tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19726855806703525232024-03-14T03:55:40.721-07:00SV Mischief at LargeSV Mischiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732107627031142254noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972685580670352523.post-6058215938964291582012-12-30T06:44:00.000-08:002014-03-09T06:44:29.308-07:00Visiting Europe<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">I</span>t has been quite a year for us, with much
travelling back and forth between locations in Europe, including a wonderful
trip to Sweden in the northern hemisphere mid-summer <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also managed another side trip to Sicily
to meet up with Marie Louise and Richard (our son’s in-laws) for a somewhat
boozy week to then rush back to Malta in time to greet Marie & Steve who
came all the way from Perth and also stopped over to visit us!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU">It has also been great catching up with all
the cruisers who have stopped over in Malta on their summer cruising this
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did hope that keeping busy
would stop us from missing our beloved MISCHIEF too much, but in the last month
or two we have been wondering not if but when and where to get our next boat
again!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- By the way, to those cruisers
crossing the Atlantic this year, Mischief is
also crossing, but with her new owners who are a really lovely Spanish couple.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"></span><span lang="EN-AU">Bjorn and I have kept busy in Malta these
last three months doing some courses to keep our brains occupied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bjorn has done an AutoCAD course whilst I
have done a TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) refresher course and
may consider some part time teaching whilst in Malta.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU">Meanwhile it has been great visiting with
our families here in Malta and Sweden.</span></div>
SV Mischiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732107627031142254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972685580670352523.post-19476603275237166682012-06-20T06:36:00.000-07:002014-03-09T06:39:16.702-07:00Landlubbers again!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;">G</span>iven our decision to spend another couple
of years in the Med, and with all the berthing difficulties in Malta and the boat registration situation, we decided
to test the market and list Mischief ….and to our greatest surprise, shock
actually, which found us totally unprepared, we had a couple expressing
interest in the first month of listing the boat.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU">Of course, we did not take this seriously,
and were still wondering whether these people were for real when they decided
to come and visit the boat in Ragusa
in March this year.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU">We had just spent the coldest two months
ever in what turned out to be a record cold year in the Med – and Malta winters and headed to Ragusa to prepare Mischief for her not really
very welcome visitors…. I am sure they must have thought we were mad – or madly
in love with the boat because Bjorn and I kept on exchanging looks and asking
each other if this was really what we wanted!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU">To our dismay, the young Spanish couple
totally fell in love with our beloved Mischief and upped their price, and we
really could not say no!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And there
starts our new saga.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU">Our Sicilian spring turned out to be quite
different from usual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of joining
our cruising friends all happy to leave this winter behind them and busily
getting their boats ready for another summer cruising season, we started going
through the boat and trying to work out what to leave and what – and how – to
take the rest off!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did manage a few
forays to explore more of Sicily, which we have grown to really love, even
‘discovering’ the largest Roman villa we have seen so far with the most amazing
mosaics!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be honest though, many of
the many very ‘happy’ (read ‘boozy) time with our friends felt almost like
wakes, so shell shocked were we with the way things had turned out with
Mischief.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU">Bjorn and Kerry (Geronimo) sailed Mischief
back to Malta in mid April, while
Helen (Geronimo) and I drove our car back via ferry and spent a wonderful week
or so together in Malta.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our transition to land was somewhat eased
taking a number of yachting friends who called into Malta on their way around the
island.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU">It was also time to take stock of what we
wanted to do now that we would be land bound, and so Bjorn and I turned our
attention to renting an apartment to have as a base in Malta for the next
couple of years whilst we enjoyed our parents in Malta and in Sweden and
concentrated on land travel for the next few years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were indeed fortunate to find a lovely airy
apartment just on the seafront in a quiet part of St Paul’s
Bay, with a grandstand view of the bay and St Paul’s
Island (where the apostle Paul got shipwrecked on his way to Rome).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU">To celebrate our joint birthdays in May, we
travelled to Venice and had a glorious couple of
days going around the city that had so eluded us on our cruising trip up to Croatia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We then went on to our friend Mara in Ravenna and enjoyed a leisurely week exploring the
magnificent Po delta and some of the surrounding towns, villages and cities
including the incredible Florence.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU">Our summer is indeed proving to be a busy
one with my nephew’s wedding in mid June, and two of my sisters visiting for a
couple of weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our daughter Annika
comes out for a visit in July and then we are off to Sweden
for 5 weeks to visit Bjorn’s family and do more land travel, this time
hopefully going to St. Petersburg and Moscow, before returning to Malta once more to more friends
visiting. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU">That’s it for now from us…. We’re hoping
that sv.mischief changes from ‘sailing vessel mischief’ to ‘salty veterans (of) mischief…’
which means that our email address stays the same… who knows we may yet be back
again on the water and heading west once more!!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
SV Mischiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732107627031142254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972685580670352523.post-67239589323124566352012-01-04T06:14:00.000-08:002014-03-09T06:32:34.030-07:00Winter in Ragusa Sicily and Seachange<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><span lang="EN-AU">We sailed into Malta in early-mid September to
catch up with family and suss out the marina situation there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the planned upgrade to Msida marina,
berthing in Malta over
winter was not an option, and so we left for Ragusa in early October, and headed into a
marina with many previous friends - and acquaintances old and new…. It was
great fun catching up with everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
marina is really well planned and very safe, so we had no hesitation in leaving
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mischief</i> there over the winter
months.</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU">With Bjorn’s parents not well, and pressure
building to visit as soon as possible, we reluctantly left the marina, headed
to Malta and then on to Sweden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spent
three weeks there and watched Bjorn’s dad deteriorate… within three days of our
return to Malta,
he passed away.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU">Back in Malta, and visiting my parents, it
was becoming increasingly obvious that they also needed greater attention and
that perhaps their days of living independently were coming to an end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We were also in two minds about crossing the Atlantic anyway, and the need to stay put and help out was very much on our minds.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU">We watched as many of our friends just kept going
across the Atlantic and then continued across the Pacific, making it an almost two year trek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We always thought that if we cross the
Atlantic we would like to spend a few years in the Americas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU">With the decision to stay in the Med for an
additional couple of years to see what happens, we decided to make Malta our base
for now and bought a small runabout (ie. car).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU">Things were brought to a head when my mum
fell and broke her hip, but thank goodness the surgery went well and she is
well on her way to recovery.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU">We had planned to spend a week or two in Ragusa in December to check on the boat, especially as the
autumn had brought along the usual swag of storms, so as my sister headed to Malta for a week to help out with our parents,
Bjorn and I took the opportunity to go and spend Christmas in Ragusa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Having taken the car over with us via ferry, we took advantage of every
fine day to go and explore some the very beautiful surrounding towns like Ragusa city, Modica and
Scicli…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU">We had a very ‘merry’ Christmas, a
wonderful break, a good opportunity to check up on the boat, and headed back to
Malta
to ‘dry out’!!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU">And now the serious thinking starts:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on the one hand, we love our <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mischief</i>, but it is impractical to keep
such a boat in a marina in a different country and not have its enjoyment. Things are further complicated by
constantly changing laws in Europe, making it
difficult to cruise long term in the Med.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For example, Italy
has just this month introduced a tax for boats cruising in Italian waters from
May this year, which makes it even more prohibitive to keep the boat in Italian
waters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Space at Malta marinas are at a premium, Greece
has its own raft of taxes which make it difficult to keep a boat there over 3
months and both the EU and non EU alternatives are fading fast. It looks like we will have to reside in Malta for a short while, making it difficult to keep an Australian flagged ship in EU waters.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU">We are even looking into the possibility of
shipping <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mischief </i>back to Australia or to some other part of the world
such as Asia!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU">Definitely a time of literal ‘seachange’,
or is going to be ‘landchange’, for us at present, but the adventures will
hopefully not stop, but rather change form.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><br /></span></div>
SV Mischiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732107627031142254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972685580670352523.post-51566654742306169582011-11-03T07:59:00.000-07:002014-03-09T06:06:23.837-07:00Cruising Croatia: the trip southIt took more than a couple of glasses of wine to plan our return trip of about 1000 nautical miles back to Malta, the more so as the thunderstorms that had plagued us for the past 10 days persisted in hanging about. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmsLSLc9mYYTf09J9WSaFMvbjMN8eqJlu6nZebnF0rHGdmBSczigJklBbPTshNoZ-RhlM0Xl0-YuzUVMUECe3EDSwZ2XoX3PfifBmFj7Fvkl6j7T95RQvXTR5oAuHtNfmn0lVw8N07NkG/s1600/SANY1304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmsLSLc9mYYTf09J9WSaFMvbjMN8eqJlu6nZebnF0rHGdmBSczigJklBbPTshNoZ-RhlM0Xl0-YuzUVMUECe3EDSwZ2XoX3PfifBmFj7Fvkl6j7T95RQvXTR5oAuHtNfmn0lVw8N07NkG/s1600/SANY1304.JPG" height="240" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buying veggies from boat boy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Having forsaken the northern part of Italy and unfortunately our visit to Ravenna to catch up with a dear friend there, we signed up for another month of Croatia. We took the first opportunity to cross the notorious Gulf of Kvarner to one of our favourite stops at the delightful isle of Mali Losinj where we ended up staying two days in order to replace the starter battery. <br />
<br />
The weather was immediately better, with the thunderstorms striking the mainland and mostly missing the islands. With August upon us, we found ourselves sailing south in company with hordes of Italian power-boaters some of whom can be the scourge of the seas.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkM-caR_Z5XnCFHuRkml6IBRG7mqCnsb_lnyJsUn9VYu6-hhLcM-UqMlMIKPS_VFlu0TlmFSpIR7IlFVliXIAVGF9K6ez0zA1ZuKF64P_xfJLbQAU-QGOzVvkKCGP9ImQtQwsOvDzfHJz/s1600/SANY1295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkM-caR_Z5XnCFHuRkml6IBRG7mqCnsb_lnyJsUn9VYu6-hhLcM-UqMlMIKPS_VFlu0TlmFSpIR7IlFVliXIAVGF9K6ez0zA1ZuKF64P_xfJLbQAU-QGOzVvkKCGP9ImQtQwsOvDzfHJz/s1600/SANY1295.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moonscape at Dugi Otok</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We opted for different anchorages on islands we had bypassed on our trip north and also decided to visit the magnificent Dugi Otok national park, which was another highlight on this leg of the journey. We anchored at the top of Luka Telascica, surrounded by the strikingly different landscape which is more like a moonscape at times.<br />
<br />
After a couple of days there, we left the island group of Dugi Otok and sailed to a nearby island group around Murter. It is amazing how one can go from a totally barren landscape to such lush greenery in the few nautical miles that separate them. With a Bora (the notorious north easterly wind which often blows at gale force and more) forecast, we decided to ‘hide’ in the large bay outside Murter town and passed a pleasant week there, catching up again with old friends on KOZA and meeting new Ozzie friends Helve and Rick on TANGAROA.<br />
<br />
We braved it in strong northerlies all the way down to Rogoznica, on the mainland and then crossed to Vela Luka on the island of Korcula. We checked out of Croatia from the picturesque island of Lastovo and, for once, enjoyed a magnificent sail across to Italy.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAFzw4ig54oaWeNRWtMSz8NncnxFKkkfs_5elXMV1AIHiXIpaMP2X90jOzqMxyWF0Af7mrHet0Nk90TxUMGpblh1J_zQ_Qwvd4GENRO_JzxKdpJmYmkMiQdIrbO7UKtYTenixnWOj2BmD/s1600/SANY1319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAFzw4ig54oaWeNRWtMSz8NncnxFKkkfs_5elXMV1AIHiXIpaMP2X90jOzqMxyWF0Af7mrHet0Nk90TxUMGpblh1J_zQ_Qwvd4GENRO_JzxKdpJmYmkMiQdIrbO7UKtYTenixnWOj2BmD/s1600/SANY1319.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approach to Vieste.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The contrast between Croatia and Italy could not have been greater. To begin with, the weather and water temperature were immediately a few degrees warmer, but instead of lovely turquoise waters, we were now confined to harbours, as there are hardly any anchorages on the Italian east coast. We checked into Italy at Vieste, in the Puglia region which is formerly run by the Normans and full of medieval towns. Here we where introduced to what the French may have lent the name to but the Italians absolutely have perfected: bureaucracy. Apparently, as a non EU registered yacht, we were expected to sign-in-and-out of every port, with one of the four different police forces they have.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXu9EDinLYGK3BXJe55zSG4Hby1Q7Qf0Es8wFy776pFVxH7OIQgrDfbDVwWCB8Mu2GDRKN6y4tM83ahcRa-46iqwXk6Y7URq-ASfOBgeTFqpv26zHWUGGqK6165uyHqQYcQLasJGJfQHK2/s1600/SANY1343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXu9EDinLYGK3BXJe55zSG4Hby1Q7Qf0Es8wFy776pFVxH7OIQgrDfbDVwWCB8Mu2GDRKN6y4tM83ahcRa-46iqwXk6Y7URq-ASfOBgeTFqpv26zHWUGGqK6165uyHqQYcQLasJGJfQHK2/s1600/SANY1343.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panneria in Monte Sant' Angelo.</td></tr>
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Yet even this worked out in our favour. We used the Guardia Costiera, with whom we were meant to check in at every port of call, to ‘book’ us a spot on the next port’s harbour wall, so as to satisfy their requirement that we stop where we said we were heading. In fact this arrangement worked out so well, that we stopped at every harbour on the way south and had a ball running around on the local buses and trains. In this way we visited Monte Sant’ Angelo outside Manfredonia, and the famous cities of Lecce, Trani and Ostuni, also known as the white city, among others.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Zh8QhoLr3UPJ6_HmvME4jZOY9LS0cJN7xiBexED6u8LRL-M7Y3Ms46kxatF3k-8kF8CE2QtR-3kh3amrmbWVEhlrhoUwafwcgHlZ1IS6YX4R6VAccPTrEzxXsdl0opbZDu2CVVVJLGif/s1600/SANY1383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Zh8QhoLr3UPJ6_HmvME4jZOY9LS0cJN7xiBexED6u8LRL-M7Y3Ms46kxatF3k-8kF8CE2QtR-3kh3amrmbWVEhlrhoUwafwcgHlZ1IS6YX4R6VAccPTrEzxXsdl0opbZDu2CVVVJLGif/s1600/SANY1383.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing welcome at Molfetta.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9FXl76e9hgwAM4y-1P_blPQyEoxftKans7PF0azkGxUL_kEMQAcYkQsCWVg0gp2SIHpXiMNss8qfbzmuH-ODQpF8FePyY9CZI8xfoAQ7fP0EO34pKjD8qyYB8lJ8W8dSTRIBlTI-fh8T/s1600/SANY1457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9FXl76e9hgwAM4y-1P_blPQyEoxftKans7PF0azkGxUL_kEMQAcYkQsCWVg0gp2SIHpXiMNss8qfbzmuH-ODQpF8FePyY9CZI8xfoAQ7fP0EO34pKjD8qyYB8lJ8W8dSTRIBlTI-fh8T/s1600/SANY1457.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ostuni.</td></tr>
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We had an amazing stop at Molfetta, little realising that this was a sister city to Fremantle. It became obvious when Molfettese kept coming up to our boat on the harbour wall relating stories of their days in Fremantle. From them we learnt that the traditional blessing of the fleet in Freo is based on the Molfetta tradition of this annual feast day. We found ourselves taken over by friendly locals who provided fresh fish, prawns, vegetables, home made high quality olive oil and many other local produce, and wanted us to stay and celebrate the upcoming traditional feast with them – the friendliness and warmth of the people there is something we will not forget.<br />
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Our absolute favourite port going south was undoubtedly Monopoli, a most charming old town with just enough history and ruins to keep us happy between feasting on really good Italian food. The Romans where wrong, there is fish in the Mediterranean, at least the Adriatic part of it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYk3kg0LH4iRz9M921wxafM_IBVOoAarNIaCTlsoVAybXYgCJO2KCGA5bTADPpRtyyG-GAs90yeo8vbYOqRUTgJZnuzK4sNGIi5gRSzX4i0O_Cv52U0NV6atZNU9PCmnbdEJ-57xT9awq0/s1600/SANY1396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYk3kg0LH4iRz9M921wxafM_IBVOoAarNIaCTlsoVAybXYgCJO2KCGA5bTADPpRtyyG-GAs90yeo8vbYOqRUTgJZnuzK4sNGIi5gRSzX4i0O_Cv52U0NV6atZNU9PCmnbdEJ-57xT9awq0/s1600/SANY1396.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the 'Wall' in Monopoli.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyNvqs4hcXZW0JmqanXXj93fhJm8rZ_p9r9C9OfkXlOP706vOCxnZdFRAavMp5o24W2rt-CN0ncfDW_oZ_3zzO-8DUB15yKfwefDwPyuqsvYYNxIPU3uxCzHpmds2CT5UAt0m8LAjDQSN/s1600/SANY1410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyNvqs4hcXZW0JmqanXXj93fhJm8rZ_p9r9C9OfkXlOP706vOCxnZdFRAavMp5o24W2rt-CN0ncfDW_oZ_3zzO-8DUB15yKfwefDwPyuqsvYYNxIPU3uxCzHpmds2CT5UAt0m8LAjDQSN/s1600/SANY1410.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monopoli.</td></tr>
