Tuesday Launch Day 3rd MayHooray, 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 did...

The story of 3 and then the story of EfisioFirst 3 or "Tre". Very Italian. We wanted a 3 Sim card. We have an unlocked dongle fixed into the pc. We wanted a local card for internet access only to supplement our wifi. On a Pay As You Go basis. We went to the recommended shop, very helpful and obliging staff. He (spoke some English) recommended the 15 Euro for one month, unlimited use sim, rechargeable. Good. We bought it for 3 Euros. Loads of paperwork,...

37 12.1 N 009 07.5 E Cagliari, Sardinia Sunday, 24th April Start of the 2011 trek - or the non-glamourous side of "yachting" Offexploring has upgraded its website - I have yet to personalise it, will do so soon!Easter Sunday - we left Britain in glorious sunshine and arrived in the afternoon to cloud, showers and cool temps. Not right! And nothing open. The Sardinians take Easter very seriously. The re-acquaintance with our boat was both good and bad. The ...

End of the line Summer 2010 Cagliari Friday 15th OctoberLast full day in Sardinia. We have had some stormy weather in the area, so have been doing boat jobs when it was windy or sheets of rain, and sightseeing and taking sails down when fine. We finally negotiated the price down on the lift out and 6 months ashore. The windy weather convinced us that was the only option. The whole pontoon moved about in the wind - we think it was just the boats holding it in pl...

37 12.1 N 009 07.5 E Cagliari Saturday 9th OctWell that was a poor show. We went out of the harbour again to big swells and choppiness, the wind getting up to F5 very quickly. Whilst not too much in itself, the swell was coming in from the SE and no where along that whole south coast (within easy reach) would have had sufficient shelter for anchoring overnight. We went about 8 miles and reluctantly turned back. By the time we returned it was now blowing even i...