Heading South - Follow the bear

Vessel Name: Symphony
Vessel Make/Model: Beneteau Oceanis 343 Clipper
Hailing Port: Hamble
Crew: Steven & Lisa-Ann
10 September 2017 | Lisa
08 September 2017 | Pedras Negras
04 September 2017 | Porto Novo & Sanxenxo
31 August 2017 | Cangas
28 August 2017 | Ensenada De San Simon
24 August 2017 | Cangas
22 August 2017 | Ensenada De Barra
21 August 2017 | Ria de Aldan
16 August 2017 | Combrro
14 August 2017 | Combarro
13 August 2017 | Pobra
08 August 2017 | Cabo De Cruz
04 August 2017 | Pobra
02 August 2017 | Pobra
01 August 2017 | Pobra
30 July 2017 | Portosin
29 July 2017 | Muros
28 July 2017 | Costa da Morte & Cabo Fisterra
26 July 2017 | Ria De Camarinas
25 July 2017 | Ria Corme
Recent Blog Posts
16 March 2022 | Sant Carles De La Rapita

Hasta luego Symphony, muchas gracias, love Steven & Lisa xx

We have returned to Spain to meet the new owners of Symphony, Arek and Iwona, to run through all her systems.

19 October 2021 | Sant Carles De La Rapita

We're back, overalls in hand!

As quick reminder, at the end of the season in 2019, we decided Symphony would be put on the market and we would start the process of buying/fitting out a blue water yacht to head off into the yonder. Well, what with Covid-19, the restrictive lockdowns over the last two years and life in general we have [...]

09 September 2019 | Sant Carles De La Rapita

A round up of our Balearic Islands and Western Mediterranean Spain Cruise

A round up of our Balearic Islands and Western Mediterranean Spain Cruise

08 September 2019 | Sant Carles De La Rapita

Our month at Sant Carles

Well, it is true to say, August in the Western Mediterranean becomes very, very busy and expensive. The Balearic Islands during this time are infiltrated with French & Italians all willing to pay vast amounts of euros to stay anywhere here. Even the mainland, north above Barcelona, leans to French Riviera [...]

07 September 2019 | Sant Carles De La Rapita

Dia de Arroz

Dia de Arroz translates to "day of the rice" and is essentially Sant Carles De La Rapita's harvest festival.

30 August 2019 | Sant Carles De La Rapita

What a feast & Steven becomes an apprentice

Not content with taking us out on their boat, Jordi and Rosa kindly invited us to their home to celebrate the Fiesta de Santa Rosa.

Hasta luego Symphony, muchas gracias, love Steven & Lisa xx

16 March 2022 | Sant Carles De La Rapita
Steven
We have returned to Spain to meet the new owners of Symphony, Arek and Iwona, to run through all her systems.

Robin was right, they were the first people to see and buy her. On their first viewing, they were absolutely delighted with her condition and said they had not seen a better boat in all their time searching in the Med (2 years).

However, before they arrive, we must give her a good clean and carry out the maintenance items on the list. We want the new owners to arrive and be completely delighted with very little to do. Again, we are ready with cleaners and overalls but this time the weather is not so kind, we have strong winds and rain! It will not stop play (work!) though. We are glad to report, Symphony after a few days Is gleaming again. She is such a pleasure to work on.

Arek & Iwona have arrived and we are spending two days with them to complete their inspection and handover.

It has been a good couple of days and we are pleased our efforts over the years and extensive maintenance has meant everything is as it should be, working with no issues. The new owners are delighted.

We are really pleased Arek and Iwona are the new owners and custodians of Symphony and their plans for her are in keeping with ours.

For us, she has been a truly wonderful yacht, a pleasure to sail and own. Saying our goodbye for the last time has left Lisa and I, quite emotional, we have truly wonderful memories, this blog is a testament to these.

Hasta luego Symphony, muchas gracias and we wish you a wonderful life in the Med sun (where you were always meant to be).

Love Steven & Lisa xx

We're back, overalls in hand!

19 October 2021 | Sant Carles De La Rapita
Steven
As quick reminder, at the end of the season in 2019, we decided Symphony would be put on the market and we would start the process of buying/fitting out a blue water yacht to head off into the yonder. Well, what with Covid-19, the restrictive lockdowns over the last two years and life in general we have only been able to return now. This seems to be a theme with many yacht owners during the Covid period.

So, here we are, in Spain (Sant Carles De La Rapita to be precise) after nearly two years with a car full of bits and cleaners ready to prep Symphony for sale again. To be honest, being in the sunshine and ready to start work with overalls in hand is very pleasing.

Symphony is very dirty outside and the sun's UV rays have destroyed the PVC windows in the winter spray hood but she still looks and smells like new inside. We will clean her top to bottom as always with the trusty 3M cleaners and are certain they will complete their miracle transformation (of course with our efforts!).

We are enjoying being back in Spain, the sunshine, the food and of course the people and this time we have booked to stay in an apartment for the first couple of weeks. The Hostel Agusti with Nuria our host being the chosen abode. This is a real find and Nuria could not have been more helpful. As part of our time here, we intend to spend a few days visiting places not seen before.