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A month on this coast of Italy flew by, with the telltale signs of good living now starting to show up in waistlines. So with reluctance we headed out of Brindisi and straight across to Syracuse to head down to Malta for a month’s stay before we headed back to Ragusa, in Sicily, where we were to leave MISCHIEF for the winter.SV Mischiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732107627031142254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972685580670352523.post-60069533371741388782011-08-03T07:56:00.000-07:002011-11-03T08:56:21.731-07:00Cruising Croatia: the trip north <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChvBcGwldckSEuiNmTDx6ROF8TyobEYiF82Fgq7X9m7pdiJkv8Wr6JptzcJ2Stv4mtQuYZ86JE_x8U1njX6_WBtctLhbUF1i1SFaQrIhzVEqQ3x3nzzifFy_MQz2dbxepNwZuW9j5WBAw/s1600/SANY1035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChvBcGwldckSEuiNmTDx6ROF8TyobEYiF82Fgq7X9m7pdiJkv8Wr6JptzcJ2Stv4mtQuYZ86JE_x8U1njX6_WBtctLhbUF1i1SFaQrIhzVEqQ3x3nzzifFy_MQz2dbxepNwZuW9j5WBAw/s320/SANY1035.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrating my 58th birthday with Andi, Lea & Georges from TE ARA</td></tr>
</tbody></table> The start to our 2011 cruising season was a very social one, as we left Malta in mid May sailing with Philip and Henriette on <em>Waterdrincker</em>. Our first stop in Sicily was the tiny port of Marzamemi where we caught up with old friends Te Ara. We sailed on to Syracuse and spent a glorious few days there and then went on to Taormina where our paths went different ways as we continued around the south of Italy with <em>Waterdrincker</em>. <br />
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We toured the areas around Crotone with Philip and Henriette (<em>Waterdrincker</em>) and then waved goodbye to them as we made our way the next morning towards Prevesa in Greece. We wanted to see the parts of the Ionian that we missed out on last year and also stop to do the first service on our new engine before getting to Croatia in the summer madness. <br />
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Greece is always a place of contrasts and after seeing the ‘fjord’ to the east of Prevesa with quant villages and more ruins to admire we went for some blue water again on what we were sure would be our highlight this time round in Greece, namely the lovely islands of Paxos and Corfu. We stayed a whole week in the little town of Gaios in Paxos and took bus rides and rented a scooter to explore the island. Very touristic in a nice way and most enjoyable. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJcdyuyH8Yv3vADS5sTPwvfEdhvxtV-sXdIU8ZatvEtmcm8_4MA5OC68f6Fz-j4-Zfhx18i58fqkjAIR1qSHshgjgwjfYWZepEtpkN3pCpVrjW_2ncOZG_W_eRN5bQfqJXWOxH3IsJl76e/s1600/SANY1098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJcdyuyH8Yv3vADS5sTPwvfEdhvxtV-sXdIU8ZatvEtmcm8_4MA5OC68f6Fz-j4-Zfhx18i58fqkjAIR1qSHshgjgwjfYWZepEtpkN3pCpVrjW_2ncOZG_W_eRN5bQfqJXWOxH3IsJl76e/s320/SANY1098.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paxos Island - the northern anchorage</td></tr>
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</div> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">From Paxos we then motor-sailed (we were in the ‘Motorranean’ after all) to Corfu to anchor under the old fort in calm blue seas. From here you can see Albania across the water and listen to Greek music from the taverna on the beach. A car rental and another week later we had experienced crazy tourist drivers and a thunderstorm or two with a swell in the anchorage to match any ocean crossing.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">At this point we motor-sailed to Montenegro as the storm force headwinds abated. We gave Albania a miss as we had heard that one was either welcomed with open arms and kisses on both cheeks or robbed and shot on sight if you believe other cruisers’ tales. </div><br />
The old town Kotor in Montenegro takes the picturesque prize in the region and is proudly operated by the local mafia who can teach the Italian cousins a few things apparently (which is why the Italian navy is patrolling the seas here and the minefields from the WW2 are still clearly marked on the sea charts).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrsbbrFGA2TDgZmd4DX_eDS6fl6MEIL81mUnddMkhmVdDKtOVmZyrhMjXsK6Cutsl92K0bow99Wc9wYe1MevR6SFdFlxbLnjxYL4KPaNFeto0TZ4cve6lXGdN_8L5zVxIgSNYldFZYcI-/s1600/SANY1167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrsbbrFGA2TDgZmd4DX_eDS6fl6MEIL81mUnddMkhmVdDKtOVmZyrhMjXsK6Cutsl92K0bow99Wc9wYe1MevR6SFdFlxbLnjxYL4KPaNFeto0TZ4cve6lXGdN_8L5zVxIgSNYldFZYcI-/s320/SANY1167.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magnificent Montenegro</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Being the daredevils we are we did not take a shortcut through the minefields even though we had been assured no one had been blown up for a long time. We arrived in Kotor to find it a really lovely, great place and, you guessed it, stayed a week enjoying the old town, food and artsy culture.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">All good things have to come to an end and as there was no wind we motored on to Croatia. By now we were really pleased with our new engine that had already clocked over 100 hours. Checking in to Croatia, we emptied our wallet in favour of the taxman for the pleasure of being in these waters. To our surprise we found ourselves anchored next to three other antipodean yachts, two of which we would meet again later in the season.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Croatia is great for sailing with many islands and anchorages to stop at, some with lots of history. We sailed via Lopud to the island of Mljet, also a national park, and waited out some strong north easterlies (the dreaded Bora winds) here and ran into more Aussies, including Gail & Alex on <em>Stefanija</em>, and Carola & Jim on <em>Koza</em>.</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMiu3ngulehwuy6Bw7cSMjBI6tzslGXpYmvH6oJTsJQxK6LvUfosbhP1-X6fRCLI35MFWxE2hZXT-tvGzSLIFt2FjKV_yADx2sYzE_O2Ka5TSawNADhTViO8Z5TaDtX044eT_DWfzgWKbL/s1600/SANY1199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMiu3ngulehwuy6Bw7cSMjBI6tzslGXpYmvH6oJTsJQxK6LvUfosbhP1-X6fRCLI35MFWxE2hZXT-tvGzSLIFt2FjKV_yADx2sYzE_O2Ka5TSawNADhTViO8Z5TaDtX044eT_DWfzgWKbL/s320/SANY1199.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the island of Hvar</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We made our way slowly north visiting many towns and anchorages in Korcula, Hvar, Drvenik Veli, Murter, Pasman, Ugljan, Molat and Mali Losinj to name a few. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The reputation of turquoise waters in beautiful bays was not exaggerated, and with more leisure time to explore the surrounds than our two week cruise to Croatia some six years back had allowed, we really enjoyed rediscovering this truly magnificent archipelago which is a sailing paradise.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Our ambitious program had us in Pula at the northern end of Croatia, by the end of July for our ultimate goal of the year, Venice. Here we caught up with Gerlinde & Martin on <em>Mojo</em>, Austrian friends we had first met during our winter stay in Finike 2 years ago. We also ran into <em>Koza </em>again and met June and Pat <em>Antares</em> , a Kiwi boat (the Boxing Kangaroo flag has really done its work this season!!).</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPCStG1zF8eYvW8yz_qInDvKlzIrrCM25IeRpKjORCnBJ9NtXqMOhib_wsaO9oTc8LfzO480VXB6NhXOqNMAZ2ugFnKfNwEb0JnwuyMpQaV9u3SrK3OZfoL99eB1gEkzVzW4RodJRVxcw/s1600/SANY1269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPCStG1zF8eYvW8yz_qInDvKlzIrrCM25IeRpKjORCnBJ9NtXqMOhib_wsaO9oTc8LfzO480VXB6NhXOqNMAZ2ugFnKfNwEb0JnwuyMpQaV9u3SrK3OZfoL99eB1gEkzVzW4RodJRVxcw/s320/SANY1269.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roman Colesseum at Pula</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Venice was not to happen however. We did attempt a crossing early one morning and were greeted with 2-3 metre breaking waves at the entrance to Pula harbour, and simply turned back. With squalls and thunderstorms forecast for the next week or so, it was with great sadness and disappointment that we decided the weather gods turned against us dishing out thunderstorms galore for two weeks. </div><br />
There is the flip side to everything however, as we changed plans and decided to prolong our cruising in Croatia by another month, giving us the opportunity to visit some of the other islands that we had missed out on going north, including the stunning Dugi Otok national park.<br />
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So here we are sitting sipping a good glass of wine as we plan our next moves to take in as much of this wonderful archipelago as possible.<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>SV Mischiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732107627031142254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972685580670352523.post-15240090067777829232011-05-25T05:19:00.000-07:002011-11-03T08:15:31.900-07:00Wintering in Malta<div><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Hello fellow cruisers/ dear friends, family and all.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsp4UnKnOfdMd8myZeZaS5UstW_ihY8XHXi4biaTLYLItHgmx14bHP69xU9oMWvBf4ylpqJL2CF7nslTRyz3R0_K1eW2lJ3gqil_ftmLDevAVDsxWWToKOEopSQ6nSm0a_tV2z0h01ImNv/s1600/SANY0925.JPG" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644796302937415986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsp4UnKnOfdMd8myZeZaS5UstW_ihY8XHXi4biaTLYLItHgmx14bHP69xU9oMWvBf4ylpqJL2CF7nslTRyz3R0_K1eW2lJ3gqil_ftmLDevAVDsxWWToKOEopSQ6nSm0a_tV2z0h01ImNv/s320/SANY0925.JPG" style="float: right; height: 240px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 320px;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Out with the old in with the new</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This has been our first long break ashore since leaving Australia over three years ago, as we have been off our beloved Mischief for about 6 months. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We were very lucky to have a friend with an empty house in Malta which we could move into. So everything came off Mischief, and she got a thorough scrubbing, refreshing the varnish an d airing/ cleaning bedding etc. We did the same to our friend’s house which had been closed up for a length of time.</div></div> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdW9eJKDOvNz0T0dnuBA8rW0YbhPGJ70_YIfAJJbDh4TO0H7hzmKBUQGWzWZd__1xllI5cPPzxPqlZn73oK8uq1yKzh2ERl71v4HeJ24pIkRWALy8KETmwHwCM2Fc9yhyphenhyphenMQ5A5E1Rh09qA/s1600/SANY0927.JPG" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644796310774252578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdW9eJKDOvNz0T0dnuBA8rW0YbhPGJ70_YIfAJJbDh4TO0H7hzmKBUQGWzWZd__1xllI5cPPzxPqlZn73oK8uq1yKzh2ERl71v4HeJ24pIkRWALy8KETmwHwCM2Fc9yhyphenhyphenMQ5A5E1Rh09qA/s320/SANY0927.JPG" style="float: right; height: 240px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 320px;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Never knew the engine room was so cosy</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The first 3 months we concentrated on changing engine, and we now have a new YANMAR 54 hp in a pristine engine room. You almost need sunnies now with the glare from the new alfoil lined insulation, and Bjorn is justifiably very proud of his handiwork! As boat work will have it we also had to change the propeller shaft and propeller offcourse. Out with the old and in with the new became a major effort. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4AsvzWEMZcbvSzeocplcnVEQmGvwVHvW8o2ECqfkUNjoEjsIj2dwenc3dZ7LPx06ux_LJayZbosgMoItrbAGrkupEJIF923KvCRtBNGB1T8dMizJ_6614IF8FlP8RdTVGr_AaE3velxcJ/s1600/SANY0950.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644796313923790866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4AsvzWEMZcbvSzeocplcnVEQmGvwVHvW8o2ECqfkUNjoEjsIj2dwenc3dZ7LPx06ux_LJayZbosgMoItrbAGrkupEJIF923KvCRtBNGB1T8dMizJ_6614IF8FlP8RdTVGr_AaE3velxcJ/s320/SANY0950.JPG" style="float: right; height: 240px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our new tank</td></tr>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Another project was a new fuel tank, made from fibreglass, using a special chemical resistant resin, to replace the old steel tank that has had a ‘temporary’ repair since the Red Sea. We should have finished all the major jobs now. Needless to say, to you boaties, you are having a quiet giggle now, as there is no such thing as no more jobs on a boat!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div> We took off from Malta in mid December and flew to Perth to spend Christmas with Mark & Bridget and Annika & Jesper. Thanks to Bridget’s family, we house sat a beautiful home and garden in an idyllic setting in the bush (forest for you non Aussies) outside Margaret River, some 250 kms south of Perth, and had a terrific Xmas and New Year with the Swarbrecks (Bridget’s family), even managing to avoid the 40 degree heat wave in Perth.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNMSQAUqpctVfBeZpqCls5neQsUNNmQDDzyPBq-5KHVfBpKuB1zcxi-aOPp1QOoDmyznGLxWa2PUE6TTE8hSTaxAaseOYWoPSa81opMSP5Vn2I-SRmmcssjHK4UYbAZmvmE9nxHp_YSBR/s1600/P1040494.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645064511699533810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNMSQAUqpctVfBeZpqCls5neQsUNNmQDDzyPBq-5KHVfBpKuB1zcxi-aOPp1QOoDmyznGLxWa2PUE6TTE8hSTaxAaseOYWoPSa81opMSP5Vn2I-SRmmcssjHK4UYbAZmvmE9nxHp_YSBR/s320/P1040494.JPG" style="float: right; height: 240px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only one thing to do when there are sharks in the water</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">But our reprieve from the heat was short lived! Perth proved to be a hot destination this year, and a very social one too. Apart from all our friends, including those at the Fremantle Sailing Club, we managed to catch up with several cruisers (Sandpiper, Purr, Billabong, Pampero) and other friends (Mara) who were visiting in Perth.</div> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Back in Malta in mid March, after a brief stop over in incredible Dubai, we concentrated on getting Mischief ready for this year’s cruising. The weather in this part of the Med has taken its time to settle down and even now, towards the end of May, it is still a coolish 20 – 21 degrees, and only slowly warming up.<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We left Malta on the 15 May and had a leisurely motor sail – in company with Waterdrincker (Philip & Henriette and friends) to Marzamemi in Sicily, catching up with dear friends Georges, Andi and their gorgeous 9 year old Lea on Te Ara.</div><br />
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAcMMt9GA_mpI-B3_XI85xwG6RDjHMJVqnJ1tk0OrTA0W4z6NYb3Q0JwHB-T8zvj1RkpoJluDiz48rPkvEWPeicSMhsOKH3qbWv7NExFEnvmDcEeSA1zeSTrC0UwqYTntVPRW_gG1m3rP/s1600/SDC12187.JPG" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644801550428808706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAcMMt9GA_mpI-B3_XI85xwG6RDjHMJVqnJ1tk0OrTA0W4z6NYb3Q0JwHB-T8zvj1RkpoJluDiz48rPkvEWPeicSMhsOKH3qbWv7NExFEnvmDcEeSA1zeSTrC0UwqYTntVPRW_gG1m3rP/s320/SDC12187.JPG" style="float: right; height: 240px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">A feast of food and fresh produce in Sicily</td></tr>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We are now back in Syracuse, enjoying the fabulous foods and feasting our eyes and bellies on the wonderful range of produce from the local market. We also celebrated our birthdays with these good friends. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Our plan for this year is very flexible, though we still intend to try and go up the Adriatic to Venice and stop over in Ravenna in August. We will be making our way towards Paxos and Corfu via the boot of Italy in the next week or so!</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Until our next instalment, we wish you all best of health and a good season wherever you are!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Cheers</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Christina & Bjorn </div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>SV Mischiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732107627031142254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972685580670352523.post-3746174830503169552010-10-05T12:00:00.000-07:002011-08-25T03:27:48.396-07:00The Corinth and the Ionian to Malta
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<br />Hello fellow cruisers/ dear friends, family and all.
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<br />Here we are, berthed at Msida marina on the breakwater, with the 600 year old bastions of Valletta and Floriana in the background, 400 metres across from us in Marsamxett Harbour, Malta.
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<br />But first to our last part of the Greek cruise.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvaV4JTwszevAB4k6PAigNw5gcBjka8D2A6LIE2QVvDC5b1U2asVjYrUDs1vObRjyezezqBA1Lz2vHA18dTmjppDr2fpDF_bJ5jfdQx3fkpxRq2WWbwOVqn1SjEY2Bef451T0Y8jf0vqI/s1600/2010+07+Corinth+Canal+019.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644731801274168386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvaV4JTwszevAB4k6PAigNw5gcBjka8D2A6LIE2QVvDC5b1U2asVjYrUDs1vObRjyezezqBA1Lz2vHA18dTmjppDr2fpDF_bJ5jfdQx3fkpxRq2WWbwOVqn1SjEY2Bef451T0Y8jf0vqI/s320/2010+07+Corinth+Canal+019.jpg" /></a>
<br />We left Paros with very gentle winds and a good forecast for the following week and cruised up along the Peloponnese coast towards the Corinth Canal, stopping at the historic town of Epidhavros on the way. We anchored at Kalamaki overnight and in the morning left early to go up the Corinth Canal with calm winds forecast. The canal is quite narrow, with steep sides and very dramatic, and we only had a small counter current which did not worry us at all. It was interesting to see how the sides of the canal are getting eroded and the efforts being made to maintain it.
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<br />It took us about an hour and a half to go through the canal, and then we were in the Gulf of Corinth. Up went the sails as the wind started to pick up. Before long we had 20 knots plus head winds and the seas were short and becoming very choppy and wet. We gave up on our original plan to go through to Galaxidi and decided to go to the bay at Veresses. It was protected from the swell but had some very strong gusts blowing into the bay until sunset, when all died down.
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<br />In the morning, we made an early start before the wind picked up again and motored round the corner into Galaxidi, one of the prettiest little harbours we had visited to date, b<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWgnWzYceaxtQ6ar42plt5kHqMlSNDNt4PsEi6Xqs6eypV5Y3uqqJZsJApF0JdUG6Aw2tjdqkQ1OFqjCgSLiSbHd9dnQefXUk5kR6vR9fBK9XZXbVfGdbhcg9bpxCP7yr4GnWNbd-dn9X/s1600/DSC02576.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644731804976736114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWgnWzYceaxtQ6ar42plt5kHqMlSNDNt4PsEi6Xqs6eypV5Y3uqqJZsJApF0JdUG6Aw2tjdqkQ1OFqjCgSLiSbHd9dnQefXUk5kR6vR9fBK9XZXbVfGdbhcg9bpxCP7yr4GnWNbd-dn9X/s320/DSC02576.JPG" /></a>ut also with an ominous clunking sound coming from the engine. Once in Galaxidi Bjorn, with the help of Mark, figured the drive plate was broken and needed replacing. After chasing all over Greece (by phone) for the part we ended up ordering the it from the UK (much cheaper and the proper part). Then came the hairy bit of pushing the shaft back whilst the boat is still in the water, replacing the plate and then trying to get the shaft back in again!!! Once again, my darling chief engineer (definitely in the captain's good books that time) did a tremendous job, with Mark and Peter, another Australian on the catamaran Purr, helping.
