarie was called but we were in a bar when they turned up so didn’t go and speak to them and they disappeared ?

Fun and games.

The next day was a shortish hop to Corsica. Found an anchorage but got the fear about its legitimacy as no other boats were on it and they have loads of nature reserves with confusing regulations. Went for a swim and found a very powerful, almost new divers torch so acquired that and went to a slightly more busy but nice anchorage where Hannah and boyfriend - second of nicks daughters- were staying. 

Picked them up in dingy which now has a leak😡 and opened a second bottle of champagne purchased for the purpose of enticing available females aboard . It’s been sat in the fridge for a year! Must have been quality  because tasted fine and we had that on a short trip to the next bay for the day. 

When I dropped them back ashore, I had to take the pump as the outboard engine was sinking into the water . Tried a repair kit but don’t know if it’s worked as it’s stowed for the next leg. Had to use the paddle board to get ashore in the evening which was interesting as I had to dress up a bit and coiffed a couple of beers followed by tequila’s free from the management??

Headed off next day on route to Majorca, the youngsters flew home. A fine end to this year’s target destination.

Elba ‘ere it’s amazing

Well, made it to this years destination!Only just started but already it’s worth it. Arrived at anchorage 10 last night in Portoferraio moved to a buoy this morning. 12 hrs from Pisa with quite a lot of motor as no wind😡 but need to get a wriggle on. 

Been to a fort, Napoleon’s summer house, his 

winter one( being renovated so closed )

his theatre and more to see but very scenic and easy to imagine what it was like in 1814 . 

He was only here for about a year but did lots for the island and was very popular apparently before making his exodus.

The emblem of Elba is the bee apparently. Ironic that its the same for Manchester of all places representative of their work ethic!!?? In the fields of Joyriding and drug dealing no doubt.

Pisa was great , though confusing ticketing at the tourist sites.

 

Tina came to visit for a few days and we made a trip to Lucca, hired bikes to cycle around the city walls. Hired some more again in Pisa town to get to the nature reserve where I scared off a large wild boar and got grief from the park police for being in the wrong place 🙄. There is a pack of wolves , two camels and a horse race track in the same area! 

A high light was staying in the Royal Victoria hotel. We met the owner at the marina but I’d already spotted the place. What a total gem it was. Many notable guests I’d never heard of but those I knew. Charles Lindbergh, Charles Dickens, Scott Fitzgerald, Daryl Hannah, Alexander Dumas and Charles Rothschild. Better than the historic house across the river by far. Stunning!

I’m going on anchor around the island for a few days after tomorrow and hope no crazy weather comes down as is common. 

Then head to Spain again . Visa renewal time!