Photographs of Serafina sailing from UK to Greece via Portugal, Spain, Italy and Sicily 2008.

Serafina of Maldon, Najad 460 Blue water cruising with Rob and Sarah Bell

Serafina of Maldon a Najad 460 owned by Rob and Sarah Bell

2008 General Photographs

Click on any of the pictures to start the slide show from that point.
You can use the arrow keys on your keyboard to go backwards or forwards in the slide show.
Photos are grouped by month.

October 2008

Serafina sitting in the lifting bay waiting for the hoist.
Serafina being placed in her spot for the next 6 months. This is a large boatyard, built on a reclaimed marsh.
The view from the deck of the newest part of the boatyard to be reclaimed. The roller is still at work!
A final sunset seen from our deck, looking out towards the Ionian Sea.

September 2008

Tom takes the helm of Serafina as we motor down the coast of Corfu, heading for Paxos Island.
Ewan takes a tumble, demonstrating his dubious diving skills.
The three of us head off for a swim in Gaios (Paxos)
Tom, Pan and Ewan pose in Pan and Theo's taverna in Gaios.
The boys paying in the pool at the Paxos Beach Hotel
Will, George and Ewan walking home from the Paxos Beach hotel.
Sailing Canoe seen entering the Lefkas canal from the open sea.
Patent Rat Guards fashioned out of large fuel funnels. Sadly needed on some of these islands.
Quiet bay to ourselves on Megannissi Island.
The scene in Vlikho Bay on the morning after the storm.
A chapel near Nidri, beside Tranquil Bay
High Tech Navigation Marks, Lefkas Canal
The floating bridge.
Seaward entrance to Lefkas Canal (North end) which has silted up badly leaving little room between the sand bar and the ruins of a Venetian Fortress.
Greek Lady in Sivota Bay.
Sivota (Lefkas Island) has grown a lot since we used to call in here in 1980.
Preparing Pocket Rocket for the regatta.
Pocket Rocket's Crew and friends before the start
Barrie showing the entire fleet a very clean pair of heels. Those are 90 boats that you can see in the distance over his shoulder!
Barrie and Alan (and a hostie)
Serafina showing her paces to Barrie Neilson of Sailing Holidays.
Tassos entertaining us and Barrie and Alan to lunch at the Captains Cabin (Fiskardo)
Iron Man? Barrie was very upset with these photos as we seem to have replaced him with a bloke with a big arse!
Yannis (Sivota) an old friend who still runs one of the larger tavernas in Sivota.
Sarah shows off her suntan.
Waterspout! This was in Lakka (Paxos) and the following pictures capture the event.
Waterspout! This was in Lakka (Paxos) and the following pictures capture the event.
Waterspout! This was in Lakka (Paxos) and the following pictures capture the event.
Waterspout! This was in Lakka (Paxos) and the following pictures capture the event.
Waterspout! This was in Lakka (Paxos) and the following pictures capture the event.
Yes that is a lightning bolt at the back, although actually in the distance.
Damn things drop in everywhere! Entrance to Gouvia Marina, Corfu.
Jo and Sarah return from some retail therapy and sightseeing in Mourtos.
So who knows what type of fish this is?
Gift shopping in Gaios (Paxos Island)
Jo at the helm, but it was hard for her to concentrate and chatter to Sarah!
Playing with the Hydrovane, this is harder than everyone claims!
This is where Sarah and I first met.
Jo and Sarah swimming in the fabulous blue waters of Anti Paxos.
Greek Fisherman at the entrance (North) to the Lefkas Canal.