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<br />We stayed on in Galaxidi and went to visit Delphi which is by far the most stunning site we have been to in Greece. The museum is really first class! We also made some good friends in this town and spent some very pleasant evenings with Peter and Dorothy on Purr (also fro<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51cYsMrbX0NErfiQOkxUVv9hepoBmB1OZqNbq3nE_P4T5eBOUrlkExt_lcG9udCIvXSHeLtXGdRio5cuzGZIwYBI3yza2MlateU9JWyqmLTgQgSOGchqMM_eANHtU0IfNsL3OJLXsiq9i/s1600/DSC02598.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644731808035365906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51cYsMrbX0NErfiQOkxUVv9hepoBmB1OZqNbq3nE_P4T5eBOUrlkExt_lcG9udCIvXSHeLtXGdRio5cuzGZIwYBI3yza2MlateU9JWyqmLTgQgSOGchqMM_eANHtU0IfNsL3OJLXsiq9i/s320/DSC02598.JPG" /></a>m Freo Sailing Club and sailed to Med) and Gina & Lenny on Feijao (eastern staters), plus our American friends Harry & Jane on Cormorant. Another of Mark & Bridget's friends joined us here, bringing more boat spares from the UK.
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<br />After some 8-9 days, we motored out of Galaxidi to the small island of Trizionia with a very pretty bay, some 15 miles to the east along the Corinth. It was approaching the end of Mark & Bridget's stay with us, and we decided to do an overnight sail before they left. So we left at 5.00pm and headed out first under the bridge at Patras and then straight on towards the Ionian island of Ithaca, where Mark and Bridget and their friend Lucy were to disembark and take the ferry to Corfu.
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<br />We arrived at Vathy Harbour in Ithaca at 7.00 am, after slowing down for the last few hours of early morning. What a stunning place this was, seemingly a very safe harbour. We decided to rest up after the overnight sail, and then go ashore in the afternoon. The cruising guide did warn about fierce gusts, and they were not wrong! We certainly got wet going ashore, and only did so because the anchor seemed to be holding very well! It seems that the wind blows 25 - 30 knots in the harbour, and yet it can be only 5 knots outside, depending on wind direction. Luckily the wind eased off at dusk and we had a drier return trip to Mischief after our last meal together ashore.
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<br />What did not work out though was the ferry to Corfu where Mark, Bridget and Lucy were headed. The direct ferry service had been cancelled and it seemed they either had to t<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ODtSY0Qs3rac5kUnUHiQXUsvJxbx8tXHa0qLGg6TaVtXgg3XeeVCKHSUYWOFAXap4h8vy6cvKKZNPEChEjRjqU-pK0LawcTOk3fEzMSlLDSFXIu0-BgvKH0SW_Kyrp9NomrsFcY-sGcM/s1600/DSC02760.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644731811843789282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ODtSY0Qs3rac5kUnUHiQXUsvJxbx8tXHa0qLGg6TaVtXgg3XeeVCKHSUYWOFAXap4h8vy6cvKKZNPEChEjRjqU-pK0LawcTOk3fEzMSlLDSFXIu0-BgvKH0SW_Kyrp9NomrsFcY-sGcM/s320/DSC02760.JPG" /></a>ake a ferry back to Patras (a whole day) and then one out to Corfu or else island hop.... With favourable weather forecast, we upped anchor the next morning and motor sailed north to Nidri harbour in Levkas, where the 'kids' (they hate me calling them that, but 'young adults' seems too artificial, maybe I should just stick to M&B)... disembarked.
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<br />We stopped in Nidri for about a week, somewhat sad about the departure of M&B and tried to work up some enthusiasm for cruising the Ionian. In truth, after visiting some 25 islands, numerous Hora (main towns on Greek islands, sometimes also spelt Chora), churches, ruins and other sites we were somewhat exhausted from sightseeing and needed a rest. We were fortunate to bump into our friends on Cormorant once again and met up some other cruisers who gave us good tips for bays to visit in the area, where we could swim, relax and enjoy the beautiful bays. What we had not planned on was the August holidays and the invasion of yachts by Italians and northern Europeans and the crazy - and sometimes downright dangerous - manoeuvrings of some the yacht skippers and charterers.
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<br />We cruised around the island of Meganisi for a week, always making sure to get in early to find a good anchorage, and ended up having to tie up stern to in one of the bays. I guess it had to happen sooner or later, but to our horror we got a rat on board. We caught it the second night, but not after it had started to chew our new VHF coax which we had only just installed a year before! The rat must have tried to come aboard on the rope tied to shore which had a rat protection wheel.... from the droppings it seems that it must have fallen into the water, somehow swam to the front of the boat, climbed our anchor chain and made its way to the hatch where it chewed our flyscreen to get in!! Thank goodness for those gluey strips, for they trapped the very unwelcome guest before it did much more damage!!
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<br />Well... that somewhat turned me off the idyllic Ionian, but in truth, these pests exist everywhere!! We left Meganisi in disgust and tried to find another anchorage where we would not have to tie up to shore. Thanks to a tip from Cormorant, we discovered the lovely bay called Port Leoni and a few days later decided to take up another tip and visit Kioni, on Ithaca. We were told to get there early, and luckily we did as we found just about the last spot on the harbour - and right along side Georges & Andrea and daughter Lea on Te Ara whom we knew from our winter at Finike Marina. Well... a good reunion, sundowner time and a glass of wine in hand and suddenly the whole harbour came alive as boats started coming in to find berths...
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<br />Now get this... a small harbour at the head of a small bay which could accommodate perhaps 15-20 yachts. Then suddenly you have flotillas of charter yachts and other boats coming in (we counted about 70 one evening) looking to tie up. Deep water throughout, so boats would have to anchor close to shore and put a stern line out to tie up. The yelling, shouting, trying to get a place first, dangerous tactics, swearing etc certainly kept us entertained every evening, as we kept watch to ensure our anchors did not get snagged and we came unstuck!! 11,000 nautical miles from Fremantle to the Med, and this was definitely the scariest bit of boating we encountered! We saw - and helped untangle - many boats whose careless or clueless captains got anchors snagged, sometimes towing other boats behind them!!
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigACYB0Sa4nqzBDlrKKuPcMfBXa1xcE9xc97GT6QnYPdqODXhXkKZsKO26B-Z5eLMxxTM25E8pYkpSA7fbh2P4nXmmV52MUMQL_G2gHXPY_OwNgu4JgpPHOX95wXhHuX9kokqF_EazOR7T/s1600/SANY0818.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644731818202451778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigACYB0Sa4nqzBDlrKKuPcMfBXa1xcE9xc97GT6QnYPdqODXhXkKZsKO26B-Z5eLMxxTM25E8pYkpSA7fbh2P4nXmmV52MUMQL_G2gHXPY_OwNgu4JgpPHOX95wXhHuX9kokqF_EazOR7T/s320/SANY0818.JPG" /></a>
<br />With these antics, we gave up on trying other anchorages, as the word was that everywhere was just too crowded and crazy, so we explored Ithaca with Te Ara and then headed to Nidri to get ready for our crossing to Sicily and then to Malta for the winter. The plan was to get to the Ionian early next season and explore the beautiful isles in peace before heading up the Adriatic to Croatia and on to Venice.
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<br />We had a lovely sail for the first 36 hours and were heading straight to Malta, but some 50 miles from Syracuse we ran into an uncomfortable swell and decided to revert to our original plan and changed direction for Syracuse. We got there early morning to see once again our friends Cormorant at the anchorage. We spent close to a week there waiting for favourable winds to sail the last 80 miles to Malta, but in the meantime rediscovered the old town of Syracuse which has been transformed from a dirty, grotty city I remembered from some 40 years ago to this incredibly lovely scrubbed up and restored old town - really charming, warm and friendly with some marvellous restaurants and a good market! We fell in love and would have stayed on but for the need to get to Malta and secure a winter berth.
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<br />We had a pleasant crossing to Malta, sailing for the first part and then motoring as the wind died down overnight. I cannot describe the emotions of finally sailing into Marsamxett Harbour in Malta in our beloved MISCHIEF two and a half years after leaving Fremantle. We put down anchor and I had to go and coax a place in the marina, and a few days later managed to tie up at the guest berths.
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<br />So here we are, mum (88) and dad (94) still going strong as are all the rest of the family, MISCHIEF getting readied for the winter, and for more winter maintenance including possibly a new engine for the next legs of our voyage. We keep running into old sailing friends, Blue Marine, Moonshadow , Te Ara and others are all in Malta, some for the winter, some passing through... catching up with old sailing friends in Malta.... We even had visitors from WA (Bicton neighbours) including old acquaintances we had long lost touch with - all in all a very social start to our winter stay.
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<br />And before long, winter in Perth with our daughter and partner, and M&B, a family together again even if briefly after 4 years... We hope to catch up with as many as possible in Perth (we're there for 2-3 months).
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<br />All the very best
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<br />Christina & Bjorn
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<br />SV Mischiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732107627031142254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972685580670352523.post-59442341752246784892010-08-19T00:32:00.000-07:002011-08-21T08:12:36.274-07:00Mischief in the AgeanYassas (hello) to all!
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<br /><div>Here's our account of our wonderful trip across the Agean - very late thanks to a computer breakdown which we got fixed in Athens, and then having to load back the software and docs, most of which we had backed up luckily!!
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<br />We waved goodbye to Finike with some sadness, having grown so fond of Turkey and the gentle, friendly Turks during our year long stay. In addition, our final inland trip to the stunning fairytale land of Cappadocia was a highlight not only of Turkey but of our odessey so far.
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<br />We cruised up into the wonderful anchorages at Kekova Roads with its Lycian ruins spread both above ground and under water, and spent a good week readjusting to living at marinas. Then we moved to our first Greek stop at the islet of Castellorizon,. It is only 2 miles off the Turkish town of Kas, small, very picturesque and very typical of the Dodecanese architecture with Venetian influence - and still one of my favourite islands. From there we returned to the Turkish coast making our way to Fethiye to formally check out of Turkey, and then crossed over to Rhodes to pick up Mark and Bridget who were going to cruise with us for the 2 month trip across the Agean to Athens and beyond. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6LuKPmuFF70f1iAEH4hG5AaIy38rgoA9bxoeJFQkJXnX_fTVRLnRaUFXHYJkcVK8n0gvl1HqXiyuWNh7wbD0xEcTV0vB1YJ9s0q8f55vrjilwAjzChUtC4QfHaPYARtEQhxef914-H49n/s1600/P1000552.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643321094256895506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6LuKPmuFF70f1iAEH4hG5AaIy38rgoA9bxoeJFQkJXnX_fTVRLnRaUFXHYJkcVK8n0gvl1HqXiyuWNh7wbD0xEcTV0vB1YJ9s0q8f55vrjilwAjzChUtC4QfHaPYARtEQhxef914-H49n/s320/P1000552.JPG" /></a>
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<br />We had a good schedule of islands planned out, going north through the Dodecanese from Rhodes to Patmos, then turning south to the Cyclades towards Santorini and then turning northwest through the lower Cyclades towards Athens. This route was meant to dovetail with the meltemi season, and whilst I would love to put it down to my exquisite planning, the wind gods were definitely on our side as we had a really great passage.
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<br />The highlight in Rhodes was undoubtedly the castle and the old city. The town of Lindos, on the east coast, was also truly worth the visit. In Rhodes, we also caught up with Marie Christine & Yves on Blue Marine, whom we had first met in Malaysia and had not seen for over a year.
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<br /><div>The next stop was at the pretty island of Simi for a few days and then on to the anchorage on the Turkish coast at the old Lycian port of Knidos. From there we headed to Kos and stayed at the very pretty old harbour with the Castle of the Knights dominating the port. Here we visited the Hellenistic and Roman ruins all around us, and enjoyed the shade under Hippocrates Plane Tree, where he reputedly taught his pupils. An overnight stop at a lovely anchorage at Pserimos and then we called into Kalimnos, a very Greek town out of the tourist mainstream.
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<br />We really like Leros - almost completely overlooked by tourists, despite its not very promising description in our cruising guide. A stunning medevial castle and some very pretty villages on the east coast made for a very pleasant stay. From here we moved to the small island of Lipsi and a lovely anchorage to wait out some northerly winds. Luckily there were some moorings which we could use, as the holding for the anchor was not the best, and we had one of the best Greek meals ashore at the only taverna in the turquoise bay.
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<br />We got to Patmos in time to meet up with the Fremantle Sailing Club cruisers who chartere<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvS5CHqPYRZMASBjhiMS54YMGZxAXdcPgQqw0GakXDnWWZ3oVg4Wwh6Qxe-4o8xU_kQe7LDdsVk5EiWxhS8phGos7K8hmrhsdMC5jDvjcg-kZkntydC8YuZxHP0sWz5lJF5IuoXeL88WD8/s1600/DSC00794.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643322803087931426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvS5CHqPYRZMASBjhiMS54YMGZxAXdcPgQqw0GakXDnWWZ3oVg4Wwh6Qxe-4o8xU_kQe7LDdsVk5EiWxhS8phGos7K8hmrhsdMC5jDvjcg-kZkntydC8YuZxHP0sWz5lJF5IuoXeL88WD8/s320/DSC00794.JPG" /></a>d boats from Athens and were sailing east to Rhodes. It was a real treat to catch up with old friends and added to the appeal of Patmos (John the Divine wrote the Apocalypse here) with its stunning monastry and the winding streets with whitewashed houses of Hora perched on top of the hill overlooking the island and the harbour.
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<br />We waved goodbye to old friends and to the Dodecanese and started south to the Cyclades, and had the only uncomfortable trip in the Agean - not so much because of strong winds, which actually were not that strong, but because of uncomfortable seas as the winds had gone from southerlies to northerlies, and the swell was quite confused.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW301JCTemgozDt-PJlJa7U34FCxMrYN-3r8QkKHoFu6pmQOdLXXPxKUsPo2Gp-lc6wS9fVQisXs17CVZB4lW8lMxHoEcTvOkVvneyHnWnkJb0cUG7PKdWapRPEMJ_XTv26b-dC6VODEDp/s1600/DSC01102.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643322808343028178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW301JCTemgozDt-PJlJa7U34FCxMrYN-3r8QkKHoFu6pmQOdLXXPxKUsPo2Gp-lc6wS9fVQisXs17CVZB4lW8lMxHoEcTvOkVvneyHnWnkJb0cUG7PKdWapRPEMJ_XTv26b-dC6VODEDp/s320/DSC01102.JPG" /></a>
<br />The very small island of Levitha offered a wonderfully safe overnight anchorage and the next day we continued on with very pleasant gently northerlies to Amorgos. Here we rented a car and visited the spectacular east coast with magnificient cliffs and a stunning monastry built into the side of a very steep cliff (and a good walk up to get to it too)!
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<br />The main hora is very pretty and Amorgas also boasts some lovely, picturesque hilltop villages at the northern end.
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<br />Next stop was Thira (Santorini) with its magnificient volcanic crater. We rented a car and drove up to visit the fantastic hilltop towns perched on the edge of the cliffs overlooking the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIObXPTuDjGul5UOHGJ5IsprcR9eQnuuuJsKVv4ZzTe_6mR4GCGu_Nxq15hnNOWPzuioWJvKn2KWx-4s97ACg0GIRRaeAxjVLPpn4x_vCpEXOqcNfR7oYbtfIcLMEGuoIpL75DdOqVi11/s1600/DSC01263.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643322810883729778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIObXPTuDjGul5UOHGJ5IsprcR9eQnuuuJsKVv4ZzTe_6mR4GCGu_Nxq15hnNOWPzuioWJvKn2KWx-4s97ACg0GIRRaeAxjVLPpn4x_vCpEXOqcNfR7oYbtfIcLMEGuoIpL75DdOqVi11/s320/DSC01263.JPG" /></a>semicircular caldera with its spectacular multicoloured cliffs. The main town of Fira is the picture postcard of the Cyclades with its immaculate whitewashed houses- and streets sometimes - and blue trim/ roofs! We all agreed however that the even older town of Oia at the northern tip - with its cave homes - was the most attractive, and the sunset at Oia is not to be missed, despite the hordes that gather there and take up every square inch of wall or roof top to watch! Definitely a must!
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<br />We took the boat into the caldera, and anchored in one to the tiny bays on Nea Kameni, the crater core which is still active, for Mark to walk up to the crater. After lunch we started on our northwesterly route, to a lovely anchorage on the south side of Ios, before heading around to the main harbour the next day to pick up my nephew, Ben and his partner Nadine. We won't say much about Ben turning up with his leg in plaster and on crutches, but the good thing is that even with six of us on the boat, we all spread around and had a great 4-5 days of partying and cruising (actually we let the "kids" do the all night parties, and watched the hangovers with bemusement....)
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<br />Ios is definitely fun island for the young. The main Hora is not only a very attractive Cycladic village with the usual labyrinth of narrow winding lanes with thatch roofs straddling the lanes. It is also filled with nightspots which are relatively inexpensive by Greek standards. This island certainly grew on us, and we left a few days later so explore more islands and anchorages. We crossed to the island of Sikinos, only 7 miles away, to the most delightful small harbour we had seen so far. We anchored just outside the harbour in turquoise waters, but realised that this would not do as an overnight stop if the wind blew up, so reluctantly left late afternoon and headed to Antiparos for the night, heading north to Ioannis Cove in the northern end of Paros the next morning.
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<br />After relentlessly moving on for the last six weeks, we were delighted that we had now crossed the main waters of the Agean without too much adverse winds. We were all feeling somewhat jaded from too many islands, monasteries, Horas etc... and needed time out. What luck then that Ioannis Cove was turquoise heaven with lovely, tiny seculeded sandy beaches and a very safe all weather anchorage. One of the main beaches had a beach concession, and a ferry into the very pretty town of Naousa very regularly. It was here that we bid Ben & Nadine farewell, and a few days later welcomed Clare and her brother Lucas for another short visit. Strong winds blew up (a first taste of strong meltemis) and we decided to stay put, and enjoy the wonderful anchorage, and explore the island and surrounds. We also took the ferry to visit the ancient site of Delos and the island of Mykonos via Naxos.
