53. The Italian Job

I flew to Amsterdam (on a KLM plane the same colour as Sonic Boom), sad to be leaving the Caribbean. I’m now in San Remo working on a 150ft mega yacht, which is having a refit.

San Remo, Italy

San Remo is beautiful, everyday I walk past the sailboats in Port Sole, but it’s flippin freezing here. Socks and shoes, jumpers and coats – feels weird, but enjoying the coffee and pizza (the ice cream not so much).

Portosole

I’m mainly helping the chief engineer Andy; first job was with an Italian plumber, I call Super Mario, cleaning and drying the massive fuel tanks. Mario goes into the tanks first to clean them, usually in the morning; once he came back after lunch and got stuck.

At the yard

I'm looking forward to going back to Curacao at the start of May. It'll be nice to do some work on my own boat; put to use some of the things I've learnt here. First I'll sail to Aruba and then go north to Jamaica, probably via the Dominican Republic. 

52. Abandon Ship

I am abandoning ship, but only temporarily. Sonic Boom will be left in Kima Kalki marina for the next couple of months, while I head to San Remo, Italy and some boat work with Captain Harry.

Kima Kalki Marina

Kima Kalki is a lovely marina, small, very private, tucked away in Spanish Waters amongst the mangroves, run by Ron, an old Dutch guy. Mateo from s/v Galaxie, who I met in Bonaire, is here, and another boat I recognize from Trinidad. Unusually I’m surrounded by Italian sailors, Mateo’s from San Remo.

Spanish Waters

Maybe not the best set up for an abandoned boat, but the only marina I could afford. I’m stern to the dock, European style. As I motored into the marina I dropped an anchor, swung round and reversed in, although it didn’t go quite as cool as that sounds. I put another anchor out and feel more secure.  Hopefully everything will still be there when I get back.