7 sleeps to go!

Here is a map of our sail plan.  No doubt it will change but gives you a good overview.

21 sleeps to go.

Much has happened since my last update.

Sail plan has been prepared and changed numerous time.
Decals designed and printed
Ivan the Sunsail mechanic has been working on the yacht ready for us in August.
New cockpit cushions purchased
Greg and I have both taken a refresher First Aid course
I'm studing for a VHF Radio certification
Have packed and repacked three times
Have changed our itineray a few times and now coming home via Singapore.  That way we make it to the F1 and visit our friends.

Buying our yacht for the Med.

Finished work at noon and headed for the gym for PT just before boarding our plane to Croatia. Yes we are finally off to purchase a yacht in the Med after selling our beloved Catalina

As we sold our Catalina at a heavily discounted price, I hope it's a buyers’ market in Split.

Flight to Split goes via Singapore (10) hours then 12 hours to Frankfurt a very uncomfortable flight even though we both had four seats to ourselves each so we could lie down.  A 7 hour stop over in Frankfurt where we caught the train into town got there at 8am its only 5 degrees so very  cold and not much to see or do at that time.  Flight to Split on time and what a wonderful view from the plane looking over the islands, so calm and just inviting us to stay and play. Can't wait to get to Primosten.

Thursday 10th November. Managed to bring 80kilos of luggage with us mostly to leave on the boat we have not bought yet!  Taxi to Primosten took about an hour and driver not sure where to go, not a great sign.  Anyway we found our apartment, very nice and clean and right on the beach. Shame everything is closed except for supermarkets, cakes and bakery's. Not a single restaurant is open.  Just as well I bought cereal, cheeses and other munches to keep us going.  To be fair on the first night a local directed us to a steak place so we did have a real meal on Thursday night, not so lucky for the rest of the evenings though.

Friday 11th November.  Cafe on the beach does great cappuccinos; you bring your own pastries with you to eat with your coffee so that is fun.  We are trying a few different ones each morning and my favourite was the cheese and spinach ones.  So much for the waist line; anyway when in Rome....

1   We met Leo at about 10am he came and picked us up.  Leo is the sales guy at Sunsail Marina Kremik .  We viewed 2 Cyclades 43 and made offers on both of them.  We did view a 47 but decided it was too hard to handle and would cost a significant more for Marina berths etc so canned that idea.  Unfortunately Leo is going away for the weekend so we won't hear too much until Monday which is a pain I was hoping to negotiate and settle on a price today.  It's not going to happen.

Back at our apartment Bepi Malugio

we celebrate with a bottle of Moët as you do.  We then decide we would catch the bus to Split to Zadar but none came and we were freezing so stayed in Primosten, what a mistake.  Not a place open for dinner only a drink by the sea.  Back to the markets for cheeses and colds meats.  Greg not too happy about that.  To bed early but I woke at midnight and stayed awake till morning. Both of us were up from about 5am could not sleep from jet lag and thinking about boat stuff, like which head to put the electric toilets in.    It's great having free Wi-Fi  at least I can work and bank and do all that kind of stuff.

Saturday 12th November.  It's going to be a long day.  Off to our bakery for pastries and  for coffee at our cafe by the water. It's about 7 degrees cold but peaceful and very beautiful.  Walk to other small marina to take a look then back to get ready for bus trip to Split.  Bus arrives about 9am, we are happy to be going somewhere where there is food!  Trip takes about an hour. We are in Split and familiar with the place from last year.  Greg heads straight for the pizza bar he is starving!  We walk along the promenade and head towards the marina. We stop for a quick beer then make it to Split marina to check it out.  The marina is not very protected at all and we decide not to stay there.  We find a great place for lunch and have a grilled seafood platter yummy! Scampi, fish, calamari, mussels and lobster and risotto, what a lunch, delicious!

We also decided thank god to hire a car so we can get around and get out of  Primosten to find food!  Great idea as we get a small car for  five days  for only $300 bargain of the century and we are free!  Greg has experience on a manual and we find our way out of the city and heading home on the coast road. How scenic is this place we both love it and can't wait to set sail.

Arrive home safely both tired and still enjoying the afternoon sun.  It's about 3pm and no word from Leo. 

Sunday 13th November.  Its 3am on Monday morning and we are both starving yeh good old jet lag, it's been like this for days waking at midnight etc.   We decide to boil the kettle for instant coffee, we are desperate around here. Have I mentioned we cannot buy lunch or dinner as there is nothing open. Cafe will open about 7am thank god!  Anyway we have our instant coffee and watch repeats of BBC World News.   There is nothing really  worth watching today or any day really!  We did find a porn channel that has all the good stuff blanked out and repeats the shows every few hours, we are even bored of this now.

We decide to drive to Zadar and organize our washing and leave it for Mrs Nada plus euros for three extra days. I'm not sure why Greg wants to stay here, it's very pretty but there is nothing open!!!!!