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<br />We ended up spending 11 days in Paros, and as the winds settled we sailed off first to Serifos, to see was is reputedly the most stunning Hora of the Cyclades (it was too: white houses crowning two steep peaks - one higher than the other and crowned itself with a Venetian Kastro). From here we moved on to Kithnos before crossing to mainland Greece on the Peloponnese side to the large safe anchorage (Russian Bay) at Poros. We planned to stay here for a week or so, celebrate our Agean crossing, visit Athens and plan the rest of our Greek odessey... We did all that, went into Athens and visited the Acropolis, crowned by the Parthenon overlooking the centre of <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBNXRnq9FkIrDol1a7EDs9mQGywhfPNKw6aal2gA_RdpN263Efd0YQvATYB7L1yI7_ylI6wvpHhuw2uX_RkKvBDCmGqlfgn92tvIUkdkvKHKtM2R9t1Cb-OzgG2p9vxj3gpSxwH3Mdz5F/s1600/DSC01388.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643322814210863378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBNXRnq9FkIrDol1a7EDs9mQGywhfPNKw6aal2gA_RdpN263Efd0YQvATYB7L1yI7_ylI6wvpHhuw2uX_RkKvBDCmGqlfgn92tvIUkdkvKHKtM2R9t1Cb-OzgG2p9vxj3gpSxwH3Mdz5F/s320/DSC01388.JPG" /></a>Athens - and got our computer fixed. A few days of rest and relaxation around the wonderful anchorage at Russian Bay, with a few visits into the town of Poros, and we started thinking of our crossing the Corinth Canal and into the Ionian - all in our next newsletter!!
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<br />One other item that deserves mention is the number of cruisers that we caught up with that sometimes cruised with us and so often gave us some excellent anchorage and restaurant tips! Thanks to all you guys and we certainly enjoyed the company!
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<br />All the very best from us all on Mischief: Chris & Bjorn, Bridget and Mark
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<br />SV Mischiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732107627031142254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972685580670352523.post-29097285212013521582010-05-21T05:24:00.000-07:002010-05-21T05:55:53.906-07:00Winter in FinikeHello all!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRE_HYNZ-1Vh2SajT1ljEtoJKypUoyOvKjNlaIYLwfdfa-wWYkeb7DpBNinAY5BVpe597gaFxJdrMYUp4NXhTPx48Hg01UOv8F7UNduTerdru2kV3Ly5iYf2Fea6cvoG5eNXYv2nZDCslI/s1600/SANY0470.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473702638091847298" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRE_HYNZ-1Vh2SajT1ljEtoJKypUoyOvKjNlaIYLwfdfa-wWYkeb7DpBNinAY5BVpe597gaFxJdrMYUp4NXhTPx48Hg01UOv8F7UNduTerdru2kV3Ly5iYf2Fea6cvoG5eNXYv2nZDCslI/s320/SANY0470.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We have now left Finike Marina, and are heading slowly up the Turkish coast to Fethiye over the month of May. In early June we cross over to Rhodes where we pick up Mark (our son) and Bridget (our daughter-in-law…) who will cruise with us through the Greek islands for some two months or so!<br /><br />This has been our first winter stop at a marina, and it has been terrific! We have completed an impressive list of jobs – some minor and some not so minor – and managed a full and varied social life.<br /><br />The liveaboards over the winter came from everywhere, and there was also a strong Aussie and NZealand component this year! We organised all sorts of activities which included endless varieties of keep-fit, weekly movie, quiz, games and topic nights (which I organised – the latter, I mean) a pub night on Fridays and of course the Sunday BBQ… we als<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYCSy_NecAkyH1VAniaJgO4y8-tcwWZjLYKKVgv8IZA1iw18ipVSckLZxF2UF6Ymz5HpaD3H1h8G8d329eGogGIsLWSznVyTQ8HgqOg9REmUiqgc0_2CxuE1HGHTlYdxfFN_OlzYS41nr/s1600/SANY0591.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473703350680796690" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYCSy_NecAkyH1VAniaJgO4y8-tcwWZjLYKKVgv8IZA1iw18ipVSckLZxF2UF6Ymz5HpaD3H1h8G8d329eGogGIsLWSznVyTQ8HgqOg9REmUiqgc0_2CxuE1HGHTlYdxfFN_OlzYS41nr/s320/SANY0591.JPG" border="0" /></a>o organised all sorts of excursions to the wonderful historical sites around the area (see pics) and walks on the surrounding mountains which are really beautiful – but the piece de resistance was probably the regular trips to Antalya for shopping followed by a concert, ballet or opera…. The standard of the musicians and artists never failed to amaze, and often included guest musicians from Europe and elsewhere…. And the incredible part of it all is that the cost of the evening’s entertainment was always 10 Turkish lira (approx 7 aussie dollars!!!)<br /><div><div></div><br /><div>If Sana'a, the capital of Yemen, was one of the highlights of our odessey so far, then Cappadocia, in central Turkey, was another equally magnificent discovery.... a natural fairyland..... (see pics)!<br /><br />Well, we’re now back to cruising and enjoying very balmy weather. Tomorrow we head to yet another picturesque bay in Kekova and then the day after we’re off to Castellorizon to stock up on bacon, pork sausages etc before we head up to Fethiye. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhMRn18ItIbkIWtMlCmcaNGMmLQQccM5uHje_1k9cc-6LLR-ou7RcXulSInh9TK8wgvsUnuCU9tDTFy2ATpEk9jABRC9XTkvm_7Jlt4IDWc3k8rXhujs7yNa6XhyphenhyphenHepok04ltKSW298j6/s1600/SANY0612.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473704000279252754" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhMRn18ItIbkIWtMlCmcaNGMmLQQccM5uHje_1k9cc-6LLR-ou7RcXulSInh9TK8wgvsUnuCU9tDTFy2ATpEk9jABRC9XTkvm_7Jlt4IDWc3k8rXhujs7yNa6XhyphenhyphenHepok04ltKSW298j6/s320/SANY0612.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Our plans in a nutshell are to cruise up from Rhodes through the Dodecanese to Patmos, then head south to Thira (Santorini) and then north west to Athens. We hope to be there early to mid July before the meltemi really takes hold. Then we cruise gently through the Corinth, with stopovers to do some land travel, and we hope to spend August gently bobbing somewhere in the Ionian before crossing over to Malta via the heel of Italy and Sicily in early September… not a long cruising season but I hope to catch up with my youngest sis and her family in Malta at that time…. </div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhMRn18ItIbkIWtMlCmcaNGMmLQQccM5uHje_1k9cc-6LLR-ou7RcXulSInh9TK8wgvsUnuCU9tDTFy2ATpEk9jABRC9XTkvm_7Jlt4IDWc3k8rXhujs7yNa6XhyphenhyphenHepok04ltKSW298j6/s1600/SANY0612.JPG"></a></div><div></div></div>SV Mischiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732107627031142254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972685580670352523.post-91466700334054954702009-12-20T05:52:00.000-08:002010-01-29T05:30:00.261-08:00Return to Finike for the Winter: Then Malta & Sweden by airOur trip south has been marked with meeting more wonderful people, cruisers and locals, with too many stories which have to wait for another time. The best part was that the northerlies were now behind us, and we looked forward to sailing south. The reality was that as soon as we reached Bodrum and September, it seemed that the wind tap was switched off, and we had a glorious month in the Bodrum – Datcha – Marmaris area, visiting numerous bays, villages and sites, with some truly spectacular anchorages. We crossed over to the ver<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLR92aN4mlRi0h8R57Cp3xbrePxS9FYIzbbESC0LZyvooAD1A1grL95zGKU45YkZHBjtt8xC43VUEOkdE7H0XOBx6cXy6DFywxhvX50aw1Dmyl4uJz_qA_nqkDIc6hQJx00V5adSZv29gO/s1600-h/P6140022+Sarcophagus+at+Kale+Koy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432147443858497394" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLR92aN4mlRi0h8R57Cp3xbrePxS9FYIzbbESC0LZyvooAD1A1grL95zGKU45YkZHBjtt8xC43VUEOkdE7H0XOBx6cXy6DFywxhvX50aw1Dmyl4uJz_qA_nqkDIc6hQJx00V5adSZv29gO/s320/P6140022+Sarcophagus+at+Kale+Koy.JPG" border="0" /></a>y pretty Greek island of Simi to stock up on bacon, salami and pork products generally, and then also called into Rhodes to stock up on wine for the winter months.<br /><br />We spend another wonderful fortnight in the Fethiye area, visiting Gocek and many of the inland sites: incredibly beautiful (pictures tell their own stores), ruins, gorges, caves, beaches, and of course the very scenic bays in the very protected large Fethiye-Gocek area. I loved Fethiye and the market on Tuesdays is truly great!<br /><br />Our slower passage seemed to coincide with that of many boats heading towards their designated winter marinas – at this time of the year there seemed to be not so many charter boats. We now understood why those Europeans who keep their boats in Turkey/Greece choose to cruise in May-June and then again in September-October… it’s great sailing weather without the blustery meltemi which this year seemed to be permanently in gale force mode throughout August! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPHnl4L_OeEPxuR-0AMoPTdhF0Tw5XjVbiAqCNMHRviROLACPMAg5Kr1N_T1b9101bjC7xFd2zVENeq3wlLnK01Tfzao0a8qZisaDZfaw7cjj12X6e9jWNXgNCJx61fD8HPqX6oLl5lCI/s1600-h/P6140017+Kale+Koy.JPG"></a><br /><br />Towards mid October, the signs for seasonal change were becoming more obvious with more cloud and some occasional rain… time to head back to Finike! We watched the weather more carefully, and made our way south still swimming every day, and enjoying balmy weather and we got to Finike in the last week of October – just in time before the first good winter storm.<br /><br />We had a very busy two weeks taking down sails, washing them and general<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzXWBeFWFUBGMwA8pBpyBHFXvSKb9WzZSCW8VfD0uObIZC4py9YSdM9q5zJI9P7YImJ2x3nvli7U_WNstSw5QbophT8246KscG1xwY2L0GrRFXBneuA1CReQFx2FVyb5Jbq4Mf-GTGWol/s1600-h/SANY0020+Hagia+Sofia+(taken+after+a+stiff+drink+to+warm+up).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432148428337836482" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzXWBeFWFUBGMwA8pBpyBHFXvSKb9WzZSCW8VfD0uObIZC4py9YSdM9q5zJI9P7YImJ2x3nvli7U_WNstSw5QbophT8246KscG1xwY2L0GrRFXBneuA1CReQFx2FVyb5Jbq4Mf-GTGWol/s320/SANY0020+Hagia+Sofia+(taken+after+a+stiff+drink+to+warm+up).JPG" border="0" /></a>ly packing all the boat up, clearing everything removable on deck! The good thing about the storm was that we had a chance to check out the mooring lines under stress, so we were happy to leave the boat to go and visit rellies (relatives, to you non Aussies) in Malta and Sweden – and a good thing we did, as they have had some nasty weather systems go through since.<br /><br />We took the bus to Antalya and then flew to Istanbul for a few days where we stayed with friends we met in Alacati. The best part was that we were very well briefed on how to make the best of our short time there to visit the many wonderfully historical sites. Istanbul is beautifullll… and we took in a ferry down through the Bosphorus every day to get to the old parts of town. It has always been a dream of mine to visit the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Topkapi Palace! And whilst some places can be an anticlimax, we felt nothing but awe and history all around us…..<br /><br />Malta was great fun, and incredibly green after the first rains, which was great, as we usually visited in summer when the island tends to go very barren, especially as everything is in limestone. It was great catching up with family and friends, and we had som<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1NPjfKt0gtoySbMXAZTp1jo8BvtVyIIQqVn0yN-j2AeQQP8OhM7rxbwaU6iwZ68SIZV98scnzXcj50EOcQGDqVJI_tBUEPNVxus2alfh5rm1KijvLvuKP2T_Q1GPA2UGt_0WCTolyD-n/s1600-h/SANY0165+window+in+Dwejra+Gozo.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432149260985137074" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1NPjfKt0gtoySbMXAZTp1jo8BvtVyIIQqVn0yN-j2AeQQP8OhM7rxbwaU6iwZ68SIZV98scnzXcj50EOcQGDqVJI_tBUEPNVxus2alfh5rm1KijvLvuKP2T_Q1GPA2UGt_0WCTolyD-n/s320/SANY0165+window+in+Dwejra+Gozo.JPG" border="0" /></a>e lovely surprises along the way like catching up with an old school friend whom I had not seen for some 35years!! The highlight was our rendezvous with Mark and Bridget whom we had not seen for over two years since their wedding before we left Perth. Together with my mum and dad we all rediscovered my parents’ old haunts.<br /><br />Mum and dad looked very well for their age, with my mum still having her great sense of fun and ‘naughtiness’ as she related stories from her growing up years, dating dad. They are really looking forward to us sailing into Malta next year. The stay was topped when we learnt that my sister’s restaurant (Ta’ Marija) won best restaurant for the 4th consecutive year!!<br /><br />We are now in Stockholm, visiting Bjorn’s family.<br /><br />Wow, the forecast was for a cold winter, but really, in all the years we ha<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBOehnTDswqVNxp4yA44VItIy45EIE2SkxqDyPwEsyf_yMe14s__3sUG0J0u4bUuyf9DM51kzkFlPT2K6dVVApd2f4T0HgQ7OSfMa35WrPyQIwtWM0I1DpIckmbBwtNAP4EJYTdUh8xMv/s1600-h/SANY0306.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432149986902468738" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 321px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBOehnTDswqVNxp4yA44VItIy45EIE2SkxqDyPwEsyf_yMe14s__3sUG0J0u4bUuyf9DM51kzkFlPT2K6dVVApd2f4T0HgQ7OSfMa35WrPyQIwtWM0I1DpIckmbBwtNAP4EJYTdUh8xMv/s320/SANY0306.JPG" border="0" /></a>ve been chasing white Christmases whilst the kids were growing up, we have never had such a snow storm as we had over the past few days… I recall it was like this on my very first visit and silly me offered to go clear up the path and driveway from snow! Needless to say, I let Bjorn do the work this time round (see photos!!!)<br /><br />Today as I write this, the sun is out and really dazzling with all the snow around. It’s good to have snow cover as it means that it never gets really dark at night with a permanent ‘lume’ from the pristine snow.<br /><br />Well that’s enough prattling from us ‘up here’.<br /><br />A really great Xmas and a terrific New Year to you and yours.SV Mischiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732107627031142254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972685580670352523.post-60159542863707688342009-09-05T05:42:00.000-07:002010-01-29T05:38:38.629-08:00Hello Meltemi: Cruising Turkey going north<div><div><div>We’ve now been 3 months in Turkey and what a journey of discovery this has been.<br /><br />In a nutshell, for those who find a long email tedious, we sailed up the coast from Finike to Cesme where we caught up with Annika and Jesper AND the meltemi, and started heading (read ‘flying’) south from mid August.<br /><br />We are now just south of Bodrum, much calmer winds and heading back slowly towards Finike, our first landfall in Turkey and home for the winter to be, by the end of October. I hope to have all the photos up on Picasa as they tell their own story. Website is <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/SV.Mischief">http://picasaweb.google.com/SV.Mischief</a><br /><br />First of all, let me start with our encounter of Turkish people. We have met friendly<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHt0K1fPeZ-TmTlELu7VkyH56Xw_PDsQ-Pipj5UtTN9Zfsyz5mEWLwLDjO-egIVz4toulYK4ICAsZCdHeGRE_gR6cbdEvRGXWDd0NJ8gkBLDCUbRboUiSPR31igDBOfR9OLHSgzXi8ksm/s1600-h/P6130006+Kale+Koy+inside+Kekova+archipelago+%26+castle.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426278862114942962" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHt0K1fPeZ-TmTlELu7VkyH56Xw_PDsQ-Pipj5UtTN9Zfsyz5mEWLwLDjO-egIVz4toulYK4ICAsZCdHeGRE_gR6cbdEvRGXWDd0NJ8gkBLDCUbRboUiSPR31igDBOfR9OLHSgzXi8ksm/s320/P6130006+Kale+Koy+inside+Kekova+archipelago+%26+castle.JPG" border="0" /></a> people everywhere, some more than others. And after our Egypt experience, where every act of ‘kindness’ so often turned out to be simply a claim for ‘baksheesh’, we were very wary of ‘friendliness’.<br /><br />The Turks, especially those away from the tourist areas, are something else. Nowhere in our trip so far have we met the generosity of spirit, from simply wanting to know the way to somewhere, where people will go so much out of their way to help – including phoning a friend or relative who can speak English to help us out… almost embarrassing at times… There is also that genuine enjoyment of simply talking to you, someone from somewhere else with different experiences, and a carpet seller will invite you to have some ‘chai’ (tea) and a chat, even when you explain that you are not in the market for a carpet! (And no, not even a mention, after we sip our tea accompanied by a pleasant conversation about life in general).<br /><br />We remember our favourite places by the wonderful people we met there. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6y08K5e_bsvvgnzc_aoJNLsWTj8STKjKHy3z3EKEgq6QjfEhLagV0U1YddZVWDFY3MpE1r_CdFAoBWLnFfXjSLNoRNKFobcwsRb6Xk13i_fCoQFZqhe4rehrQX8EXALNUt6_iOLTNmIz/s1600-h/P6140029+Note+sarcophagai+on+hill+tops.JPG"></a><br /><br />Sailing in Turkey is essentially exploring deep bays separated by big headlands, that all seem to have a Greek island at the end of them, forming a wind tunnel between the two. From Finike we sailed up to Kekova Roads and caught up with cruising friends on Circe who gave us some wonderful information about where to go and what to see along the Turkish coast. Kekova has some wonderful anchorages all strewn with sarcophagai and ruins, including an underwater city where land sank after an earthquake some 1500 years ago. It was a rare treat to take the dinghy for a slow drift over old ruins, the occasional amphora and other sunken relics. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAT7j3ufw4aOEOS1bJg_nk3Uwe-F8rfHq4H-ktjTIwK7WyXMjl65_JzU_wImNnny9eiibMmfHFsztzZTU13AXh8Xrtf28cnEo4Kxectq519UemLz5Axg9-FKDrejHIzzzcvgNk8wmfEYlM/s1600-h/PA150178+Tombs+and+ruins+at+Tlos+(Lycian+city+overlooking+Xanthus+valley+south+of+Fethiye).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432154865097283234" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAT7j3ufw4aOEOS1bJg_nk3Uwe-F8rfHq4H-ktjTIwK7WyXMjl65_JzU_wImNnny9eiibMmfHFsztzZTU13AXh8Xrtf28cnEo4Kxectq519UemLz5Axg9-FKDrejHIzzzcvgNk8wmfEYlM/s320/PA150178+Tombs+and+ruins+at+Tlos+(Lycian+city+overlooking+Xanthus+valley+south+of+Fethiye).