30th April

Today we escaped. The wind was light so at dawn we headed east. All went well for the first 10 miles then the starboard engine over heated. Luckily we have a spare. We passed the most easterly point of Sicily and headed north to anchor at Siracusa. Nearly 60 Miles covered, a good start.


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29th April

Much hotter today. Reading, getting lines ready, final trip to office, curry in evening aboard Akaroa, we're leaving in the morning!

28th April

A good day for reading, a walk, socialising and bridge in the evening. Still the wrong wind for us to leave.

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27th April

Today we finished off a few small jobs. We're ready to set sail but the weather's not playing ball. Today there was a strong wind blowing from the wrong direction. We expect more of the same tomorrow and perhaps the day after. This evening we took Sam and Florencia out for dinner. Together they prepared Imagine so we hope we get through another season without any major problems.

26th April

There were only a few minor jobs to do. But then the toilet blocked in the worst possible way at the worst possible time. I'll leave it your imagination to picture the scene. I had to disconnect and check hoses back to a big valve that switches between the sea cock and the holding tank. It was completely blocked with calcium precipitate. Several wet and foul hours later toilet function was restored. By evening I felt revitalised and Judy and Ray came and joined us for a rubber of bridge.

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25th April

The sails all went on this morning, a major job ticked off. We also did a massive shop. We have plenty of supplies on board although Imagine is another cm lower in the water. I was going to inflate the dinghy but fell asleep after lunch. In the evening a group of us from the marina had supper together in town. The place was heaving. Apparently it's a public holiday.

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24th April

On with the jobs. My main task today was putting a joker valve into the toilet waste. No laughing matter. A ten minute job according to the instructions. Remove three screws, take old valve out, put new one in. Easier said than done when the screws are out of sight, facing away from me and two inches from the side of the heads. It took me 90 minutes to decide I couldn't do it with my tools plus a further 15 once I had borrowed what I needed. Lots of other jobs completed but no sails or dinghy yet.

[SUSPECT] 23rd April

BOTB. The same skanky Ryanair Stansted flight took us back to Comiso. Our usual taxi driver was waiting and 30 minutes later we were on Imagine. It seems a long time since we were here but it also feels as though we have hardly been away. The marina was silent, no wind and still waters. Another season begins.