As July turned to August we travelled even further North.
We took m/v Kristiina after a flight to Reykjavik. Impressive stuff, they just dug holes to get heating water. Returned via the Faroes and Shetland to Bergen
By mid August it was time to return to Malta - in very hot and humid conditions.
I fitted Heller fans to all cabins and to the nav area and galley.
Fitted EPIRB. Then started to install the computer holder below the nav desk lid. This went remarkably well.
A local "sailmaker" made a bright red dinghy cover and a small sun shade for the cockpit. Both very satisfactory. In fact the dinghy cover never had to be replaced.
Tried out pactor email system which did send an email to Finland! - despite the difficulty hf radios normally have when surrounded by masts.
Local watch repairer produced a key for the barograph.
Pre leaving checks done , all lights checked.
Here is Bluesipp's track from Malta via Licata and Sciacca to the islet of Favignana.
About 140nm on the log,
The first leg:
Tuesday 26August departed Manoel Island 0400.
Wind 16kt 316Magnetic. Wind gradually increased and freed us, the passage became bumpier.
The stowage had not been as good as it needed to be. By 1400 we had two reefs and 5 tight rolls in the genny. We were sailing a little off the wind which was slowly backing and despite the occasional crash we once touched 8kt! By 1600 we had 3reefs in and 6 rolls in the genny. Some trouble avoiding being set down onto a couple of oil rigs. It began to be possible to lay Licata with the sheet freer but the position of the entrance was difficult to make out. Wind now healthy f6.
Probably I should have borne away and run down to Scoglitti but it seemed a shame to waste the height! Perkins was asked to help drive us through the lumpy stuff.20 00 anchor down and set, in eastern bay of the harbour. Not in anyone's way. Whew.
A number of things had come loose during the trip and better stowage had to be found. The third reef is difficult and the "biminino" makes winch operation difficult.
Thursday 28 August Aweigh 0500 amid departing fisherfolk. Delayed hoisting main as it was too busy within the harbour. 0615 full main, full genoa. Wind NNW f2. Perkins!
A hot calm day. Only lack of calm was the loss of navigation satellites on both GPS. Luckily the course was obvious but a major worry none the less.(Wouldn't have been a worry at all in the days of "proper" navigation!!) Turned out to be interference from the computer battery charger. (Or rather the inverter). Moored up in Sciacca 1530. The moorings were a little insecure as the harbour had suffered storm damage the previous winter. Authorities not interested! Rang Ruth on Grace's first birthday.
Friday 29 August Dropped moorings 0530. The wind is veering right around to ENE and expected to continue. Looks like a possible Sirocco. 1030 wind around to ESE giving a very rolly run. Doing 7kt over the ground. 1430 Anchored in sand Favignana town harbour 2.8metres with 15m chain. Motored it in at 2,200 revs!
Spent Saturday resting and planning the trip to Cagliari... somewhat less than 180 miles but with NW winds forecast. Exceeding unhelpful.
Although the Cagliari trip started on 31 August it is covered in the September notes.