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We then sailed to the wonderful enclosed harbour and town of Fethiye via Kas and Kalkan. Fethiye bay was the first indication of how popular cruising has become in Turkey…. Sailing boats in all directions!!<br /><br />A few more anchorages and we were in Marmaris bay – an unbelievable sailing mecca, but also a start of the anchorages where you have to compete with the local gullets, an old local boat design now mainly used for day-tripping tourists - and their sometimes crazy boat handling! We again caught up with Dreamcatcher, as we had on some previous anchorages, and waved them farewell as they left to cruise the Greek islands.<br /><br />We headed along the coast to a small fjord like anchorage called Bozuk Buku where Bjorn and I celebrated 30 wedded years at a small restaurant ashore – an appropriately beautiful spot for a swim and a visit to the ancient ruins of Loryma on top of the hill overlooking the bay we were in. And the very local fish meal prepared by the fisher family we had was more than sumptuous and suitable for the occasion, with a special fruit dessert for the occasion.<br /><br />We skipped the whole Bodrum bay area that comes next to save for the return trip, as our primary concern was to make as much headway north before the dreaded meltemi arrived.<br /><br />We headed to the quaint town of Datca and then on to the ancient harbour of Knidos, sailing past within a couple of miles of a number of Greek islands including Rhodos and Simi. At Knidos, we went ashore to explore the incredible remains of this ancient city with two harbours at each end of the peninsula. Knidos was one of the six cities of the Dorian hexapolis, and the remains show how large and well organised the city was, with two theatres, a number of temples, the agora… the setting and site are quite impressive.<br /><br />Another overnight stop at Akyarlar, a bay west of Bodrum, we headed to Gumusluk, on the Agean side of the Bodrum peninsula, where we intended to start cruising northwards at a more leisurely pace.<br /><br />We had a wonderful week here, and then with the right weather window for going north, we headed to Gulluk Korfezi to explore all the coves and bays there over the next 10 days or so. The area is very pretty but somewhat marred by the many fish farms around here which made the water in some of the bays abit murky. We still managed some wonderful anchorages like the one at Asin Limani (limani is the Turkish term for harbour/port) where the remains of the ancient city of Iassos, including the watchtower and the ancient breakwater still stand. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBeBeuyXbjwVR9sCK-I4Yr4i00JsUlZ-S4v1rfp2-e04ZiMI3VsnTR9eq5Z8PKT-AEYvY_PBroQS_ZYun6F5mjd9BbE6nMIxY9creiokAdrj8IbAGAuoIIh9HTgexhEcaAcizxZsMgL_PE/s1600-h/P7100018+Medusa+at+Didyma.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432154269022671458" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBeBeuyXbjwVR9sCK-I4Yr4i00JsUlZ-S4v1rfp2-e04ZiMI3VsnTR9eq5Z8PKT-AEYvY_PBroQS_ZYun6F5mjd9BbE6nMIxY9creiokAdrj8IbAGAuoIIh9HTgexhEcaAcizxZsMgL_PE/s320/P7100018+Medusa+at+Didyma.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />With some strong northerlies forecast, we decided to stop over at an enclosed bay called Talianaki, east of Altinkum. We were disappointed to find that the holiday village ashore was deserted, and the beach visited only by a number of locals, and a stream of tourist engorged gullets during the day. We did spot a small beach concession on one side of the entrance and went to explore this. To our delight, we found that this was a swimming beach for a number of holiday homes tucked away totally out of sight. Walking through the village in search of a mini market for some fresh bread, we met Mine and Gokhan (& son Bora) who startled us by their perfect English… they live in America and were home visiting…<br /><br />Through them we met – and adopted – the whole family… We would go ashore every day to get away from the strong winds, and spend the afternoon playing scrabble, dominoes or watching the locals play OKEY (a form of gin rummy) or – to Bjorn’s disappointment – discussing politics with Mine’s uncle with Mine and her cousin Aycan translating!!! We had a ball.<br /><br />We were joined here briefly by our American friends on Interlude (we crossed the Indian Ocean at the same time and shared the ‘job’ of cruising net controllers), and we had a wonderful couple of evenings, which included being treated to a guitar session by Katie and Kurt on their magnificent boat – a 74ft Deerfoot (now that’s cruising in style).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaYhyFPhPOdQ9bQ15y997SQGXaNDk5sGMwIFHUIxL4U9Unpb94aM-vnFOJx2VUeKvp0_J5BGq7c63BWMsbUn8xZfzguJbdeXsHHF8PoZ4Xx7FZt7Xn2qa7DZQnAUS-JfbDfvMHCMraW1F/s1600-h/P8250031entry+to+Gumusluk+and+excavation+site.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432154646766677442" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaYhyFPhPOdQ9bQ15y997SQGXaNDk5sGMwIFHUIxL4U9Unpb94aM-vnFOJx2VUeKvp0_J5BGq7c63BWMsbUn8xZfzguJbdeXsHHF8PoZ4Xx7FZt7Xn2qa7DZQnAUS-JfbDfvMHCMraW1F/s320/P8250031entry+to+Gumusluk+and+excavation+site.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We made it up to Alacati, south of Cesme, for our daughter’s visit. We had a wonderful 3 weeks here, glad to be in a marina with winds clocking 40 knots whilst we watched Annika and Jesper race in the windsurfing world cup. We also managed to go cruising for a few days when the wind relented, travel inland to Cesme, Ismir and down to Kusadasi and the unforgettable Ephesus, and even take a ferry across to the lovely Greek island of Samos for 2 days.<br /><br />More in our next newsletter when we get to Finike. Love to you all and keep those emails coming.</div></div></div>SV Mischiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732107627031142254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972685580670352523.post-44713250882610633772009-07-05T05:38:00.000-07:002009-12-30T05:52:15.919-08:00Up the Turkish coastWe are still making our way north to Alicati to meet Annika and Jesper for the windsurfing championships. Can't wait to see my not-so-little girl again!SV Mischiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732107627031142254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972685580670352523.post-12926259250085473042009-06-12T05:34:00.000-07:002010-01-29T07:29:13.182-08:00And finally the MED!!!<div><div>Newsletter 2009/04<br /><br />Tunaydin dear friends.<br /><br />I have not been able to find the Turkish equivalent of ‘Hello’ or ‘good day’, so it has to be ‘tunaydin’ (good afternoon)!<br /><br />We are now in Finike, south west Turkey and ready to depart for our cruise up the coast to Izmir and then back again here for the winter.<br /><br />Finike is a small town, with a lovely three year old marina really planned for yachties like us, many of whom will be wintering here (some seem to have made it a permanent home!). We will form a small village inside the town. It’s a lovely quaint place, not touristy at all, which is a bonus, as this means that the prices are some 30% cheaper than the better known places around Bodrum and Marmaris.<br /><br />The weather is also much more benign and mild in winter, or so we are told, some 10 degrees warmer than further up the coast, which is good as this will be our first winter for close to three years. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkvbkqu3wEzeoOiZIqlEl_oKjiqB83fjjnl6AHSuQwgGAUaLPFEBlHxntc8LtSUoHj6AB_RemXqdyqo12TMnG2FdXWrMNoizKPIPEWkEYM65rx1mJNjNOvVHhALrD9Ta2p6cv2w1FP7yA/s1600-h/200904020+003+Dolphin+Reef+magic.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432176602728926930" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkvbkqu3wEzeoOiZIqlEl_oKjiqB83fjjnl6AHSuQwgGAUaLPFEBlHxntc8LtSUoHj6AB_RemXqdyqo12TMnG2FdXWrMNoizKPIPEWkEYM65rx1mJNjNOvVHhALrD9Ta2p6cv2w1FP7yA/s320/200904020+003+Dolphin+Reef+magic.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After our first stop in Egypt, which was Port Ghalib, we went to Hurghada. This town is a real tourist Mecca, and the diving is really big here. No wonder given the wonderful clarity of the Red Sea and the fact that this sea is probably one of the only ones left that has not been over fished! Look at those pics at Dolphin reef – one of our greatest highlights this trip.<br /><br />We ended up staying close to a month at Hurghada marina, which was so comfy we found it difficult to leave. We also did our Egypt tour from here, and that meant that we could then proceed up to the Suez and to the Med without detours.<br /><br />We loved Egypt, and the pyramids, temples and sights are something one should do once! Mind you after our 10 day tour which took us to Cairo, Aswan, Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu and Luxor, we are quite templed out! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8XPcnMAJompK9txYFtTooDGLjoKAcRVSGPMNen5v41beWv6Q0jDW926wEoRSsj_pPpZ3G0MIHHvFkDfcqp0Rp-TnixkfTFzIUYE6vY9KU_T7jgufABEUWxwLHlvDEBQWbO41xSFTVe6T/s1600-h/P5070103+Ramses+II+temple+for+his+queen+(nefertari)+at+Abu+Simbel.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432176812233391298" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8XPcnMAJompK9txYFtTooDGLjoKAcRVSGPMNen5v41beWv6Q0jDW926wEoRSsj_pPpZ3G0MIHHvFkDfcqp0Rp-TnixkfTFzIUYE6vY9KU_T7jgufABEUWxwLHlvDEBQWbO41xSFTVe6T/s320/P5070103+Ramses+II+temple+for+his+queen+(nefertari)+at+Abu+Simbel.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We very adventurously took a two day feluka trip up the Nile from Aswan to Kom Ombo, and this turned out really great and a good rest between museums, tombs and temples….<br /><br />I have uploaded all the photos onto the Picasa website (now with captions) and you can view them all at leisure at - http://picasaweb.google.com/SV.Mischief<br /><br />I will also send a second email with the Pirate Alley article I penned for our sailing club– for those of you interested in that particular journey (apologies to those of you at FSC who have already read it).<br /><br />We picked our weather window carefully and had a good run to Suez and then through the canal to Ismailia through the ‘ditch’…or the “marlboro channel” (the pilots still asked for the traditional ‘gift’, some baksheesh and a box of Marlboro, and you must remember to keep some packets for everyone who tries to get in to the act including the ones who handle the dock ropes!!!). Out of the Canal, we were finally in the Mediterranean and headed across to Cyprus.<br /><br />Cyprus was a very pleasant surprise. Very clean, quaint, very modern and almost too touristy along the whole coastline with many English people residing here. Understated in a way, but yet it has everything. Lovely mild climate, good clear waters and lovely beaches, ….and mountains where you can actually ski in winter!<br /><br />If not for the fact that the marina is small, full and could not squeeze anyone in, it would have been a winter stop for us. To be honest, we are feeling somewhat cruised out after the long relentless haul from Thailand. The weather windows are too short and you have to keep moving.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJj029w_NQvQCKMz345FkyipE3v7gVWbV1cVzAjtOm3ypgN7ZbAoFEGjlWqDe3n14yra2S16zEwOD1BaR1F7ixNZPavgozAZkNj8XDg9K0YSD2Ypo39BBIOLk1vzbFEjiD0TTB3fUfwfJ/s1600-h/P5300018+Coffee+time+after+morning+mass.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432176338707023058" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJj029w_NQvQCKMz345FkyipE3v7gVWbV1cVzAjtOm3ypgN7ZbAoFEGjlWqDe3n14yra2S16zEwOD1BaR1F7ixNZPavgozAZkNj8XDg9K0YSD2Ypo39BBIOLk1vzbFEjiD0TTB3fUfwfJ/s320/P5300018+Coffee+time+after+morning+mass.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />You cannot really leave Phuket before end of December as the trade winds will not have set in yet for the Indian Ocean crossing, then have to be at Aden by end of February and ready to go up the Red Sea in March, or April at the latest or else you run into strong head winds, and it will take at least 6 weeks even pushing it to get through the Red Sea.<br /><br />Many of our sailing friends have just reached turkey and not even bothering to cruise this summer as they are so tired!!!<br /><br />Well, Turkey ahead for us, and catching up with Annika and Jesper who will be participating in the international windsurfing championships in Alicati (south of Izmir) this summer, and later with Bridget and Mark on their European campervan tour. We will probably go to Malta in late November for a few weeks, leaving MISCHIEF in Finike, but more news when we get back here.</div></div>SV Mischiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732107627031142254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972685580670352523.post-81193691811259830502009-04-18T05:31:00.000-07:002010-01-29T07:29:42.115-08:00Red Sea conquered! - Egypt a 'Must'!<div><div><div><div>Newsletter 2009/03<br /><br />Hello dear friends<br /><br />We are finally in Egypt – but not quite!! Let me explain. We are now at P<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpOOKY8u9M_4RbM-igkaS8QGWM4P08GiJ2FOMNvxG-D0RVLmT6u5NKZwWJkB7jBn0Lqr7bTLUuFTTzPhJqcW8Kkc_tkK-7ZaIqCfwgjKf5v4Zu4mZEdeggbLAfQdq6oIk6KNZ7IdP0ysd/s1600-h/P4210010+Port+Ghalib+marina+very+European+21st+century.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432181965805414754" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpOOKY8u9M_4RbM-igkaS8QGWM4P08GiJ2FOMNvxG-D0RVLmT6u5NKZwWJkB7jBn0Lqr7bTLUuFTTzPhJqcW8Kkc_tkK-7ZaIqCfwgjKf5v4Zu4mZEdeggbLAfQdq6oIk6KNZ7IdP0ysd/s320/P4210010+Port+Ghalib+marina+very+European+21st+century.JPG" border="0" /></a>ort Ghalib Marina, a very new (two years old) and attractive resort complex with diving schools and a large marina with the first phase completed (which means all around the luxury is a c<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPYx8eDNgCQvb3prgI0lll37S_C8SMLT3Ya8FWnQkZh-k2mnOCeJ0uJL8zSlnJQPPyGyr5r-vaKHzpM5_giSFVp6zTzrbzWi11AsN41osoycHWoy7VKLqhVZ4-sABQqq2huexVSYKZgyE_/s1600-h/200904020+008+Pt+Ghalib+entry.jpg"></a>onstruction site)… and the ‘not quite’ bit refers to the ‘baksheesh’ which we have not yet encountered in this controlled environment but which we know we will get our fill of before we are much further on!<br /><br />We had a great trip from Aden through to the entrance to the Suez at Bab al Mandeb. The transition from Indian Ocean to Red Sea could not be more dramatic as you leave the wonderfully reliable trade winds of the Indian Ocean and encounter the full frontal – usually a quite blustery 25-35++knots of wind which makes for very fast passage for as long as the southerlies last and a rush to a safe anchorage when the wind is northerly.<br /><br />We decided to coast hop up the Red Sea through Eritrea, then Sudan and to Egypt. We stopped at numerous anchorages, encountered local fishermen from whom we often bought fish and swam in some of the most pristine waters I have ever seen! I even got to practice my first aid on a fisherman seeking assistance for a really swollen foot (poor guy – but I think he’s still alive!)<br /><br />We often had to wait out the strong winds and then head off north when there was a weather window with southerlies, and managed to get Shumma Island’s Port Smyth (20m southeast of Massawa)– no port at all but an excellent, beautiful anchorage inside a coral reef. We spent a few days here and the coral was among the best I have ever seen. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vnbo-MLSXNxLuhrs2dtioWqQry2y6WvW8-I-0UlR_gQvQWp69nTvlrdIdveFPp4sAbFi2MKDeWT7gwSLaxQasjec4J_mhw8UbsaVXiyUar4yyqYlC3Ph3rSdcaMG3TtKA31qxU6A4SJ1/s1600-h/P3140015+fishermen+at+Mersa+Dudo.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432178948535108386" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vnbo-MLSXNxLuhrs2dtioWqQry2y6WvW8-I-0UlR_gQvQWp69nTvlrdIdveFPp4sAbFi2MKDeWT7gwSLaxQasjec4J_mhw8UbsaVXiyUar4yyqYlC3Ph3rSdcaMG3TtKA31qxU6A4SJ1/s320/P3140015+fishermen+at+Mersa+Dudo.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We bypassed Massawa due to reports about boats being damaged along the harbour wall where the authorities insisted we had to tie up. From here on, the northerlies started and it was more a case of waiting for weather with either no wind, or else north easterlies which we could still sail on.<br /><br />The extensive reef area around Massawa has some fantastic anchorages and reefs. We would call into an anchorage such at the scenic Khor Nawarat, when the boats which were anchored there have just left for the next ‘hop’, spend a few days waiting for the next weather window, during which time some dozen yachts would also arrive in dribs and drabs, and then all head off roughly at the same time…. And this goes on up and down the Red Sea, with anchorages experiencing a ‘boa constrictor’ expansion and contraction of number of yachts. I have also been running a Red Sea Cruisers’ Net with close to 50 boats calling in on the twice daily sched. We really got to know so many boats at the various anchorages and some wonderful people from all over!<br /><br />The old port of Suakin (just south of Port Sudan) is incredible – we put down anchor alongside the island which was the last slave transportation depot. The whole fortification was built out of coral and is all crumbling away (see photos – hopefully will get these and previous ones up soon). We took the local bus into Port Sudan and treated ourselves to icecream and some fresh provisions!! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0r7ygakavh3RfgYUgtjTzI6O9ZIUTWYEHr_1EUCVqfgANba2iZbkg-Ma0qe-nlISOIujXjwAOu0ZCW0MU9Hq6qAaFgIshUbV0MLul_drXesWFZLbDXaa29jLfZE7w2thKwye7Gs8Ykso/s1600-h/P3300024+locals+at+Suakin.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432179326547883346" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0r7ygakavh3RfgYUgtjTzI6O9ZIUTWYEHr_1EUCVqfgANba2iZbkg-Ma0qe-nlISOIujXjwAOu0ZCW0MU9Hq6qAaFgIshUbV0MLul_drXesWFZLbDXaa29jLfZE7w2thKwye7Gs8Ykso/s320/P3300024+locals+at+Suakin.