World record in La Ciotat..

We sailed from the beautiful city of Sevilla down the long winding river and then onwards down the coast, through the very busy Straights of Gibraltar and tied up in the harbour there. You could tell easily that it is a part of Britain because as we came alongside it was gray and raining. To me, the only reason that anyone would want to visit Gibraltar, is to get hold of some duty free shopping and maybe go up the rock to see a bunch of cheeky monkeys. We were there for duty free fuel which, is important when you take on 300 tons! Our agent sent me the invoice this morning.......$171000!

Of all of the beautiful places to visit on the south coast of France, we have ended up in a nasty ship yard in the small town of La Ciotat. We will be here for a couple of weeks to have some work done, that the yard in Savannah either didn't do, or did, but not well! So we skipping Cannes but heading for Grand Prix racing in Monaco around the 20th May.

Although we are now in the dreariest part of the south of France we are here with all the belles of the ball. Behind us is Mr Abromovich's yacht, the Grand Bleu and my favorite, the J Class sailing boat Ranger is also here looking as sexy as ever, so at least we are not alone in this out of the way place.

Today a new world record has been witnessed right here on board! A pretty well presented representative from our French, Ships agents came to the boat. She smashed the previous record held by the Spanish rowing 8's for stopping work on deck! The minute her long french legs swung from her tatty Peugeot car, all 7 deck crew, through a clever system, of nods, head tossing and eye rolling immediately relocated to a place near to the gangway and found something not to do.