Taking the boat out - Captain on the right watching closely
Friday 30 September
Left Marina di Ragusa at 05.30 a.m. for Malta - 52.5nm directly south. And a beam sea all the way which may have been as a result of early bad weather during the week or because there is apparently often a 'mixed sea' in the Malta channel - but either way I didnt like it much. Arrived in Valetta at about 1.30 p.m. at the Manoel Island Boatyard and we were not exactly filled with confidence from what we could see from the boat but picked up a buoy until they were ready to take Sequel out of the water at 3.30 p.m. (Forgot to mention that we had called the boatyard on Thursday to ask if there was any chance of getting us out before Monday 03 October and were told if we arrived before 4 p.m. they could). It took a while and we were a bit worried about where they were going to put Sequel but in the end they put us in a spot with which the Captain was happy and the Maltese staff were very friendly and helpful. It was slightly odd as they all had names like Geoffrey and Andrew. Then we spent a frantic, very hot, couple of hours tidying up and putting things away and packing to come home.
Saturday 01 October/Sunday 02
Easy Jet to Gatwick and British Rail to Brockenhurst which took us all day but absolutely lovely to be home. The Captain (aka Head Gardener) has been mowing the lawn and we are getting back to being shipshape here as well. And at least seven months now on dry land!