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The coral at Tullia islands, north of Port Sudan, was out of this world! – very vibrant colours ranging from white, yellow, bright green, deep pink, orange and the most incredible range of blues. The fish were more numerous in the Sudanese waters, and we caught our first fish – a 1.2metre barracuda here.<br /><br />Bjorn and I were so thrilled with our first catch that we immediately invited our fellow sailors to share the fish…. We were all ready, fish cleaned, cut up and on the Barbie (Aussie for barbeque) when silly me got out my fishing bible and found out that barracuda, being a predator fish, can be full of ciguatera – so out came the John West cans and overboard when the freshly bbq’d barracuda!!!<br /><br />On our way north we managed a stop at the very picturesque marsa (natural harbour usually inside a reef) of Khor Shinab, and then continued across Foul Bay into Egypt. Again waiting for favourable winds or calms paid off as we made it to Dolphin Reef which was cert<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRngTv-aisdEJ8l4CaoubQroJrX-1XBcGkZfn2SGKuq-KdxMHwLzkyTHkS7mHll86yZbkjXkiFD8KXF4Zp-5Zu1AO-iAmKm4Mn3jk7WVNTZa1VbTszJE0rXjqVniWmhIEYfgpJjq1OVXqw/s1600-h/P3240007+Khor+Nawarat+(note+sailing+boat+entering+channel+and+rough+seas+outside.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432179142752899010" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRngTv-aisdEJ8l4CaoubQroJrX-1XBcGkZfn2SGKuq-KdxMHwLzkyTHkS7mHll86yZbkjXkiFD8KXF4Zp-5Zu1AO-iAmKm4Mn3jk7WVNTZa1VbTszJE0rXjqVniWmhIEYfgpJjq1OVXqw/s320/P3240007+Khor+Nawarat+(note+sailing+boat+entering+channel+and+rough+seas+outside.JPG" border="0" /></a>ainly the highlight of the year… we spend a wonderful night in absolutely flat waters in this coral reef with the most amazingly clear waters (in 12 metres we could see our chain and anchor all the way) and the next morning, - they came… a large pod of around 70-80 dolphins and we jumped in and swam with them for around two hours!<br /><br />I will never forget the sight! I put my mask on, looked down, and saw some 30 dolphins swimming up towards me and then around me… we saw them mating, we saw mothers with calves, we had some playful ones come and swim around… it was quite an experience.<br /><br />We have now been in Port Ghalib for 4 days, and have spent the better part of that time doing urgent repairs (we discovered a leak in our fuel tank in Khor Shinab which was luckily less than a trickle and we managed to get to repair it before it became a major problem)… We also have washed and washed the sand and salt caked really thickly on spreaders, sails and ropes, and are generally resting up and re provisioning after endless anchorages in sometimes very desolate areas. Mischief is finally clean-er again!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGi5X1652FUsvhgBTTBh27O9wBQ8EAgK46MgFgjosPObJoH242GN3r49wgkv5mq9Wg7s1uznWW1iIy1HFJtq8g2z0JbXOEfkHdnKt5Q0ONxM0Zf6PLVvt5MXVEODEly3tk8paj-s8xQHq/s1600-h/200904020+005+Dolphin+Reef+magic.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432181678831179522" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGi5X1652FUsvhgBTTBh27O9wBQ8EAgK46MgFgjosPObJoH242GN3r49wgkv5mq9Wg7s1uznWW1iIy1HFJtq8g2z0JbXOEfkHdnKt5Q0ONxM0Zf6PLVvt5MXVEODEly3tk8paj-s8xQHq/s320/200904020+005+Dolphin+Reef+magic.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Well that’s all from us for now… next stops more marinas and anchorages to the entry to the Suez, then a stop over at Ismalia to visit Cairo and take a trip to the pyramids, the Valley of the Kings and Queens, Luxor etc …..<br /><br />Take care all and keep those wonderful newsy messages coming.</div></div></div></div>SV Mischiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732107627031142254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972685580670352523.post-43179474696930667912009-03-07T05:23:00.000-08:002010-01-29T07:44:00.210-08:00Indian Ocean - done! Pirate Alley - done! Red Sea: here we come!Newsletter 2009/02<br /><br />Hello dear friends<br />We are now about to leave Aden and the Indian Ocean and enter the Red Sea to make our way up to Egypt.<br /><br />This first major ocean crossing is now well and truly behind us. The fir<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9uRArBGuhGsugQKHRxxAfh0JlguYkSsJqPbGZy9Y12vn5kbvLJrUlxGQuMYUJjDDGeAz432NjIPt5BlCsioY8a9RV0ODiVm0F3yb4IemW8lRh4sfpMjJuKQJppqaxF_MUYps1lGGFSMUp/s1600-h/P1310025+Molhadhoo+Atoll.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432187479613707714" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9uRArBGuhGsugQKHRxxAfh0JlguYkSsJqPbGZy9Y12vn5kbvLJrUlxGQuMYUJjDDGeAz432NjIPt5BlCsioY8a9RV0ODiVm0F3yb4IemW8lRh4sfpMjJuKQJppqaxF_MUYps1lGGFSMUp/s320/P1310025+Molhadhoo+Atoll.JPG" border="0" /></a>st leg from Phuket to Maldives was a dream run with indeed fair winds and following seas; we even managed our maximum miles in 24 hours which is a record of 200 nautical miles in ideal conditions that will be very difficult to repeat. As we came round the Nicobars, in the lee of the islands, we had 15-20 knots on a broad reach and MISCHIEF just took off, surfing at 8-9 knots!!!<br /><br />The Maldives were very peaceful and provided a good rest between ocean crossings. We were very impressed by the good local organisation on the islands: very clean, no corruption and really helpful locals. They are somewhat protective of the locals and we were not allowed ashore after 10.oopm, but the local community did organise a buffet dinner one night (of course, no alcohol, but they did provide fresh coconut juice and tea.<br /><br />There are no paved roads, but there was no rubbish and the buildings are of a high standard. They were very proud to show us their local schools, health and family centres which were well equipped and very clean – we were all very impressed!! <br /><br />The crossing to Oman was shorter but took as long as the first crossing as we ran out of wind to begin with. On the last day we then ran into a sand storm, and then flew in to<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8tCqdHNX2_Qk-j-egC2jYjFwoNxfG6zgXOGWehcLpPcyoJNhql08Ut1hbkt4Ra2LXoy3m4Uz5oqyZQLB3QryJ6xA84XQjllGk7_4XFZH1-H-0zU4QArn0Kjl0xX0ccLSRM-WpS5VGEmE/s1600-h/P2160008+Camel+crossing.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432183182698421954" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8tCqdHNX2_Qk-j-egC2jYjFwoNxfG6zgXOGWehcLpPcyoJNhql08Ut1hbkt4Ra2LXoy3m4Uz5oqyZQLB3QryJ6xA84XQjllGk7_4XFZH1-H-0zU4QArn0Kjl0xX0ccLSRM-WpS5VGEmE/s320/P2160008+Camel+crossing.JPG" border="0" /></a> Salalah, with incredibly poor visibility! We only saw the port properly after three days when the dust storm finally cleared. We could almost build sand castles in our cockpit with the sand that had blown in.<br /><br />Oman was indeed a good surprise and a great introduction into Arabia.<br /><br />Salalah was very clean, very friendly and helpful people, but very desert! Shopping for provisions was excellent and the fruit and veg were first class. It is obviously a wealthy place with many modern buildings, and the Frankinsence museum outside town was world class.<br /><br />I have started to write an article on our crossing across pirate waters to Aden for the Fremantle Sailing Club and will send this to you with my next newsletter.<br /><br />The approach to Aden is very impressive with high mountains and cliffs all around. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJrNfbgZJc0ec0OjUBCNTQgKsa7vpfiOj3Dbvp6a2W6Wq4h5o5l5ndJmKWNzMBUuQs3_nvvjqBkaUmSMHV8NDgzt2yJgZEjLjW4oJAy498MTjsM8TLApbCzQTQbiyWte6mUoGNKsan4oF/s1600-h/P3040024+Sana%27a+old+city.JPG"></a>Aden itself is a very ramshackle town, abit dingy and dirty but with really friendly locals. You can tell that Yemen is very much a poor neighbour to Oman, but we still have been able to find good quality provisions.<br /><br />We took a bus trip to the ancient capital of Sana’a for four days and flew <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGaLrzO8GsvZydSLl9K8KzYCvs5VUR87q7MHfb6El0UXnxTRDJbD4J_3Pcm1szFMBVdettpg6ttdzxYjxbm7fVAsRFYEXfAqyREoxkYFWvpP84jXjnRf03HWDw3ge-dkzX7E9mup2d7c2W/s1600-h/P3050049+outside+rock+palace.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432185110629704610" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGaLrzO8GsvZydSLl9K8KzYCvs5VUR87q7MHfb6El0UXnxTRDJbD4J_3Pcm1szFMBVdettpg6ttdzxYjxbm7fVAsRFYEXfAqyREoxkYFWvpP84jXjnRf03HWDw3ge-dkzX7E9mup2d7c2W/s320/P3050049+outside+rock+palace.JPG" border="0" /></a>back last night. It was certainly worthwhile: This must be one of the most unexpected and incredible experiences of our trip so far. <br /><br />The old city of Sana’a dates from around the 10C. The hotel building we stayed in, Arabia Felix, was 500 years old, and reminded me of the fortifications back in Malta. The architecture was quite unique and the style of the new buildings continues the local architectural theme which is quite attractive and shows that this must have been quite an important Mecca in its days. From Sana’a we took another tour to the outskirts and the outlying towns, some of which are quite historic. Photos will be on our site as soon as we get to somewhere with decent internet.<br /><br />We are now preparing for our next leg up the Red Sea. We hope to do day hops to anchorages along the south Yemen coast then through Bab al Mandeb, the entrance to the Red Sea, and cross to the east coast and cruise up the Eritrean and Sudanese coasts to Egypt.<br /><br />That’s it for now from us. Thanks once again for your wonderful emails and messages which keep us going and also keep us in touch with the rest of the world.SV Mischiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732107627031142254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972685580670352523.post-66540417392288462772009-01-13T05:19:00.000-08:002010-01-29T07:44:19.355-08:00And now - the BIG crossing of the Indian Ocean!Newsletter 2009/01<br /><br />Ahoy there<br />Mischief is on the move again after being held up in Phuket. We fell into the usual trap of 'let's do this while we are here...' and then find that it all takes so much longe<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8k3SkhSKf6W2la6BTwFOE9GnnwXAUzCFEdvnn_RhynmKW9kXzy6QTPZ7DMT7wcmVGJZXJAcpX4hRRl5cXb6WQiBIKwbZHJENCD214P6IK2Mfj96jTu41b-IbvbWX-GhfgcH2w7PfU7rC/s1600-h/PC200001+fishing+village+Boat+Lagoon.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432186795837476754" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8k3SkhSKf6W2la6BTwFOE9GnnwXAUzCFEdvnn_RhynmKW9kXzy6QTPZ7DMT7wcmVGJZXJAcpX4hRRl5cXb6WQiBIKwbZHJENCD214P6IK2Mfj96jTu41b-IbvbWX-GhfgcH2w7PfU7rC/s320/PC200001+fishing+village+Boat+Lagoon.JPG" border="0" /></a>r than planned. The good thing is that we have now done a good engine service including changing injectors and havng the gearbox/ shaft checked out, so should be all set for the long trip across the Indian Ocean and up the Red Sea.<br /><br />We check out of marina tomorrow and then cruise round Phuket to Nai Harn Bay waiting for the right winds and teeing up with other cruisers heading west probably mid next week. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPcPC4YqxrGUdQ01Fw2k0PNC4trD8DthlsBO_x7ijwTV7PrfkaUGzYta8076S6n52Ov34LUE3-IjR6Zh_XZNVko5OwzqNjUgp3MW5CURSfUssiua5CQ-4h8bTrH_ncHBQGcc3AnJDo3Mn/s1600-h/P1310025+Molhadhoo+Atoll.JPG"></a><br /><br />ETA Maldives towards end of January, and eta Salaleh, Oman around third week of February.<br /><br />Wish us well and think positive winds and kind seas....SV Mischiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732107627031142254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972685580670352523.post-48083421699761941212008-12-20T05:15:00.000-08:002010-01-29T07:50:58.055-08:00Stunning Thailand - we'll definitely be back here!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtrAsft0WLDuzBBZRwAqzqRgjSiT9cj63_pkW1weVGpG1nkchk5mCpZ_llMKo9uguVcHAtk7-0bSwwleH_adiDq37K7l3MF4czQd-jiZ4-woRimdQr4SAcH9YJhaOnUxwQnlAQ0Gdg6NO/s1600-h/PC030026+fishing++trawlers.JPG"></a><div><div><div>Mischief Newsletter No 8<br /><br />Hello dear friends<br />We left Malaysia and headed for Thailand early in December, calling in at a number of islands along the way. The scenery is majestic, the water on the outer islands, crystal clear, the reefs stunning and the weather very warm but at least not so humid – and it even cools down at night for a good night’s sleep!<br /><br />Rok Nok was our first Thai anchorage, with brilliant beaches and really good snorkelling. We then visited Ko Muk and swam through a cavern (emerald cave) to reach the ‘hong’ – a lagoon within the island. Very beautiful! We went from there to Ko Lanta and visited a number of anchorages there, and caught up with our friends on Eloise. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUUJ5v9PC3ux003ZtUx4tETQMYJ4rvdQlABi2waSkaxLV4SAowsxZcskxfczgEFbBGcEyZinsPsOX4m82oUsFwVZ0oftDUEcKvSMG175ZddXdS4KxVxOMF0VJoaBueGzD1yS3wNCEOFZ6/s1600-h/PC070051+Maya+Bay+Phi+Phi+Le.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432189086085581138" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUUJ5v9PC3ux003ZtUx4tETQMYJ4rvdQlABi2waSkaxLV4SAowsxZcskxfczgEFbBGcEyZinsPsOX4m82oUsFwVZ0oftDUEcKvSMG175ZddXdS4KxVxOMF0VJoaBueGzD1yS3wNCEOFZ6/s320/PC070051+Maya+Bay+Phi+Phi+Le.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The approach to the Phi Phi islands was quite stunning – dramatic sheer cliff rising out of the water, or with dazzling white sand at their feet…. The bay on Phi Phi Le (maya beach) is quite stunning and the location where the movie, The Beach, was filmed. We anchored overnight at Ko Phi Phi Don – you can see that this place was once quite stunning, but quite frankly, adhoc and unfettered tourist expansion has totally ruined it. We did have quite a good time though, and really enjoyed hiring a long tail boat to explore the islands – good fun!<br /><br />We called into Ao Chalong, Phuket for our formal entry to Thailand. We have taken the opportunity to do some final engine and boat maintenance work that was planned for next year in Turkey whilst we are here such as some fibreglass fixes, polishing the hull and topsides, as labour here is very reasonable and the tradesmen very professional and with good attention to detail. I’m also getting new boat cushions for the cockpit done. Believe me, we are quickly becoming experts in all sorts of repairs and maintenance, and examining all work meticulously.<br /><br />We’re in Boat Lagoon for another 8-10 days having a break from the boat and staying in an apartment at the marina. We hired a car for two days and drove around the island – including visiting the big Buddha: good fun. We have now rented a scooter for a week or so whilst we are here – whilst we expect the boat to be back in the water around Xmas, things do tend to drag on and we may as well enjoy the island, the food and the sun!!<br /><br />We should be all set to go, hopefully early in the new year. The plan is to spend a w<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5hSa6gX5sjKaLJu1DCg4sIfoaByDVCOC2RcbJ7SRXIqFuAq8tSpi6luAFhBDm1jLNksAczOJlJ5t6AHheiY_hLSospxQgb2Rgp_nJB29mQzTjY-Krfn59Z6hioaOZMUk2qKBIPHWR0uQ/s1600-h/P1020031+Panyee+Floating+Village.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432188689630397010" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5hSa6gX5sjKaLJu1DCg4sIfoaByDVCOC2RcbJ7SRXIqFuAq8tSpi6luAFhBDm1jLNksAczOJlJ5t6AHheiY_hLSospxQgb2Rgp_nJB29mQzTjY-Krfn59Z6hioaOZMUk2qKBIPHWR0uQ/s320/P1020031+Panyee+Floating+Village.JPG" border="0" /></a>eek cruising Phangnga Bay to test everything out (and see what we have been told is even more stunning scenery), then depart for the Maldives.<br /><br />We have uploaded the Malaysia and Thai photos to date which you can view at: <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/SV.Mischief">http://picasaweb.google.com/SV.Mischief</a><br /><br />Briefly, we hope to now be in the Maldives in mid to late January 2009, then on to Salaleh in Oman, coast hop through the pirate area to Aden in Yemen, in convoy with other yachts, then up the Red Sea in March – April, with a stay in Egypt to visit the Pyramids etc, and then through the Suez on to Cyprus and the Med around May when it hopefully has warmed up a bit. The first year will probably be spent in Turkey – our plans in a nutshell.<br /><br />Here’s wishing you a very happy Xmas, and a great new year in 2009!!</div></div></div>SV Mischiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732107627031142254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972685580670352523.post-39024545048978357072008-11-22T05:11:00.000-08:002010-01-29T07:54:15.785-08:00Malaysia & the Malaccca StraitsMischief Newsletter No 7<br /><br />Dear friends<br />It has certainly been an interesting passage up the Malacca Straits. A place of contrasts, …everchanging.<br /><br />To begin with, let me say that we were not really worried about pirates, and we found nothing but friendly fishermen, some perhaps also very curious who came to have a close look at a sailing vessel.<br /><br />We left Sebana Cove in eastern Malaysia and rounded the island of Singapore and into the Straits, overnighting at a couple of islands on the way. Our first short stop was at the Water Islands, outside Malacca: pretty, huge resort on the island which was totally abandoned, and very much a hallmark of so many resorts throughout Malaysia –even worse than in Indonesia… in fact, after six weeks in these waters, I have to say I have never seen so many ‘<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1LXmZy13vn7BP1G2Pc-ORtys3RqZOIW3yQh2DQjUuWdADiFUl1jUl5UMwxZW0bWeWWfm7pUWwPjQkmaYq9G34MXdrd8wOf5NJDN3P0BVPWn91n4L6-ltRR3mxmNPUoxw_J1pAWpCqasS9/s1600-h/PA280013+main+square+under+hill+Malacca.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432190309122766754" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1LXmZy13vn7BP1G2Pc-ORtys3RqZOIW3yQh2DQjUuWdADiFUl1jUl5UMwxZW0bWeWWfm7pUWwPjQkmaYq9G34MXdrd8wOf5NJDN3P0BVPWn91n4L6-ltRR3mxmNPUoxw_J1pAWpCqasS9/s320/PA280013+main+square+under+hill+Malacca.JPG" border="0" /></a>white elephants’ – and costly ones at that – before!