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Shamal's Logo

Notification

November 2020: Shamal and her Crew have arrived safely back into Opua, Bay of Islands, New Zealand completing their circumnavigation a year ago. Due to Covid-19 and New Zealand's Boarders being closed, they will continue to spend their 2020/21 Summer exploring some of New Zealand's waters. Thanks to all of you for following our Adventures. There will be more.

10 May 2012

Marina di Raguas - Sicily

THE START TO A NEW CRUISING SEASON 2012

Hello to you all again

Having left New Zealand on 16th March we stopped off in Brisbane for the weekend staying with Alec’s brother Richard and his wife ‘Kayleen.  Then it was on to Dubai where we spent time with Brigitte and Dan, caught up with friends, then flew on to Malta, then ferry to Sicily to re-join SHAMAL on 4th April.

We have had a slow start to this cruising season.  In fact as I start this email we are still in Marina di Ragusa in southern Sicily where we left SHAMAL at the end of the last sailing season.  We have been told April is a little early to head on out as the weather is still very unsettled, and yes they are right about that.  The sun is out at the moment, but big black clouds are passing over with rain, it is still only between 18-22deg dropping to about 10-13deg at night, sometimes cooler.  And the winds seem to blow every day getting up to 30kts at times. BUT all is well and we are making progress at getting SHAMAL in order to leave here – hopefully by the end of the month.  We arrived back to find all was well with her – stilled tied up with no damage from the winter storms that passed through.  Unlike one of the Marinas up the coast from here and across in Malta where boats were lost in the Marinas when mooring lines broke as 2mt swells crashed in.  We did have some fine black volcanic ash on board from Mt. Etna, which is only about 50 miles away.