Tuesday Launch Day 3rd May

Hooray, we are back in the water - only a day late. We didn't go back in yesterday, not sure why, but Antonello did seem grumpy, so probably just as well. He was fine today and got us safely in with his usual panache. It was touch and go. We were in the slings perilously close to lunchtime - half expected him to down tools, abandon his "gru" (crane) and head off for his lunch, habitual bottle of wine and little afternoon snooze. I didn't want him dropping my boat in the water after that! But he stayed on duty until we were in.

And just half a day of being on the water and we are better sorted than after a week on the hard. Everything is better. And we have won an Ebay battery charger which is being delivered to someone we have never met in the UK to be carried out to Sardinia at Olbia in his luggage on Sunday. He is coming to visit friends on Free Spirit (we have overwintered now twice with them and sailed together some over the last 2 years) and they kindly offered his services. Our anchor chain has been taken away, and we presume will be returned soon. So we are getting there, soon be on our way east and north.

Big treat - every morning and evening, hundreds of pink flamingos fly in "V" formation overhead, their long necks outstretched and their spindly legs dangling along behind them. Heading for salt lakes called "Stagnos". So far only blurry pics of them.

Wed 4th May Action Stations

We've had a full day of successes (except one, I went out to try and find R a birthday present before we set off, but no luck). Our anchor chain has come back looking like new, the diesel tank has been drained, cleaned and refilled to ¾ full (not much gunk in there from last seasons's diesel bug episode) - all by hand, and the water tank is clean and seems ok to drink from. Only thing stopping us heading off is the need to do a "stocking up" shop, the wind (blowing a steady F6/7 all day), and we still need to get the mainsail on. Then we'll be off, maybe tomorrow afternoon, if not, Friday.

May go initially to Nora and Pula, where the Saint went, to look at the Roman amphitheatre and ruins.