The year has started off with very cool evenings and cold overnight, the days very windy but with some beautiful sunny days. This weather is somewhat different to the previous winters we have spent here, but then the weather in the UK and rest of Europe has been unusual too.

This photograph was taken mid January on our pontoon by Njord. I managed to do my yoga practice this particular day here as there was no wind at all, beautiful.

We decided after our summer sailing this year we would go back to the UK for approximately three months (30 August 2021 to 30 December 2021).

We left Marina di Ragusa at sunrise with all our paperwork printed out for Passenger Locator Forms, negative flow test certificates and all our Italian paperwork and cards. At the airport we received a "Perfecto" from the check-in lady for being so organised. That might sound easy but it was a bit of a challenge as the rules kept changing.

Sunrise in Marina di Ragusa


We stayed in the north west and explored the Lake District. Jon our sailing friend joined us too which was great and lent us his "red pepper" car so we could get out and about; very kind, thank you. It took us up to Scotland to visit Njord's big sister Great Escape and down to Bournemouth and Poole.

Borrowdale, Keswick


Castlerigg, Keswick


On our way to our rental apartment in Bournemouth for November and December we stopped off in London at Nic & Tiff's apartment.

The evening view from their apartment ...


This gave us lots of opportunities to get to know our two adorable grandchildren. The eldest is now three and we last met him in New York aged three months. His younger brother we hadn't met before as he was borne in Manhattan during the Covid pandemic. As this is an "open blog" site we won't be posting photos of them but trust us they are the cutest ever, (do all grandparents say that?).

Bournemouth's beach huts from the famous pier


In November I went on a yoga retreat which was the best yoga experience ever. It was with Sally who as well as a superb yoga teacher is a fellow cruiser with her husband. I follow her via zoom virtual sessions, but this retreat was simply wonderful. We were at Caradoc of Tregardock near Port Issac of Doc Martin fame. Check out her website for future retreats - www.yogisal.co.uk

View from the main house at Caradoc


And finally we arrived back in Marina di Ragusa at sunset on 30 December 2021 just in time for New Year's Eve and to wish the new year in.

Clare, Vic and Njord

In 2020 Njord did not have a lift out for antifouling and polishing. Don't be fooled through, she had lots of loving whilst in her berth in Marina di Ragusa; regular baths, a teak deck workout in the shape of plugs and caulking and a caulking hair cut.

Thank you from us for all the loving she received; you know who you are!

So in 2021 and still in a year of Covid restrictions we wanted to have the antifouling paint applied and the hull and top sides polished. The fouling in MdR is not as bad as in Piraeus (Athens) but bad enough and she blushed when she came out of the water in MMH's yard in Malta.

After ... SeaHawk BioCop antifoul ... Njord is happy again



This year we had to yet again change the antifoul paint to comply with what is acceptable in the Med. I think it has something to do with the copper content in the paint and its safely for marine life. Fair enough to be eco friendly but that gives us a problem in matching a compatible to paint to the previous layers over the years without going back to the epoxy. We will have to do this at some point as the last time was in 2013 in Ipswich. So maybe we go back to the epoxy in 2023 or we are thinking now of "sucking in the purse strings" and going to copper coating. It is more expensive initially but then cheaper in the long run. The cost of antifoul paint keeps rising and the length of time it is lasting in these warm Med seas is reducing.




In the travel hoist ready to launch. This is the small hoist at MMH they can also cater for superyachts, tankers and the like. This small one has wheels that stand taller than us at 6 feet.



Back in MdR in her berth looking good



MMH was fantastic. Attention to detail was superb and nothing too much trouble. They brought in the expert mechanics and engineers as required. We were assigned a project manager and her assistant and the owner's son organises the yard and staff. Each time an was discussed a quote was sent and after our agreement to that extra item the work commenced. So no nasty surprises when the invoice arrived.

Our air conditioned Airbnb is lovely and cool in the current heatwave. The temperatures reached a record 48.8c in Syracusa whilst we were away in Malta having Njord's lift out.

We last visited this spectacular cathedral in January 2017 when we were seeking out possible marinas for over-wintering. This cathedral never disappoints.

The 17th century high alter. It is so rich, in all senses of the word, gold, silver, and beautiful jewels give it a special feel.