First leg of our journey across the pond.

This is how a perfect day begins.

The Dragon and Derrick are here to see us off and I was very touched when I saw a tear in the Dragon's eye when we were ready to "piss off".  I know there will be hell to pay for pointing this out but in true dragon form I say "Bloody Hell".   I really have a soft spot for the Dragon and I think we will be friends for a very long time.  Can't wait to take you out for a beer in the Caribbean. 

My favorite part of the day was when the dolphins were racing the boat.  This is from the very front and I was fantastic.  I love the site of dolphins.  Perfect end of the journey today.

Can I say the pictures just don't do them justice.  Beautiful creatures.

Getting ready to enter into the Port of Colum, Mallorca, Spain.  On to Ibiza!

Parting is such sweet sorrow.

We had a wonderful fairwell dinner with Sam, Emma and sweet little Finley.  We will miss Sam and the whole Pedro's family.  You guys are always welcome with us.  We will miss you. Thanks for all your hard work and mostly your friendship.

Our electrician extrodonaire, Pierre.  This is one of the most dedicated and persistant people I have met.  Our last night in Menorca he worked on the boat til after 8pm because he knew we wanted to leave early in the morning.  He would not give up working on our problem until it was solved.  Most people would say "I don't work after 6pm and you will just have to wait".  Not our dedicated Pierre.  We will really miss you and are deeply honored to have meet you and had the pleasure to work with you.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

We want to wish warm regards to our new friends aboard Seazen II and Sea Bass and hope to see you again on the water or just come and visit.  You are welcome with us anytime.  Fair winds my friends -_/)---_/)---

Laurence you are a GENIUS!  Nothing more to be said except it has been a pleasure to work with you and I hope we see you again some day.  Thank you for everything.  You have been amazing!  I will miss you and Martin too.

Adios for now my friends,

Theresa

Mark's haircut

A wonderful place to get your hair cut in Menorca is Joseph's Salon.  Mark wanted to get his hair cut before we left and Joseph insisted he get a proper shave.  Joseph and his son Aaron and Silvia made sure he got the full treatment.

Mark was very relaxed after this.  He needed it.

Steve thought Mark was just going for a haircut so he passed.  He was busy diving under the boat to clean the propellers and check the rudders.  I am really glad that Steve has decided to come along with us.  He has worked hard and been a valuable part of our team.  I do hate he missed out on the pamper treatments. 

This is what it looked like at sunrise this morning while we are getting the boat ready to leave Menorca.  There are no words.  These are the colors of our imaginations.  Priceless!

It's Friday and we are leaving Pedro's Boat Yard to put the boat thru some tests and move down the Harbor before we depart Saturday at 8am leaving Menorca.

These are three great guys that have been wonderful to us since we have been in Pedro's work yard since August 10, 2009.  We will miss your smiling faces everyday andyour willingness to help out.  We will miss you guys.  Thanks for everything.

And it took all of three minutes before we had a floating line in the water that ended up in the propeller.  Thank goodness that John had already stripping his clothes off to go in the water and free us.  Luckily the winds were calm and we were freed.  Just a little test for the crew to start the day!  Many thanks to John it wasn't easy and we are all really thankful he wore underwear.  Mark made comment "note to self, buy some dark colored underwear"

The boat did very well.  We were all pleased with the sails and reefing system.  We are really thankful to Laurence and Jean Louis for all they put into this reefing system.  It worked beautifully and I feel very safe with all their help and hard work.  We moored up the Harbor to get the boat clean and ready for our 8am Saturday departure to Mallorca, Spain.  Little did I know that a little to do could turn in to so much.  Whew, it's behind us now.

Sailing Acrobatics.

Martin and his high wire act.  Now we can introduce our new and improved reefing system on the main sail.  Jean-Louis will be proud.  With his experience and consultation we have produced a safe and strong reefing system like his.  Thanks a million and here it is. 

When we purchased the boat it had a 6mm line that used a hook system to reef the main sail.  Not effective at all and not very safe.  The previous Captain was never able to reef the main.  We now have a pulley system with 12mm line and it is very safe and strong. 

For all the non sailors this is probably not very exciting, but for us it is a wonderful sight.

That's all for today since I must get to work so we can do our test sail and get ready for a night on the hook in a perfect cala.  Life is good!

Adios,

Theresa

This is progress

Lots of pictures to post of progress on the boat.  Everyone worked hard to get things done today...here we go.

This is Steve and he is in charge of our safety and putting the Jack line in place.  This is to make sure we all stay on deck and not swimming with the fishes.

Putting up the stay sail and everyone pitched in.

We got the main sail on the upper deck and getting ready to hoist it to the boom and attach our new reefing system.  YEAH!

This is one big sail.

John and the Captian riding the boom and everyone else giving the last heave to get the sail in the boom.

The finishing touches on the main sail.  That's John just hanging around.  The Captain is assisting in the boom.

Productive day and more to come tomorrow.  Getting ready for a quick test sail, then we plan on an overnight on the hook on Wednesday night then off to Gibralter on Friday...YIPPPEEEE!