However, back to the works, polishers & mops, deck brushes and cloths in hand "off to work we go" After a good week or so (to be honest 3 - 4 weeks as well as completing the service items on our lists), she is gleaming..

Symphony is ready to go on the market, the photos have been taken and handed over to the broker, Network Yacht Brokers in Barcelona. We are very pleased with the brochure and web link, they display, as our friends and professional colleagues have said, "a better then new boat". Robin has always said the first person who sees her will buy her, let's hope he is right.

We have spent a lovely day in Peniscola (the location where the film El Cid was filmed). Eating a good packed lunch and enjoying the harbour and of course the climb to the castle. The views are stunning and it is great to see people enjoying themselves after the restrictions.

Today we have left Sant Carles, and we are in Zaragoza. This city is truly wonderful. As you walk to the bridge over the river Ebro, both cathedrals come into view. It is a must, you stand on the bridge for a fair few minutes admiring the view. Lisa likes the 100 Montaditos restaurant and I have found one here for her to consume a fair few more of the 100. The ice cold sidra is a joy in the sunny climes too. Exploring this city in all its glory for us has been an absolute joy.

As always, time to drive back to the ferry and back to blighty...................hasta luego Espana.

A round up of our Balearic Islands and Western Mediterranean Spain Cruise

09 September 2019 | Sant Carles De La Rapita
Steven
A round up of our Balearic Islands and Western Mediterranean Spain Cruise

736 nautical miles
25 log entries
61 nights at anchor
1 night on a buoy (Cabrerra)
42 nights in marinas
3 nights at sea
3.5 months of voyaging

"Muchos Gracias & Hasta Luego Espana"

Our month at Sant Carles

08 September 2019 | Sant Carles De La Rapita
Steven
Well, it is true to say, August in the Western Mediterranean becomes very, very busy and expensive. The Balearic Islands during this time are infiltrated with French & Italians all willing to pay vast amounts of euros to stay anywhere here. Even the mainland, north above Barcelona, leans to French Riviera pricing. Some boats are paying in excess of 300 to 1000 euros per night!

We have learnt during this time, you either go home as most of the British do or have to camp out somewhere. We decided to stay and camp out in Sant Carles as it offers MDL Marina quality at a great price for the month and as Symphony will be staying here for the winter, we thought this a good decision for us.

Ironically, about mid-September it all calms down again and normality is restored but unfortunately we need to go back and work in the UK. We can see at this end of the Mediterranean the season for the "sane" is May & June along with September & October with July and August either being camped out or going home.

We have kept busy completing many of the jobs that need to take place before the haul out and had the addition of many more due to Symphony now being marketed for sale. We have decided to look for a blue water yacht to circumnavigate the world.

For us, we believe yachts are meant to continually move. The joy is the challenges of sailing, exploring new countries, meeting different people and seeing other cultures. We can see the best way to do this is to "go"

Our back up plan should Symphony not sell over the next 7 months is to press on island hopping to Greece/Turkey and re-market her again there.

We are quite philosophical with our plans and believe if it is meant to be, Symphony will sell and we will find "as perfect as can be, our blue water yacht"

What we can say, is we have thoroughly enjoyed our time being amongst the Spanish people we have met along the way during their summer. Especially to Jordi, Rosa & Indi, Elayna, Jose & Cal, Emilio & Lin and Max & Enrique who have been very kind to us whist we have been here.

The Spanish are a very calm and courteous people who love life, their family and friends. We hope we are now counted as friends amongst the many Spanish people we have met.

Dia de Arroz

07 September 2019 | Sant Carles De La Rapita
Steven
Dia de Arroz translates to "day of the rice" and is essentially Sant Carles De La Rapita's harvest festival.

Once again, Jordi & Rosa, Jordi's sister Rosa and Indi (their dog) collected us in their car from the marina so we could go to the Dia de Arroz with them. It was wonderful to see the old and new methods of harvesting the rice along with the various creatures who make the paddy fields their home. Music, dancing and laughter followed and a wonderful time was had by all.

After the festival, we were taken to the many viewpoints on the delta. It is an amazing place to see with thousands of pink flamingos and an incredible and diverse amount of unique wildlife.

We finished the day sat in a bar at the end of the delta drinking cold beers with our new found friends, enjoying the views along with the fun and laughter from our conversation, life is bliss!

What a feast & Steven becomes an apprentice

30 August 2019 | Sant Carles De La Rapita
Lisa
Not content with taking us out on their boat, Jordi and Rosa kindly invited us to their home to celebrate the Fiesta de Santa Rosa.

We were joined by Jordi's sister also called Rosa. Jordi prepared, with Steven as his apprentice, a spectacular seafood Paella.

My Lonely Planet guide says that you will only experience the best Paella if you are invited to a Spaniard's home and this was certainly born out especially as I do not normally eat seafood and went back for second helpings!

In the photo, "The Paella Master" Jordi is cooking and drinking beer whilst Steven, the apprentice is taking notes and drinking the local gin!

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