Watch out, It's the Smiths and the Kings!

We left Porto Vecchio having met the lady who ran aground. Thank yous are always accepted when they involve wine. She was very annoyed with herself for running aground. I was quite impressed she handled a 12 metre boat on her own. I don't think I would have got as far as we have without the watchful eye of Mrs K giving pointers.

"That's a bit close." It's getting a bit shallow." Shouldn't we slow down a bit?" "What the bloody hell are you doing? You idiot."

A rare moment of relaxation safely anchored in Golfe de Sant Amanza on the way back to Sardinia. not keeping an eye on the skipper as he will be doing something productive.

We are due back to Santa Teresa as we have crew coming out from Blighty. The Smiths and the Kings.

I am beginning to recognise the look in a woman's eye when they know they have challenged themselves in the husband development field.

Although it is difficult to understand why.

Cars hired we make for Palau to catch the ferry to Maddalena a very touristy spot in the marine reserve. A blowy day but I managed to keep the Fiat Panda on course and mostly on the right side of ,the road. Luckily Mrs Ks pointers are transferable to driving and follow in much the same vein.

A very pleasant day with a nice lunch and then return to the boat to hone the crew for the following days sail across to Bonifacio. 

Safety brief, life jackets fitted, a nourishing meal, a small night cap and an early night.  -- 

was the plan but it descended into a gin and wine fuelled cards night with the Smiths and the Kings teaching the residents of Santa Teresa ball room dancing in the square on the way home.

It is difficult getting crew!

Still the next day an early start. All crew appeared ready and able for the crossing.

Carl and Graham exhausted themselves (and the fishing kit) fishing for those elusive sword fish and tuna. Then.

Bonifacio.

Safely, if not a little awkwardly, docked we set off to explore this ancient and precarious town.

Along way down and surprisingly still standing. (The town not the crew!)

Lunch and a jaunty sail back with the ladies demonstrating superior helming skills. I wonder whether our luck with fishing may take a turn should the ladies try? (I couldn't even suggest this.)

With the weather turning to gale force '18', sensibly we decide to stay on land and visit Capo Testa a pretty little peninsular joined by a narrow causeway. 

Standing in the wind is difficult,---  

----but not that difficult!  

Less sensibly, some of us decide to go rock hopping around Capo Testa to see how close we can get to the big splashy waves! wearing specialist rock climbing flip flops!

After a windy, stony, out of season drive to Tempio in our rugged Citroen and Fiat Panda vehicles we return to Santa Teresa for food and then alcohol  fuelled cards and Bananagram games on the boat.

Looks like our combined tablet taking collection. All a bit too quick for me, with people peeling all the time.

Now putting a topping lift on required someone to go up the mast. Despite offers from all I decided it was the skippers job to go up. I did however need good, strong, reliable people to ensure my safety while up there, sober, stable, conscientious---

Well all that and more!

So up I went and Carl had a lie down. It was only at the top that I recalled their past ability to tangle things and drop things.

A successful job and my mates delivered me back to earth safely but not until they said, "go on take your hands and feet off let's see if it would have held you?" Anyway a new topping lift. Very happy.

Ali and Carl had to return to Blighty with things to do getting in the way of retirement. 

The weather Apps described the weather as Force 3 with seas no larger than 0.7 of a metre. The plan was to slip out of Santa Teresa and anchor for the night in either Capo Testa or Pozzo depending on the lumpyness. Well it was fine inside Santa Teresa but when we got out the waves grew and grew to about two metres. Too much so a quick 'U' turn and back in to Santa Teresa. It's not like both Apps to say "It'll be fine" when it's not.

Any way fish curry (with bought fish) and more Bananagram and cards.

The following day was better and although a slight lumpyness we set off for bay Raparata off Capo Testa. Graham was armed with a 9 Euro Lure  accomplished the impossible by catching a Tuna.

Lunch on Graham after a swim and a sun bath. Lovely.

Mrs K wearing a glass bottomed frying pan.

Although not such an expert with the gutting knife Graham was quite rightly proud of his fish now holding the Hermione fishing record of largest fish.

To round off the trip nicely we spotted a dolphin on re-entering Santa Teresa which, as usual refused to combine surfacing with camera readiness.

The Smiths and the Kings have done Hermione. A slightly better outcome then last year when Hermy was laid up at Fecamp with Enginitus and we had to drive to Honfluer.

Really good to see our old mates!

The Smiths safely dropped off at Olbia, Mrs K and I return to Santa Teresa to put Hermy to bed for the winter, this time afloat so there will be that slight worry going on, although I have been very impressed with the staff at Santa Teresa so far and they have given us a berth on pontoon B which is more protected. 

Well that's it for 2017.