Cruising and wintering - Mediterranean
Accomplished the crossing in post below. Now making my way to Montenegro/Turkey to winter, ideally both. Just anchored in Montpellier, FR then rest of coast, jump to Corsica, Sardinia and spend a month in Tunisia off schengen clock. Hope fully first half of new dodger project SS tubing. Then Sicily, Italy boot to Montenegro. Leave enough schengen time for Greece then Turkey, or stay in Montenegro. It's the future and is unknown. Haul out at some point for bottom job. I don't want to live at a Marina so still do limited cruising in winter. Gotta see it all! Solo is fine, but better to have compadres aboard.
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Looking to 2-3 crew for crossing. I have not crossed an ocean, so insurance requires one crew member to have trans-ocean experience. Remainder of crew, ideally should be experienced. Duties on board are typical mix; maintain watches, help with meals, cleaning, trimming sails, treating the boat as your own and share knowledge of navigating/weather. Under weigh, we will be a dry ship, no drugs, smoking OK. I drink, but don't smoke, imbibe at anchor or on shore. Once near land, I prefer to anchor to save on cost. If Marina is only option, Captain will pay. If crew decides a marina is preferable, sheared cost. I had hoped to cross with a couple friends last year and it is well stocked with canned goods, pasta, rice. We will do a shared cost food run for personal preferences and fresh produce.
Les Noble is a 1986 Via Marine 42' French built aluminum cutter rigged sloop. Dual swing keels with 3 Feet draft up, 6 down. Bought in 2015 and after extensive refit with engine, paint, electronics, safety and systems, I have sailed the East Coast from Halifax to Dry Tortuga twice. Now exploring Bermuda.
I just completed new standing rigging. There is a new auto pilot with B&G brains, but no windvane at this point. I converted to a composing toilet and put it in the shower which makes things cozy, but the old head is now a pantry, tones of food storage. There is a fridge AND freezer, gas BBQ, 3 burner gas stove and I have used all 3, hint, hint. Plenty of solar feeding lead acid banks. 6 man liferaft, SSB, Iridium GO and Predictwind subscription. One SUP, snorkeling gear, pole spear and a folding full size mountain bike.
I am 60, Previously I owned a 27' Catalina which I sailed on the Columbia river in Oregon for a few years then volunteered on a Tall Ship Elissa for 18 years in Texas.
Looking forward to meeting new people and visiting new countries.
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