Mayday, Mayday!!!

Well, believe it or not, I had to issue a Mayday today as my engine decided to stop as I was passing a headland with a head wind and waves.

Every time I tried to start the engine, it would loose power and stop again. Eventually had to issue the Mayday and got a tow to Groemitz(No link with Wallace and his dog, as far as I know).

Having arrived in the port, a few friendly people helped my tie the boat up to the pontoon by the crane, one of them being from the sailing school. He told me that if I needed help sorting my motor out, he could help.

The harbourmaster told me that I couldn’t leave the boat in it’s current location and gave me a spot but he seemed unwilling to understand that I had no means of moving the boat without any assistance. He simply told me that I needed a little boat to tow it but failed to suggest who could do this nevermind have a boat from the harbour do the job. I think it was time for him to go home…

Anyway the guy from the sailing club came out and helped me move the boat.

After a couple of hours, speaking with the lifeboat and then sorting out my engine, I decide to go to the local pub where I meet a guy who has been many times to Tunisia as he works in the textile industry, he told me that I will most probably enjoy the place and that Monastir was a good choice.

find out if I could leave the boat at it’s present location. but he told me to move the boat

Bye bye Denmark!

Well this is it, time to say goodbye to Denmark.

Jasrah was put in  the water yesterday (3rd June 2010, as I’m not sure when this will get posted)) afternoon without any trouble. Had  quick look around to check the sea was still willing to stay on the outside of the boat, so far so good.

Today  was an absolutely beautiful day and very warm indeed. Did all my washing by hand as the washing machine costs an absolute fortune, got it nearly dry and then suddenly some ****loch (auf deutch, bitte) upwind decided to do a barbecue. So, if we meet and I smell of Bradwurst, don’t be too surprised. ;-)

Tomorrow morning is the great departure for me and will be in Germany in the afternoon.

I can smell a rat.

After hearing a lot of squeaking, I found a clandestine passenger on board Jasrah.

After an long interrogation involving cheese and wine, I managed to find my passenger’s name and found out that he’s heading towards Africa for a life of adventure.

I’d like to present to you Oscar.

Dolphins!

Saturday and Sunday(5,6th Jun) ended being really sunny and there were many boats under sail.

Wish I was doing the same but at least I’ve made good way under engine, anchored in a couple of nice locations and most of all, managed to pass a huge shooting range that only stops on Sunday. 

A few dolphins have come to say hello. :-)

Silly videos

Just a bit of experimenting…

Nearly ready

After many days work, I’m pretty much done with all the jobs I wanted to do on Jasrah to prepare for her voyage to Tunisia.

There are still a few things to be done(my jobs list is endless!) but I also need to occupy my long evenings as I travel.

I’d like to thank Peter Matthiesen, the builder of the Aries steering gear for keeping my boat in his backyard during the winter and for lending me his fantastic workshop for preparing this voyage.

Who would have thought that learning to use a lathe would come in handy twenty years later?

Jasrah will be going back in the water next week.

After the last bits of preparation, it will be a 200 nautical Miles towards Lubeck where I will be entering the inland waterways.

United with Jasrah!!!

Jasrah_01
Originally uploaded by John D Willimann

Well, this is it! I’m back in Denmark united with Jasrah, my beloved boat. :-)

I can tell she had a hard winter, so I’m giving her a bit of TLC and she’ll be back.

Though, I have to say, she has some strange form of Osmosis appearing on her. I don’t like this too much but I’ll fix this in Tunisia and I guess it’s normal to have some moisture on older boats.

Today was a beautiful day and managed to do a few jobs but it’s still pretty cold up here and wish it would get just a bit warmer.