Adios,

Theresa & Mark

BBQ at the Captain Graham and the Dragon's home.

This is Nog the Captain's dog.  A very sweet boy.

Mark and Mandy after enjoying the wonderful BBQ.  It was truely a perfect day.

This is John Keen and he will be sailing with us from Menorca to the Canaries.  His wife Mandy is kindly letting him join our crew.

Yes, I am going thru doggie withdrawl.  Nog was more than happy to help me out.  He is such a good dog. 

We had a perfect afternoon and the company was lovely.  It was our first time to enjoy Ostrich burgers.  They were very tasty.  The weather was about 70 degrees and it was nothing short of perfect.  It was nice to get everyone together before we cast off on the next leg of our adventure.

Steve Koch made it but his luggage didn't

Steve went right to work cleaning tools but I think what makes him happiest is the PINK rubber gloves.  I think they even cured his jet lag.  And look how happy he looks.  The luggage made it the next day all in tact.

Hats off to all who worked hard today on the boat. We appreciate you!

This list is growing shorter and the work is getting done.  I really appreciate everyone who is helping get this task complete.  We have come a long way and can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I will let the pictures tell the story today...enjoy all the efforts from everyone on board.

Okay here is the captain trying to catch a quick snuggle with a teddy bear.  He was quicker than the camera person (ME) but you get the idea.  Now on to all the hard work.  Ha Ha  You knew I wouldn't let that one pass me by.

This is Mark and his rope splice.  We were taking bets that he couldn't or wouldn't finish it...We lost and he still rules.

This is Martin and he spent alot of time up in the air trying to free the Genoa so we could take it down.  We droped both the stay sail and the genoa and both need some freshening up.  So that has been sent off to Vivian the Sail Goddess.

Martin in action.  He makes it look easy.  It's never easy to spend that much time in the air.  It will really be news when they get me up there. 

Here is the genius behind the scenes.  He is the one who has worked many long and hard hours redesigning our new reefing system (with  consultation from Jean-Louis from Herenui) so we will be safe.  There are too many things to list that he has done for us.  Many thanks.  Today we installed new clutches for the reefing system, took sails down, installed new hardware.  That's only part of it.  WHEW!  Tomorrow work starts at 8am when the watermaker arrives (after almost 7 weeks) then more work to the rigging and such. 

Adios for now,

Theresa

A very exciting week ahead.

This is when it starts to get exciting.  Mark's brother John (Stevie) arrives on the Thursday.  All the weeks and months of planning, ordering, fixing and preparation all are coming together.  All of our parts for the new reefing system, rigging, ropes and our mainsail is coming back on the boat after some repairs and refreshing.  The end is near and so is the begining.  Will take lots of pics as it all comes together and as we get ready to push off and start sailing.  I am soooo excited!

This goes out to all our friends at Pickwick Lake, Tennessee

There is always a lot of anxiety that surrounds lifting your boat out of the water.  Take this a 70' Sunreef weighs 60 tons...

Sorry about the dates on the photos I had to run back to the boat and change batteries and forgot to change the dates of the first pics.

That's a 100 ton crane and cost 2000 Euros to lift out and another 2000 Euros to put back in the water.  The 200.00 US dollars that Pickwick charges seems like a bargain now. 

HAKUNA MATATA

We were able to get out on the water today in a 45 Sunseeker Motor Yacht named Hakuna Matata.  We all know that means "No Worries".  She is the one in the middle with the georgeous sunroof that opens for a nice breeze.  Both the rigging man, Laurence and the engine man, Welsh Paul thought we all were crazy for going.  Maybe we are but that's what makes us who we are.  We left from Addaia and traveled south to Port of Mahon.  The winds were strong and the seas were 4 1/2 to 5 but our Captain proved to be stronger.  We had a great time and we arrived safely at our destination. 

 I don't think my pictures do it justice but I loved every minute of it.

Mark and Captain Graham Turner at the helm.  I must say that I am surprised that the Sunseeker handled the waves as well as she did.  She really just surfed the waves.  Hakuna Matata...

Pedro's Boat Centre

This is the infamous Pedro himself.  He is one of the hardest working individuals I have ever seen.  I see him in the work yard before the sun comes up, after the sun goes down and on weekends.  If he wants to work on your boat when he has the hatchet in his hand JUST SAY NO!  He is the one responsible for giving us the wonderful two seater to drive while we are in Menorca.  Everyone at Pedro's Boat Centre has been wonderful to us.  We will miss them.  We would like to leave before we wear out our welcome.  That means soon.

Mark and Captain Graham went on an expedition today in the Captain's car.  It is really cute.  A very cozy ride for the two of them.  Speaking of cars there was an Antique car show this weekend and we enjoyed seeing all the cars.  I am still amazed that there are so many not available in the states.

Beautiful Jaguar!!!

1917 Model T Ford

Antique BMW.  Does anyone remember if this is what they drove in one of the Indiana Jones movies?

Adios for now,

Theresa & Mark