Malta

Cruising

4 days after leaving Greece, we've arrived in Catania (Italy) & figured out that we have a lot of time to spare. That means that I can actually try & live the life of a real cruiser - moving from one port to the other, letting Black Dolores & the wind take us wherever they wish. I guess that's the way my father wished to spend his old days & I'm starting to fall in love with this way of life. So, after cruising on the east coast of Sicily, eating some pizza & carpaccio & spending a fortune on 'Yacht parking', we bought a Maltese flag & set sail to Malta (it's a courtesy sea law to put up a flag of the country you're entering). I have some crazy thoughts of not coming back has planed & pursuing my new love affair with Black Dolores, sailing from France to Spain & Portugal, going down to Morocco & sailing the west coast of Africa or where ever Black Dolores wants us to go. Maybe some day we'll arrive in Antarctica & spend the winter on the ice. Does anyone wants to sponsor my voyage?

Here are some pictures of the past 2 weeks of sailing:

Crete

Yahsu!
After 6 night of sailing we arrived in Crete (Greece). That was actually 3 days ago. Many stories to tell, but I guess you'll have to watch the film :). Till then, you can enjoy these lovely pictures:

First stop - Larnaca

After 32 hours of beautiful sailing from Israel to Cyprus, we arrived in Larnaca. The immigration police man says, that the last time Black Dolores was here, was September 2004. I guess that was the last time my parents ever sailed to Cyprus. In a few hours we'll depart the marina & make our way to Crete.

Here are some pictures to tell the story on our last 3 days:

Last post from Israel

Time to say goodbye

This Tuesday, On the 7th of July, exactly one month shy of my father's one year anniversary & a month after the original date planed, we'll be untying Black Dolores' ropes, lifting up the fenders & finally setting sail on our way to France.

Tension, excitement, fear & some sea sickness, are words I could use to try & describe what I'm going trough, but they we'll not do the job. The only thing I'm sure of, is that the time has come for me to fully dive into this voyage & embraces it whatever way it hits me.

Here are some pictures from Saturday, when we took the crew out for a the a last sea trial:







Next stop Larnaca (Cyprus), where my father spent his last moments on earth.

Wish me luck :)

The best welder in the world!

It took us a week, but last Monday we found our man - "The best welder in the world!" (& I'm quoting the man's own words).

So, after this proud welder did his part, My modest skipper (actually & unfortunately former skipper) , Stepped in & completed the job.

Now, That the new depth meter is in it's place & the boat is back in the water, I can finally announce that everything is dry & beautiful.