So we head off at about 6am its still dark outside mind you, yes we can't sleep!  The good news is that there is no traffic as Greg practises driving a manual on the wrong side of the road. Actually he is going well but don't tell him that.

We keep travelling along past Sibenyak and end our journey at Zadar. A beautiful port with markets and a cafe. Yes real coffee at last, we are both desperate for food but of course nothing is open except the bakery which actually has wonderful rolls, strudels and spinach  and cheese pastries oh how the arteries are  hardening with every meal in Croatia.

After a lovely scenic drive along the ocean with so many amazing  islands and marinas we arrive at Dalmatian Marina where we think we can rent a dry dock.  Looks impressive with over 200 wet berths and 500 dry berths.  It's Sunday so everything is closed.  We do grab a price list though. Next stop is another marina south of Sibenyak, very quaint we stop for a quick beer and look around.  Next stop is back to Primosten, still nothing happening, at least the bakery is open so we can buy a pizza for lunch.  Dinner will be nuts and left over cheeses and old meats from two days ago!  As we arrive Mrs Nada arrives with our washing in hand, how great is that.  Nothing to do now just eat and drink and watch the Abu Dhabi  F1 and again disappointing, what’s happening to Mark Webber on the last lap.  Looks very suspect to us.

It's 4.45pm and Greg is asleep already that’s jet lag for you;  we have not acclimatised very well, I think it’s the excitement as well. I've just finished my Moët 2002 bottle yes very yummy, we were saving it for the purchase celebration but that won't happen while I'm here.

Although we are happy with the Cyclades I'm still thinking about the inside of the Oceanis 43. It's really nice for the owners  re front cabin and larger fridge.  So not sure what our priorities are.  Think we need to look again at all yachts to make a final decision.

The sun has now set and the cold air is about to move me indoors.  I can't think of a more beautiful place to be right now.  It is so picture perfect, except for the food thing.

Monday 14th November.  So we organise to meet Leo again at Marina Kremik to look over the yachts again and make a final decision.  It's really important we make the right decision and pick the yacht that will suit our cruising. I pack all my things ready for a PM flight back home.  Greg is staying a few more days to assist with the sale if required.  I’ve also packed about 50 Kilos of luggage to remain here and Leo will look after this until we settle for a yacht and the sale goes through.  We finally make up our mind on Elsea, the Cyclades 43, still in the water and owned by a Belgium family.  It's in really good nick compared to the other yachts and we are happy with our decision.  We make our final offer and now we have to wait for a decision.

17th November.   The final decision is not received until Greg is back in Australia and on the 17th November we get final acceptance notification from Leo that we are the proud owners of Elsea, what a relief!  We then process the deposit with OzForex.

22nd November.  Of course the sale will only be processed pending an acceptable marine survey of Elsea.  This is now organised by Leo for us.  Survey documentation is received and all is in order so the sale proceeds. Next action is to organise our insurance with Admiral Insurance in the UK.

5th December.  4am We decide to pay the balance with OzForex so I call the 1300 number and get talking to a rep in Canada.  Finally we have made the final payment for Elsea.  We will celebrate tonight!  

21st December.  Leo is back home for Christmas so we take him out for dinner at 80 Degrees at the Star, great food and time to catch up with Leo, what a funny guy.  It does become apparent from our discussion that the final payment has not been received by Sun Sail so will have to chase that up.

22rd December speak to OzForex and for some reason our payment was not processed from the 5th December.  Good thing is they have a recording and once the Supervisor is back at work in January  they advise it was their fault for not actioning our request.  Lucky for us we are not disadvantaged for not paying on time as specified on the contract.  

30th December.  Money is finally received by Sunsail. 

23rd February. Documents have finally arrived including the Deflag from Belgium, and Bill of Sale.  Now we can process the registration on our side.

Thinking that we took ownership for the yacht in early December we also began the process to register her new name with the Sydney Maritime.  Moet22 is available for registration so we provide what paperwork we have and pay the registration fees.  Greg is also keen to design the new logo and we finally decide on a classic Moet design, white background with black and gold outline and motif.

 

26th Feb 2012.   Greg sat and passed the ICC exam.  Both Terry and Damien were top blokes from Pacific Sailing School at Rushcutters Bay.  Damien educated us on many things Beneteau and gave us lots of great web sites that will come in handy whilst in the Med.

Software on Board  

http://www.globalmarinenet.net/grib_downloads.php

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/

http://www.mobisystems.com/

27th Feb.   All registration papers have been sent to Sydney Maritime for processing.

Registered blog account with Google. 

Have organised through Pack and Send  to send a few boxes over to the yacht as we can’t travel with too much luggage.  This is an economical way to transport some personal goods including our new Nespresso coffee machine.

16^th March.  Looking at winter shortage in Corfu.  corfuyachting..

22^nd March.  Registration papers finally arrived from Canberra YEH!!!!  And Greg’s ICC license.