<br /><br />We then headed to Port Dickson, and took the local bus to Malacca, as the waters outside are too shallow for anchoring there. This has been our favourite place, the narrow streets of the old town are full of doorways into worlds of old…. We loved the mix of Malay, Indian and Chinese cultures; the cuisine was to die for, and the added mix of Dutch, Portuguese and English history make for an extremely interesting old town. It has also recently been declared a UNESCO world heritage site – deservedly so.<br /><br />We then sailed up to Port Klang, very industrial but worth the trip around the busy port, and on to the island of Pangkor outside Lumut. It was getting less humid and also the scenery started to change, becoming increasingly prettier. At Pangkor, some friends told us of a brand new abandoned marina (Pulau Mentangor), and we spent two days there among really pretty islands exploring the surrounds, before heading north again towards Penang.<br /><br />We spent a lovely week at the Tanjung City Marina right in the heart of Georgetown. In the evenings, the Indian quarter becomes a street party with Bollywood music blaring and locals enjoying the cooler evening temperatures eating out at the many local restaurants. Some really interesting architecture around, but slowly being swallowed by the spread of high rises, if they’re not careful.<br /><br />We headed northwards once again, intending to overnight at the southern islands outside Langkawi before heading there. We stopped over at a place called the Fjord, majestic sheer cliff face in a narrow channel sandwiched between stunning islands. We loved it so much that we ended up staying for 3 days! It was then time to head to Rebak Island, on th<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdRNXhDCJNw_zxQgrO8WOnviYzPAXhNXCY0hwaSFU4F06WKLN27Vex_MWiprx0vgCWR-1w5ND6qxhWTNX_CgNPvip4NoNskQx2K2bMWJb0sVH_uDgHwCPlr4PyPmj0-Cmb4UjP8C7ueLlQ/s1600-h/PA280008+one+of+the+numerious+temples+-+Malacca.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432190112313951170" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdRNXhDCJNw_zxQgrO8WOnviYzPAXhNXCY0hwaSFU4F06WKLN27Vex_MWiprx0vgCWR-1w5ND6qxhWTNX_CgNPvip4NoNskQx2K2bMWJb0sVH_uDgHwCPlr4PyPmj0-Cmb4UjP8C7ueLlQ/s320/PA280008+one+of+the+numerious+temples+-+Malacca.JPG" border="0" /></a>e west of Langkawi to the Marina/resort for some R&R, Laundry, boat maintenance and general repairs in preparation for our Thailand visit and for the start of the Indian Ocean crossings before Xmas.<br /><br />Some reflections to date: the big worry of those ‘sumatras’, the thundersqualls, never eventuated, although we did have a few thunderstorms at the lower end of the Straits, but no really strong winds. Cruising is indeed fixing the boat in exotic locations – the list grows longer daily, and you never seem to catch up! Also, I have never been so familiar with the underpants brand of so many friends around us.. haha, on board we all succumb to the ‘brief’ temptation, which is why one always calls out when visiting another yacht… well, what do you expect, it’s hot, and humid and thank goodness for these lovely pools when we’re in marinas! An incredible mix of cruising nationalities, and some very special people around, ever so helpful, welcoming and warm!!<br /><br />We get hauled out in the next day, and then it’s waxing the hull and antifouling the bottom, doing minor repairs/ improvements, checking the vitals, and generally preparing for the next legs.<br /><br />We’re really looking forward to cruising the incredibly majestic and stunning Thai waters, even if our time here is going to be brief and all we’ll get in four week is a taste! We hope to upload the Malaysia photos shortly to the Picasa spot for SV.Mischief: <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/SV.Mischief">http://picasaweb.google.com/SV.Mischief</a><br /><br />We plan to be leaving to do the next Indian Ocean crossing to the Maldives before Xmas, where I hope to get out our last newsletter for the year, with some indications of our itinerary through to Oman, the Red Sea and to the Med.<br /><br />Here’s wishing you a very happy Xmas and a great new 2009!SV Mischiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732107627031142254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972685580670352523.post-79863265905086119802008-10-17T05:09:00.000-07:002010-01-29T07:55:30.424-08:00Relaxing at Sebana Cove, MalaysiaMischief Newsletter No 6<br /><br />Dear friends<br />We’ve been both lazing away and very busy over the past 6 weeks – on the one hand the heat and humidity have slowed us down and therefore the relaxing at Sebana Cove Marina Resort has taken on new meaning: some work during the day, pool late afternoon, then hand exercises with glass of vino or gin and tonic to keep the mossies at bay!<br /><br />On the other hand, Sebana Cove has been a great place to do some of the work that we identified needed doing on the way; one definition of cruising is that of fixing your boat in exotic places, and this has certainly true of our stay here.<br /><br />Mind you, part of the fun has been going into the local towns, both in Malaysia and<br />Singapore trying to find all the parts and bits & bobs that you need: an adv<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmz8WTiF1v_T4SfrFn3BIruiNkmbO6R3dUSVFafcEk0LiWwDQ88gjGCuZaNsdb-BEVW9gbRBKbjqsEHxNWAbauD2Ycwugj4PfkrKmnZsXXY5qVIs3N4BbFh4_Mt-VdHtyD_IOPYgxszUXP/s1600-h/P9230026+Sebana+Cove.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432190896489714610" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmz8WTiF1v_T4SfrFn3BIruiNkmbO6R3dUSVFafcEk0LiWwDQ88gjGCuZaNsdb-BEVW9gbRBKbjqsEHxNWAbauD2Ycwugj4PfkrKmnZsXXY5qVIs3N4BbFh4_Mt-VdHtyD_IOPYgxszUXP/s320/P9230026+Sebana+Cove.JPG" border="0" /></a>enture in itself!<br /><br />We’ve been into Singapore a couple of times, as there is a ferry from here just next to us that goes across 3 times a day. I’ve also made a quick dash to Perth to catch up with our daughter Annika, her partner Jesper (& her gorgeous half dog/ half human, Chica). This was a time to do tax returns and totally ignore investments, the way the market has been going! The rest of the time was spent chasing exotic boat parts from an endless list Bjorn drew up. I had to acquire a suitcase just to haul back the boat bits, and only managed a corner to squeeze in some Italian salami and some cheeses!<br /><br />This week, we waved farewell to ELOISE, our sailing partners in Indonesia so far, and hope to catch up with them briefly in Phuket or thereabouts. We also welcomed dear friends Gus & Gabbi on PAMPERO a few days ago and have been really enjoying catching up after some 8-9 months! And today our friends from NEREID arrived back in Sebana Cove after a trip back to the US and we hope to see more of them as we are both sailing towards the Red Sea and the Med. This is very much an integral part of the story of cruising: hellos and goodbyes to people who become very dear friends.<br /><br />We’re now about ready to move on in the next few days, going round Singapore and up through the Malacca Straits!<br /><br />Meanwhile, we have finally uploaded some photos of our trip so far. The web address is at: <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/SV.Mischief">http://picasaweb.google.com/SV.Mischief</a>SV Mischiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732107627031142254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972685580670352523.post-42341119129546562542008-08-30T05:05:00.000-07:002010-01-29T08:05:31.548-08:00Incredible Indonesia<div><div><div>Mischief Newsletter No 5<br /><br />Dear friends <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvp4EYnp0iUVW3PpkjCvNp1mVY6GfmKB_uXDhjr2dxgqJilTcvBejwdDUv5I0FbCgy7YHFBE3v2dC5OOR_okOqJq7HXKXUyo-xWI4m0XqmgACUBzl2dd3ikpLJDTjmgpNwqBfz04W75Q-/s1600-h/P8260065+Riau+passage.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432192228623353874" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvp4EYnp0iUVW3PpkjCvNp1mVY6GfmKB_uXDhjr2dxgqJilTcvBejwdDUv5I0FbCgy7YHFBE3v2dC5OOR_okOqJq7HXKXUyo-xWI4m0XqmgACUBzl2dd3ikpLJDTjmgpNwqBfz04W75Q-/s320/P8260065+Riau+passage.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Relaxing at Sebana Cove Marina Resort, to the east of Singapore on the Malaysian mainland, I can reflect our intensive cruise through Indonesia.<br /><br />Bali was our introduction to this country: the beaches did nothing for me, quite frankly – but then I’m not a surfer! I enjoyed the highland areas more: more natural, yet really marred by the tourist trade: I feel scarred for life harangued by endless hawkers: Come, come …look only… only one dollar (desperately trying to sell their wares). The bombings have really dented their economy, and yet, Bali is so filled to capacity with endless souvenirs that sooner or later there is reality they have to face up to which is that there is very little natural left here!<br /><br />We sailed out of Bali Marina and had to hug the coast to avoid the immense southerly current. Locals told us to do so until we were well past the top of Bali, and then we crossed over to the north east of Lombok to Teluk Kombal, just south of Gili Aer in company with Ray & Judy (Alaska) on Nereid. Here we joined Tristan and Jas on Eloise (Australia) and Dorothy & Ed (US) on Prism and spent a very pleasant week on moorings provided by Mohammed from the local village.<br /><br />Lombok it certainly is much more authentic. But hurry and see this place soon because it is destined to become the new Bali with development progressing at an incredible pace.<br /><br />On the first night, Mohammed invited us to his village to see a <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPDjIiQb4bKhIckAY6p5h9SOyOHcG0FEBlT7197JLSTJ48icq4nX3jSQVSHCAIVONR7c31-2yNSVIzz_OKvpwk3RWZ8vUQiWGfbE4Hk5PRkila4pDljYp6W33OoyOhejPVMLrHd6-mVGDL/s1600-h/P8140046+kumai+upriver.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432191867164979122" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPDjIiQb4bKhIckAY6p5h9SOyOHcG0FEBlT7197JLSTJ48icq4nX3jSQVSHCAIVONR7c31-2yNSVIzz_OKvpwk3RWZ8vUQiWGfbE4Hk5PRkila4pDljYp6W33OoyOhejPVMLrHd6-mVGDL/s320/P8140046+kumai+upriver.JPG" border="0" /></a>wedding… we walked through bush and into the jungle to his village which is where the bride was. Here there was a ceremony with drums etc for both bride and groom, and then they left to go to the groom’s village to formally welcome the new bride in the back of a truck over a dirt track, followed with another truck with all the musicians, and all the rest on motorbikes – the main means of transport on these islands.<br /><br />After Lombok, we sailed to the Kumai River via the island of Bawean where we spent 5-6 days. They do not get many tourists here, so we were quite the novelty; the local English teacher came and asked us to visit his school and talk to the kids, arranged for transport (young kids on motorbikes, each taking one of us as pillion riders). Everyone was so excited, and we then invited the teacher on the boat where we provided some National Geographic magazines (thanks to Nereid) with afternoon tea; we really enjoyed Bawean: every night we ate ashore where this family had a small restaurant (2 refectory tables) – each delicious meal costing us around US$1.50-$2 pp.<br /><br />Kumai is something you have to do once! The trip up river to visit Ca<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRNd4ZEZp1ccs0yOf32UDa1bDt-ewPWJ1HtS8ZHjKEkChkZ14pPmtMc73nuDoMNln8EcqHKHNHzkZ2_3XsXs_PPrKdr7Rl1qsAYq8tsl8BFw7FpKrx68y2nSIXfX5IjZ_9PPxgkG_jSvN1/s1600-h/P8140034.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432191584528604562" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRNd4ZEZp1ccs0yOf32UDa1bDt-ewPWJ1HtS8ZHjKEkChkZ14pPmtMc73nuDoMNln8EcqHKHNHzkZ2_3XsXs_PPrKdr7Rl1qsAYq8tsl8BFw7FpKrx68y2nSIXfX5IjZ_9PPxgkG_jSvN1/s320/P8140034.JPG" border="0" /></a>mp Leaky, the orang utan sanctuary, is as exciting as the actual encounter with the apes. Again, a few days here, exploring the surroundings and then we were off again, sailing to the Riau archipelago, south of Singapore, via a number of islands and to our final Indonesian destination at Noongsa Point Marina.<br /><br />It was from Kumai onwards that we started encountering the thunder squalls, which can be somewhat intimidating to begin with. One in particular struck when we were about to put down our anchor at Mesanek and the next thing we knew was we were surrounded by waterspouts! Really unbelievable how they form and change shape and direction – it is very difficult to figure out how to avoid them if they are close, and therefore we spent an anxious hour on the radio with Eloise with whom we were sailing. We just upped anchor next morning and headed into the Riau archipelago, where better shelter was available!<br /><br />For the sailors among you, one of the memories of this trip are the fishing boats, which come in all shapes and sizes and utilise different fishing methods. Around Bali, the long, narrow boats, with outriggers, look like crabs, and it is a weird sight seeing a hundred come towards you when the wind picks up and they head back home. Then there were the larger boats and the squid trawlers with their flood lights, the fishing platforms, bamboo sticks, floats etc… every locality with its’ peculiar fishing traditions… some with lights on at night, but needing a really good look out!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbq-jXdDDHPMyGobo4AOteJDvX15upEoTwnxlJkJRejS7-iriqn1rpLRxIzcA6KEBhhwB_Xplzw62tfH5XxMCg629vAaZdco-3LZU3PKHmMCIPj7EkjJ01zUZGL_wHbLTnlPBFO9MtMOV/s1600-h/P8220056+crossing+the+equator+before+Kentar.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432192419324108722" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbq-jXdDDHPMyGobo4AOteJDvX15upEoTwnxlJkJRejS7-iriqn1rpLRxIzcA6KEBhhwB_Xplzw62tfH5XxMCg629vAaZdco-3LZU3PKHmMCIPj7EkjJ01zUZGL_wHbLTnlPBFO9MtMOV/s320/P8220056+crossing+the+equator+before+Kentar.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />In all, I think Indonesia needs two visits: the first to get to know the peculiarities (weather & currents; people; fishing; etc) of each area, and the second to be able to really explore the place in a more relaxed fashion.<br /><br />Our first overseas destination aboard our beloved Mischief is now behind us, and the next two weeks are about R&R as much as about getting ready for Malaysia, Thailand and beyond!</div></div></div>SV Mischiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732107627031142254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972685580670352523.post-25561627265989478892008-07-16T05:01:00.000-07:002010-01-29T08:08:28.168-08:00Our first ocean crossing: Bali ahoy!<div><div>Mischief Newsletter No 4<br /><br />Selamat Siang!<br /><br />We're in Bali after a five and a half day crossing with a bit of adventure towards the end as we hit a strong current some 25 miles south of Bali. We were flying at 8-9 knots and only doing 2knots over ground, and the sea was a veritable washing machine- phew, the worst of <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEK84iLYPZv2kOeCu3Xxt55sVILzcgY0W5inlcXQNC6TE_oENjMB1vb4v9I7FE63GcfZCi0_yCZcMqg7ByfrhCDB4nswzhxQWaR3L2fl1JFB2w1-Djsg5I80BJBcoUquuYvp4UvH-onRQ/s1600-h/P7190041+Batubulan.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432193832664140578" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEK84iLYPZv2kOeCu3Xxt55sVILzcgY0W5inlcXQNC6TE_oENjMB1vb4v9I7FE63GcfZCi0_yCZcMqg7ByfrhCDB4nswzhxQWaR3L2fl1JFB2w1-Djsg5I80BJBcoUquuYvp4UvH-onRQ/s320/P7190041+Batubulan.JPG" border="0" /></a>it only lasted 1-2 hours, and then even though we still had a very strong 3-5 knot head current, the sea eased more and more until we reached close to shore and hugged the coast round to Benoa harbour.<br /><br />The crossing itself was quite pleasant – it took us 5 ½ days to do the 734 nautical mile crossing. First day out of Dampier we were moving at a great 7-8 knots, but the wind died down after the first 30 hours and we spent the next 30 hours motor sailing gently at around 5 knots before we hit the south east trades and they blew us steadily for a couple of days, again doing 6-8 knots. We did 4 four watches, and I elected to do the midnight to 4.00am which was really no problem at all. Mind you I did have a really fascinating book The History of Venice and a red night light which allowed me to read without obscuring my night vision. We did not see any shipping until close to Bali, and only encountered the fishermen during the last 20 miles, inside the current.<br /><br />Bjorn and I really enjoyed hearing from you all and especially appreciated those wonderful messages of encouragement – they were very precious to us.<br /><br />Now sipping my first Balinese pina colada at Bali marina, and waiting for customs and immigration to turn up before getting ready to go explore this beautiful island. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLy3sEAa-ywKZdzAxf3hFI9nkc9WRQmGhw5YcmjUgw-1kjbbH-Fqebhx1_qGKVkSaB-2wShvPpdrli4O9Jg8eiIEJ7xXR0p7DiBTUorwtVl-aA9L9IEd-e1vJAvXsMkQ23FhCq1N6dwpG1/s1600-h/P7190058.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432194005210263170" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLy3sEAa-ywKZdzAxf3hFI9nkc9WRQmGhw5YcmjUgw-1kjbbH-Fqebhx1_qGKVkSaB-2wShvPpdrli4O9Jg8eiIEJ7xXR0p7DiBTUorwtVl-aA9L9IEd-e1vJAvXsMkQ23FhCq1N6dwpG1/s320/P7190058.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ah, here comes Bjorn: We’re all cleared now. Except for quarantine, who were two really nice guys, nobody else came on board and clearing customs and immigration was a breeze, with Bali Marina doing all the work in a couple of hours. Off on our first walk to stretch our legs after 6 days!<br /><br />One day later:<br />Caught up with an American and a Dutch couple and had dinner at the Marina last night. Good and very cheap food – Marina itself is very small but the facilities are pretty OK.<br /><br />We are now organising to go around the island and explore! We intend to ‘do’ Bali first, then attempt to go east (north of islands) to visit Lombok (& Gili Islands), and hopefully Komodo – I don’t know how far we’ll get before turning west once again and then make our way to the Kumai river in Borneo visiting the islands in between.