August 2008

Marsala. Sarah particularly liked this archway.
Sciacca Harbour, the yacht club is on the left.
This little chap was not shown on any of our charts, paper or electronic!
Still in style is this old motor yacht that anchored near us in the bay.
Well we liked it, but then there are a lot of these beautiful yachts around.
Well here we are in Syracusa's anchorage with a few low profile friends.
Sarah calls home from Syracusa.
3kgs Tuna for lunch and supper and lunch....
The real work starts with the gutting and filleting and cooking etc. as Sarah is keen to remind me!
Greek fisherman off the entrance to Argostoli (Cephalonia)
Lefkas Bell tower. Sarah really loves these structures erected following huge earthquakes.
Lefkas Bell tower. Sarah really loves these structures erected following huge earthquakes.
Lefkas street, showing the extensive use of corregated iron in the reconstruction of the town.
Lefkas street, showing the extensive use of corregated iron in the reconstruction of the town.
Venetion Fort at Vonitsa, built on the site of an earlier Byzantine Fort.
Firefighting from the air. These seaplanes bomb the fires with water scooped up from the sea.
Seaplanes run a regular service between Paxos, Corfu, Lefkas and the mainland.
Right of way? Well in theory they do not have it, but....
Italian style, well Sarah thinks that this motor boat shows style.
Naok Yacht Club (Corfu) where we moored to pick up Tom & Ewan when they flew in.
Naok Yacht Club (Corfu) with Serafina looking every inch a minnow!!
Corfu Citadel viewed at night from above Naok Yacht Club

July 2008

My sister Anne who lives in Sevilla and also has an apartment in Zahara. We spent the day with her there, before moving on to Gibralter.
Sarah has long felt that I have an anchor fetish, so we had to take this picture! This is at Barbate.
The entrance to Barbate is heavily congested by these endless Tuna nets. Very impressive, but a pain to get round!
Approaching Gibraltar from the Atlantic.
Barbary ape alive and well and guarding the entrance to the network of tunnels under the rock.
Barbary ape taking a big interest in us!
View of the fog (Levanter) in Gibraltar from half way up the Rock, close to the entrance the military tunnels that riddle the Rock.
The Hunter Family, who joined us during their short visit to Gibraltar.
View of Gibraltar as we sailed out into the straits, heading for the Med.
Great sailing along the Costa del Sol
The evening sky at Velez-Malaga which is both pretty and a slight concern!
300 metre Container ship turning under our stern, well that is what ended up happening, but we were a litle nervous at this point!
Cory Shearwater. These birds contastantly swoop around us and are a real joy to watch.
Cory Shearwater. These birds contastantly swoop around us and are a real joy to watch.
Cory Shearwater. These birds contastantly swoop around us and are a real joy to watch.
Another Dophin visit. Not as spirited as the ones out in the Atlantic, but always facinating to see them play alongside us.
Fireworks in Almerimar. The Fiesta Virgen del Carmen is preceeded by daytime fireworks. H & S inspectors, look away now.....
Fireworks in Almerimar. Not sure that daytime fireworks work so well!
The Fiesta Virgen del Carmen, marching band.
The Fiesta Virgen del Carmen
Sunset over Cabo de Gata as we headed for Cartagena.
Sunset over Cabo de Gata as we headed for Cartagena.
Heading our way to Cartegena was this Regina 42.
Arctic Sunrise (Greenpeace) on patrol outside Cartagena Harbour. Not sure why she was on station here, but hope to find out!
Spanish Submarine leaving Cartagena.
Spanish Submarine crew, enjoying the view from their deckchairs?
Cartagena Waterfront as viewed from the Marina
Mini Felucca racing in the harbour at Cartagena
Approaching Greenwich Marina (Spain) where you can see the town up above and its approaches.
Superyacht in Greenwich Marina (Southern Spain)
Ibiza. This rock off one of the bays is not unlike a statue of Queen Victoria...perhaps.
Pedalo, Ibiza. Now that look like it might be more fun than the usual things.
Here I have our old camera as the nice new one (my birthday present?) has been taken over briefly by Sarah!
Dolphin caught in action. Might be getting the hang of this! Harder now to get pictures of them as they are very shy in the Med.
Serafina at anchor in Mahon (Menorca). This was a great anchorage in the approaches to Mahon.
Sunset over Mahon as we set out for Sicily.
Superyacht approaching Mahon. Yes those dots are full size people!
The one that got away. You need to read the log about all this!
Sharks circling the large tuna we had caught and were busy reeling in.
This one did not get away or get eaten by sharks!
Well we got it on deck which was a start.
15kgs of fresh tune (33lbs) weighs a lot when you hold it up! Luckily Sarah had just bought some fishing scales (to weigh gas bottles!) so we were able to see how big this beauty was.
Day three and tuna is getting a bit repeitive! Sort of like Christmas and all the re-incarnations of turkey! However, it does showcase Sarah's talents as a cook and improvisor.
Close to Sardinia and about the time our entire navigation system crashed.
Hazards off Trapani (Sicily) include these fast moving boys. No time to calculate constant bearings etc.
Approaching Trapani (Sicily). this small island is one of many guarding the approach.
Trapani City centre. This turned out to be a great place although quite hard to find our way around.
Trapani (Sicily) viewed from the fishing harbour.
View from Erice which is the town on top of the mountain that overlooks Trapani.
Erice. One of the forts protecting this hilltop town.
Erice. Another of the forts protecting this hilltop town.
One of Erice Churches, of which they have rather a lot for so small a town.
Norseman 90, our neighbour in Trapani.

