Well, after running through all the various options for getting the boat back home to Scotland, we have decided that we will instead keep the boat down here over the winter.

This has been based on how much we have loved being able to sail in lovely warm weather. I think it’s also fair to say that the various reports we have had on the poor summer weather back home have also contributed to our decision. Our other consideration was the need for direct flights from Edinburgh and short distance from the airport to the marina. This left us with two options, one being Barcelona and the other being Nice.

We couldn’t source a winter berth in and around Nice, and couldn’t get a winter berth in Port Vell (Barcelona) due to planned construction work within the marina. This will mean the removal of pontoons A, B & C and all the boats on these pontoons will either need to be reallocated to another berth or have to leave.

There are other marina’s where we could get a berth that are not that far away from Barcelona itself, but we both really wanted to stay in Port Vell as it is right in the city centre, and in truth – “Sun Dog” would make a great weekend apartment.

After much thought and discussion with the marina they will still not give us a six month contract, but have agreed to us being on a rolling monthly contract, with the agreement being that if the construction work has a firm date to start, the marina will phone us and we will duly fly out and move the boat to one of the other marina’s………………….result!!!!!

The other good thing is that I have arranged with Raymarine to have one of their dealers come to the boat mid September and replace the faulty wind instrument and cable under warranty…….another result!!
It’s funny how things work out sometimes.