<br /><br />Our very best wishes to you all and we promise to try and live up to our boat’s name – we have to, she really looked after us and is a very comfortable cruising yacht.</div></div>SV Mischiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732107627031142254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972685580670352523.post-35247697767279425792008-06-20T04:54:00.000-07:002010-01-29T08:14:34.812-08:00Heading NorthMischief Newsletter No 3<br /><br />Dear Friends<br /><br /><div><div><br />Carnarvon was our first long stop, for about a week, and it was here that we finally replaced the alternator and got rid of the needling battery problems.<br /><br />We are totally self sufficient on Mischief. We have to be! We generate our own electricity, via wind, sun, and when both fail, via either engine or generator. I’m happy to say that, over the past month, we have only resorted to the generator 3 times for very short spurts, and that includes running not only all our ‘household’, including washing machine, but also the water maker, with the water tank in a very healthy near full position most of the time. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMF1VWxWr8P0MtklJmWT9KquJ_x81U1rQadedWR59EFqfMD0HqDCUiTLQYpynTdlM73Jir8LwCC8WchwzSvxvU1TD5Blp9aM8KVczTYsKiEVJe401oBUfXl0CFveaPqIfrTtNZRagITOaa/s1600-h/P5220091+coral+bay+.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421412814476533138" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMF1VWxWr8P0MtklJmWT9KquJ_x81U1rQadedWR59EFqfMD0HqDCUiTLQYpynTdlM73Jir8LwCC8WchwzSvxvU1TD5Blp9aM8KVczTYsKiEVJe401oBUfXl0CFveaPqIfrTtNZRagITOaa/s320/P5220091+coral+bay+.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The next stage of our journey northwards along the West Australian coast took us along Ningaloo reef, with the first stop at Coral Bay. Here we caught up with fellow cruisers Leighton and Julie on Downshifting with whom we cruised for the next few weeks.<br /><br />Our first foray ashore in crystal clear waters, and these lovely spangled emperor came to greet us (it’s a norm, especially as no fishing is allowed in the marine park) – photo attached.<br /><br />We swan and snorkelled along the pristine turquoise waters, incredible coral reef and lots of marine life in the various places we called into along the reef, always anchoring inside the reef. A number of spots we called into were turtle nesting places, and though these were all around us, never succeeded in taking a photo of these shy creatures, which dive the minute they spot you.<br /><br />We did try fishing where this was allowed, but have not yet landed anything worthy of mention. Unfortunately though, there are a number of fish now swimming the ocean with our lures attached. The first one broke an 80 lb line, the second, split a lure open and took off with the hook and the last one snapped the line again. Luckily Leighton and Julie on Downshifting proved incredibly successful fishermen and kept us going. We repaid their generosity by introducing them to a very versatile card came called “Frustration”… we still have to finish it!!!!<br /><br />Our first brush with strong winds came at Tantabiddy, near Exmouth, where we stayed for about 10 days. With Downshifting, we hired a car so we could get to Exmouth, collect our mail, do some shopping, see some sights, and see to the bits and pieces that need attending to.<br />We waved Tantabiddy and our friends on Downshifting farewell on the 12 June. After a lovely 5 hour sail averaging a good 7 knots we reached Serrurier Island, and I i<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4W-FFIqlWIU4F_4yC0tQsoLwa__ixvzfBiPaWiXa8un0dBPQ2ymtvSsBBMPgJe-e97tl7z4aPFEfQ_huyq5RWu7ovF6Dqvb7zbNuCfYzS5wH6aguMzydYaKcNJ2yzxTi106svrBbUfzTN/s1600-h/P6130008+Serrurier+Isl+west.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432195616443874162" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4W-FFIqlWIU4F_4yC0tQsoLwa__ixvzfBiPaWiXa8un0dBPQ2ymtvSsBBMPgJe-e97tl7z4aPFEfQ_huyq5RWu7ovF6Dqvb7zbNuCfYzS5wH6aguMzydYaKcNJ2yzxTi106svrBbUfzTN/s320/P6130008+Serrurier+Isl+west.JPG" border="0" /></a>mmediately fell in love with this place and opted to spend the next 3 days there. The reef was in really good condition, and the fish plentiful, as were the oysters along the shoreline. We had the place all to ourselves for the first two days, and then a powerboat called in on the third.<br /><br />With favourable winds blowing again, we headed off to Onslow, a very interesting old town that services the Onslow salt works and surrounding mines. Again, strong winds have held us here longer that the two days planned. There are strong wind and gale force warnings all around us, and this has been the case all week, but we seem to have been in a wind hole at Onslow as the winds have not exceeded 20-23 knots until this morning.<br /><br />One of the pleasures of cruising is the circle that develops on HF radio, and we are in touch with cruisers up and down the coast and even in Cocos Islands. With two radio schedules a day (morn & evening) you can catch up with who’s doing what, where all the time!!!<br /><br />Tomorrow we head north towards Dampier (a three day trip through the Mangrove islands passage, past Sholl Island for a sleepover and then on to the Dampier archipelago and Dampier).<br /><br />There have been few idle moments since we left Fremantle, as we have been attending to the numerous items that demand attention and fine-tuning the boat. Living aboard in a marina and living aboard whilst under passage is significantly different – you are constantly looking for good anchorages, as there are no marinas to speak off along the northern coast line. But Mischief is doing very well, and we’re following suite.<br /><br />If you want to follow our journey, you can visit the Google Map you find if you follow this link:<br /><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=112571862415287107174.00044d3e61644f046395b">http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=112571862415287107174.00044d3e61644f046395b</a></div></div>SV Mischiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732107627031142254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972685580670352523.post-47822990533472885092008-05-15T04:47:00.000-07:002010-01-29T08:11:37.236-08:00Brave Beginning: Anchor aweigh!Mischief Newsletter No 2<br /><br />Hi All<br />Despite my best intentions, I never got round to sending an update of our preparations for departure - too hectic, and now we have completed the first leg of the journey and are in Carnarvon. We left Fremantle on 23 April, and headed up along the coast crossing over to the Abrolhos for 5-6 days . Fascinating place, and very weird... beautiful coral atoll very flat and then these fisherman's huts like a mirage over the horizon!!! The image of a 4-5 metre swell breaking off the reef fringe whilst we sat in perfect calm waters behind the reef often without the 1-2 metres of land is permanently stored in our memories.<br /><br />From Turtle Bay in the northern group in the Abrolhos we headed towards Shark Bay.... Wow!!! What an experience... We spent another 5-6 days cruising around various anchorages, and the most poignant memory is the sealife..... turtles, dolphin pods galore, tuna and mackerel jumping out - probably being chased by bigger predators, water teeming with fish all around us - one regret: all this beautiful water and we dared not swim, not after all the tales that everyone likes telling about the tiger sharks which also seem to be everywhere!!!<br /><br />We are now in Carnarvon, for some R&R, boat and laundry cleaning, and revictualising in preparation for our next leg up the coast to Coral Bay and Ningaloo Reef and a possible change in plans - but before I get to that in this upside down email, let me just say a few words about our preparations prior to departure. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXe431C9sTYLqbbc01c8QPbBEpDrKOyny-1Y6HfcTtOxM4JgaQq3LjYk_4I7G2M5fe9z_6jCjG2J6j2tUs4TroSLpe-cwUYRnKrA7JIgeAz386LiSVq8KSZTYD9t_8Wx9kL1Fd2jp7MDGv/s1600-h/P6010106+Yardee+Creek+.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432194773601519442" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXe431C9sTYLqbbc01c8QPbBEpDrKOyny-1Y6HfcTtOxM4JgaQq3LjYk_4I7G2M5fe9z_6jCjG2J6j2tUs4TroSLpe-cwUYRnKrA7JIgeAz386LiSVq8KSZTYD9t_8Wx9kL1Fd2jp7MDGv/s320/P6010106+Yardee+Creek+.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />With packing up house, auctioning off most of our worldly possessions, and organising our affairs whilst overseas, we also had to fit in ensuring the boat was ready for the voyage, and more importantly, ensuring we were up to the trip ahead.<br /><br />There's so much to be done, getting equipment and all boating gear checked and ready to go, including life raft, power generation etc, ensuring the weather forecasts came in on HF as expected via fax, in depth passage planning and chasing cruising permits, visas etc - we were literally run off our feet as those of you at the Club undoubtedly noticed! I should take this opportunity to apologise to those of you I did not have time to catch up with - but still thought of nonetheless.<br /><br />And then as D-Day drew close, the emotions come into play: elation, excitement, jubilation, - panic, anxiety, scribbled lists and mad rushes to add some extra just in case item - sadness at leaving our daughter Annika, her partner Jesper and Chika that beautiful half human dog of hers - and leaving some terrific friends behind. You end up with this long list of things still to do and if you don't get going you'll be stuck around for another 12 months. So like many before us, we knew we had the basics right (hopefully) and off we went!<br /><br />It's funny how we would go out sailing in practically all weather and never worry about anything when based in Fremantle. Then suddenly we were leaving on this big cruise and the nerves kicked in! One of our wisest decisions was having Admiral Julie on board for the first couple of weeks, sitting quietly in the background enjoying the sail, exuding calm..... very wise decision!!!!<br /><br />One of the greatest pleasures has been catching up with other cruising friends along the way. In the Abrolhos we caught up with the Fremantle Sailing Club cruisers and dear friends with whom we have enjoyed numerous cruises - Lynne & Ralph on Yandanooka and their guests, Jackimac - thanks guys for the farewell salute in Turtle Bay and others. We finally caught up with Leighton and Julie on Downshifting - we were moored opposite eachother on B jetty and yet it took this trip to really get to know two lovely people, as we have cruised in company from the Abrolhos to Carnarvon. Here we caught up with Westward II, Eloise, Sailaway Too and others. Then there are the cruisers who turn up from nowhere headed to some of the destinations on our way. I still haven't managed to 'dry' myself out with all the sundowners!!!<br /><br />We're now here, settling down to cruising life (and what a life!) and enjoying time out in Carnarvon - for you guys in Perth, where the weather has been so awful this past week or so, let me say we're enjoying the climate change that Carnarvon provides.<br /><br />We sadly said goodbye to Julie and Margaret on Wednesday morning. Thanks for the chokies and the lovely thought. Bjorn and I will miss you both.<br /><br />We have attached a rough plan for the next 12 months. We just received our cruising permit for Indonesia, and it seems we should first call into Bali to avoid the unpleasant import and tax charges, so instead of heading up to Darwin and across to Kupang, it seems that we may have to amend this part of the sailing plan... still confirming with Indonesia, so we'll spend a few extra days in Carnarvon sorting this one out.<br /><br />The good part about the change of plans is that we may have more time to cruise gently to Dampier/ Broome (destination still to be confirmed) and can really pick the right time to do Ningaloo reef and the Montebello islands. We will get going once we receive a few bits and bobs from Perth and sort out our alternator problem (the young guy in Carnarvon seems to really know what he's on about - very encouraging)!<br /><br />That's it from us for now. Attached is a photo and our original sail plan which may have to now read Dampier - Bali.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX29GkXyivUZFWyamvVdwSz8iX5ZxqEtmU9vy5nagX8VEVVNWERvFmQiYGBa1dnEwHHHR1Lxz1DWhk2Rjxtoy4r33y8auynT0KOiT-NTwt0Zdv176QMdhT_EcnrQcWYF63x68dGMH7-gXg/s1600-h/Mischief+1st+year+travel.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421409507298936066" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 205px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX29GkXyivUZFWyamvVdwSz8iX5ZxqEtmU9vy5nagX8VEVVNWERvFmQiYGBa1dnEwHHHR1Lxz1DWhk2Rjxtoy4r33y8auynT0KOiT-NTwt0Zdv176QMdhT_EcnrQcWYF63x68dGMH7-gXg/s320/Mischief+1st+year+travel.JPG" border="0" /></a>SV Mischiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732107627031142254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972685580670352523.post-79782053182910483922008-03-30T04:42:00.000-07:002009-12-31T06:31:31.619-08:00Preparing to Go Sailing<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHfjsQFjBblNkn6QkdtojIgJhqGN54dlUN0ngio6XwsPj7mqzQn_CW1N-9-BrfP8p1r53y_O2AyUyENrWEYbdjGrhFa_dgzZJSP6-jG6YNPZ4LLPVvbETwXIMdf7krds7EEH_Vh5ibpW9/s1600-h/P1030013.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421407375797676418" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHfjsQFjBblNkn6QkdtojIgJhqGN54dlUN0ngio6XwsPj7mqzQn_CW1N-9-BrfP8p1r53y_O2AyUyENrWEYbdjGrhFa_dgzZJSP6-jG6YNPZ4LLPVvbETwXIMdf7krds7EEH_Vh5ibpW9/s320/P1030013.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Mischief Newsletter No 1<br /><br />Hello All<br />As many of you are aware d-day for the start of our crusing adventure draws near! I hope to get around to developing a website to cover our adventures but in the meantime, here's an update of what we've been up to in preparation for the next phase of our life - literally a SeachangeL<br /><br />I had an idea that planning a trip like the one we're about to embark on takes time, but boy.. there's so much to do.... I also can now confirm that WA stands for Wait Awile, as the trades have really held us up.<br /><br />So here's to what's happening.<br /><br />MISCHIEF is a 15 year old MOODY (Forty four feet overall) that we acquired in really good condition and ready to take to the oceans. It was sailed by the previous swiss owner from Spain over the Atlantic and the pacific to New Zealand, where we bought her, so she's well tried and tested.<br /><br />A friend of ours sailed her over from Brisbane after she was brought across from NZ, and I joined the boat in Darwin for the sail down to Perth, and managed to sail to Carnarvon before I had to catch a plane to get back to work. I am happy to report I am now fully 'retired'!<br /><br />She's a fine and very comfy cruiser, and since getting to Perth at the end of August, I've been chasing trades to do the work which has involved changing all the portholes and hatches (the perspex mainly), new upholstery foam and cushions throughout, including a new queen size bed for the skipper and her mate, new carpet and curtains etc.... all mostly cosmetic to refresh the boat and make it 'our home'. It has been quite challenging moving from a large house onto a boat, and much had to go to auction - but I love my new home!<br /><br />With some help from our able delivery skipper, I sanded and varnished the boat from bow to stern, and she really looks lovely and fresh now. Bjorn and I moved on board just before Christmas, and then set off on the two week cruise to Quindalup (down south of Perth). The galley is very well designed with everything handy. I had the benchtops redone and have also been chasing for the canvas work to be redone.... so it's been quite hectic.<br /><br />Meanwhile we have been going through electrics, motors etc and checking everything in preparation for our big trip. Departure date is now set for April 24 heading north to the Abrolos Islands outside Geraldton for around 10 days before continuing up the WA coast. The rough plan is to go through to Broome and then sail across to Indonesia, probably to Kupang or to Bali and cruise there for 1-2 months heading up via Singapore to Thailand, then across to Sri Lanka via the Nicobar islands, to Maldives, Chagos, Seychelles then up to Oman and on to Aden around Feb 2009 heading through the Red Sea to Cyprus. We hope to be there around March/ April.<br /><br />Still a rough plan at this stage as we are working our way through winds, monsoon seasons and currents etc to ensure we're sailing through waters at the optimal time and not during a cyclone season etc...<br /><br />Bjorn has now handed in his resignation and he's a free man as of 28th March. The house looks like we have a good tenant for a couple of years, so we should finally be all set to go... It sounds so straightforward when you write it down like this, but let me assure you it has been mini dramas all the way. The latest is my wrist, where after two months of sanding and varnishing, I have aggravated an old condition and now need surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome. Hopefully it will only leave me out of action for a couple of weeks, during which time I can concentrate on the passage preparation, stocking the boat etc.<br /><br />It is not all drama, and really quite an exciting time... I guess you never realise the scope of the plans and when it dawns on you, you get mild panic attacks..... do we know what we're doing etc??? These episodes do serve to ensure we prepare as well as we can - Mischief is a real blue water cruiser and can handle some tough conditions; we need to ensure that we are also up to the task as best we can.<br /><br />Annika is now well settled into her new home in Applecross (with Jesper) and hopes to come out to Europe next year to catch up with us. Mark and Bridget intend to join us in the Maldives later this year.<br /><br />So that's it for now.... must get Bjorn to send some pics... the boat is very comfy ... we even have TV and DVD on board!!!</div>SV Mischiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732107627031142254noreply@blogger.com0