June 2008 - Rally Portugal from Plymouth to Lagos (Portugal)

Bouzouki looms through the fog on the Rally Portugal

Bouzouki (Beneteau 51) appears in the fog off the coast of Portugal
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The cathedral to which thousands make the pilgramage every year.
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The swinging of the huge Botafumeiro is the highlight of any visit to Santiago, although they only perform this a few times a year.
Dolphins playing alongside Serafina as we passed down the coast of Portugal.
Dolphins playing alongside Serafina as we passed down the coast of Portugal.
Dolphins playing alongside Serafina as we passed down the coast of Portugal.
Sarah carefully cleaning the teak decks after our crossing of the Bay of Biscay.
two and a half days sailing and motor sailing from Plymouth to Bayona (Spain).
6.00 pm off the coast of France. Sarah dived 4 times to remove this bit of discarded netting from our propellor.
Bali Hai (Moody 49) draws away from us with the advantage of a Cruising Chute!
Statues of the fishermen's wives in the town of Pavoa (Portugal).
Another party on the all time great party boat (and crew) Bali Hai.
Blond Moment (HR 41) powering along with their Parasailor Chute.
View across the rooftops of Oporto from the Taylors Port Lodge.
Rally Portugal 2008 - Everyone enjoying a Sardine BBQ at the marine in Figueira de Foz.
Not one of our better starts!
The crew of Sealion caught drinking coffee whilst most crews were out partying!
Ray and his sone Robbie carrying out repairs to the radar dome on Blue Beyond's mast.
Ray find a toilet that is too small even for him!
View from the town of the new marina at Sines (Portugal).
Jackie and Bob and the crew of Arwen always are a guide to a good eating establishment.
So we had lunch in the same restaurant. Here with Max, Mark, Ray and Bev.
A wonderful display of mobiles on a roof top in Lagos (Portugal).
Mobile sculptures in Lagos
Mobile sculptures in Lagos
Mobile sculptures in Lagos
Sealion surfing along in nearly 40 knots of wind off Cape St Vincent
Sealion surfing along in nearly 40 knots of wind off Cape St Vincent.
Sealion surfing along in nearly 40 knots of wind off Cape St Vincent
Serafina rounding Cape st Vincent in nearly 40 knots of wind. Full set of these pictures are shown on the 'Sailing photos' page.
Serafina rounding Cape St Vincent ahead of 'Vision' a 50ft steel yacht. Full set of these pictures on 'Sailing Photos' page.
Crew of Blue Beyond ready to party on arrival at Lagos Marina at the end of the Rally Portugal 2008.
The old part of Lagos is very attractive in marked contrast to the new bit!