Njord is back in Porto Touristico in Marina di Ragusa for her second winter. She is back in the same berth which we like as it is nice and protected although it is a bit of a hike to the shower block.

We lent our bikes out for the summer so the first task was to go and retrieve them and then start to do some of the jobs on the boat list. We went in bows to so we can paint the anchor chain at 10 metre intervals in white so we know how much we are letting down and red just before the anchor itself so we know when it will start to lift out of the water when retrieving it. We washed down the anchor locker throughly as you cannot imagine how much mud there was at the bottom sitting under 100 metres of chain even though we try to sluice it out from time to time during the summer. We then filled up with diesel so the tanks are full for the winter and swung round to be stern to the pontoon. Our bow ladder had to go to the metal shop to be straightened as it got bent somehow in Bari against the floating pontoon probably with a large wake from a cruise liner or someone speeding around the harbour.

The marina is starting to fill up for the winter, there will be lots of friends returning and new people to meet.

The town of Marina di Ragusa plan "an end of summer party" and set up food, art, jewellery and all sorts of stalls, there were dance exhibitions and even a bridal gown catwalk show hosted by two famous Italian designers. The town square and marina was packed.

At midnight three firework companies had a competition on the breakwater lasting for about 15 minutes each. The displays were fantastic.