SYRACUSE

11 Jun 11

The sun is going down over Syracuse harbour, Jen is sitting in the cockpit with her sewing, and Dave, in his self-appointed position as anchorage monitor, is keeping an eye out for arrivals and departures, who is going ashore, who is returning, what they have brought from the town etc.....

'Jen?'
'Yes, Dave.'
'This blog of yours, people are going to think we are a pair of dills.'
'Why, Dave?'
'Well we have only gone 100 mile since Gozo, and we always seem to be fixing something. At this rate we will be in Brisbane when we are 99.'
'It is just one of those things with boats, Dave. Everyone has something to fix. And we have done 3,000 mile since Tobermory.'
'I know, but it is going to be another week at least before we leave. Perhaps you can pretend we are really somewhere else.'
'Don't be daft. Besides, we are having a really good time here and it is such a nice place to be.'
'Suppose so.'

So why are we still here? Well, it is like this. We have known for some time that the self-steering set up is not performing as it should, and it has ultimately stopped doing the job, taking us in ever-increasing letter-S courses as Terry and Harriet (tiller and wind vane) try to keep on course. Having explored Terry and all his settings by motoring up and down the harbour, it is not his fault. The boat does not respond. As I do most of the driving, Dave being the jumper-ashore and anchor person, I had noticed increasing slack in the wheel. Not a problem for hand steering, but a big problem for the wind vane.

'Dave, the wheel has increased the slack'
'You sure?'
'Yup.'
'AAArrrggghhh. That means the steering gear has got to be looked at. Nightmare!'

And so spanners and stuff comes out. All the cockpit lockers emptied and stuff stowed on the deck (after the dinghy had been lowered) - full morning's occupation. By the end of the day one problem had been identified, and a man tracked down in the UK who could give advice (thanks to Rachel and her internet search). Advice given, parts ordered, more ideas for the next thing or two to look at. Looks as though the problem is due to wear and tear after 20 odd years of being in the water and steering. Pity the steering gear is in a pretty inaccessible place, but manage the trusty spanner-wielder has.

Apart from handing spanners, making cups of tea, doing the washing, and sewing, Jen is looking terribly interested in Dave's delight in the various lumps of metal that appear on the table from the depths of the bilge. Having something to do with greasy bits and spanners is making Dave a very happy chap.

More to follow.

Off again!

1 June 2011

We have managed to tear ourselves away from Gozo and Malta at long last. It has been such a wonderful stay that we think we will call in on our return from the eastern Mediterranean.

For the last fortnight we have been spending the days and nights anchored in the Blue Lagoon on Camino, a small island one mile from Gozo. It is a magnet for the tourists and the tripper boats start arriving and disgorging people from about 9 am, and then there is frenetic activity of power boats whizzing in and out, huge pleasure craft and even bigger tour boats. By 5pm it is all over and we have had the place to ourselves apart from the occasional yacht anchoring. We have stayed longer than expected due to fridge failure which has required a new fridge and evaporator. No way we were going anywhere without a fridge. The marina were very good to us and let us come along side the pontoon when we needed to go to town or have the fridge man come.

More of this later when we are back on the internet.

So today we have set out towards Croatia and the first stop is on the anchor at Porto Palo, south east corner of Sicily (36°40.033'N/15°06.841,E). Started motoring but not long before the sails came out and off we went. Nice to find we had put all the ropes back properly! Excellent day apart from the autopilot not behaving, but he is going into intensive care tonight to be fit for tomorrow's sail to Syracuse.

These blogs are being posted by our Kate as we are now on the radio link.