After Antigua, and a few happy days in the UK, work has to begin with B’s new job in Antibes, France – as author of the Superyacht Services guide for the south of France, whilst I tried to find engineering work – very different scene here!
In Cannes we met up with old friends on board the 24m classic Fyfe ‘Mariquita’ who we raced with last year – celebrating the old girl’s 100
th birthday!
For a month in Antibes we had the view of the mountains rather than the sea, which made a change.
I took a break from looking for work (hard!), to help my friend Jonathan move his 50’ classic
Cairngorm (1938) to Paris from Falmouth with two other mates, Richard (here) and Nick.
Amusingly (?) we ran out of fuel at the mouth of the river Seine. The lifeboat man, Jean-Claude was a friendly chap, who accepted a beer whilst we were towed into Le Havre.
All fuelled up, the relieved skipper poses for Nick Wood.
Briefly back in Bristol to see Errol Fay’s boyfriend together with Fay – a day trip to Bath (my old Uni. city)...
...and just time to cycle there too along the old railway route – just a short section still working for joyrides...
...before returning to Marmaris, to finish off the lightning damage repair work on Deep Blue and to celebrate our 27th wedding anniversary!
We made some time to go sailing for a few days, exploring the coast of Turkey SW of Marmaris – this very friendly and cheerful 23 year-old girl spends the winter with her family making things to sell to passing yachts like us; so we bought some gifts.
Couldn’t resist going back to Simi town, (Greece) where we stayed two night next to our friends Manni and Belinda.
(Eventually, we hope to make a path like that back home... when we figure out where that is!)
So good to be back on Deep Blue – we’ve so missed the morning swims!
Too soon we are back in Palma for the next phase of business building for me...
...plus some sightseeing for B – her first time to Palma...
The range of Serrano ham is brilliant – from €29 to > €149 per kilo.
The main reason also for being here is that we are race crew on the 43m schooner, This is Us, for the 3rd time (perk of the job!). The three day Palma Superyacht Regatta was pretty varied – we were last on the first day!
But first on the last day! – The tactician redeemed himself, to the absolute joy of the owner (centre) and skipper (right). The new cannon (out of shot) requires the wearing of the special uniform. Bloody loud!!
So we had to celebrate.
Next stop for me was Bergen, Norway, to be delivery crew on the 38m classic motor yacht
Atlantide (1930)
back to Palma.
A Bergen highlight, the Briggen...
A good walk to the top to look back down to our departure direction from the Fjord. (
Atlantide is slightly right of centre).
Safety briefing from the first mate – much hilarity, but serious stuff.
Surfer, Montee Coursey, my great watch partner, from Savannah USA
First day south and an auspicious start with a pod of dolphins having fun on my watch.
It was not all fun – the North Sea was grey and windy, then the Bay of Biscay was a pretty steady force 7 Nor’wester (would’ve been really grim on Deep Blue!)
It brightened up again as we turned east along Portugal with
Atlantide looking superb.
The sails don’t add much speed, but keep the fuel consumption down a little (<50l/hour at 9.5kts)
Arriving at dawn at Gibraltar, we eventually took on about 8000 litres at lowest cost in the Med.
The much adored (and idle) ship’s cat, Cleo, was the one closest to seasickness on the 11 days at sea.
Finally, in Palma after 2371nm at sea from Bergen, meet the rest of the crew: Bren (Canadian chef, not on trip); me; Tatiana (Russian); Rosie (USA, delivery cook); Piet (SA, first mate); Jason (USA); Justin (Canadian, skipper).
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