7 - 9 April 2026 - Bari

The mast isn’t on the boat yet, and we now know it won’t go on/in until Friday. The remaining parts, though, which we thought had already arrived but hadn’t, are definitely here now. The riggers have started to put the parts of the mast back together and the electrician has readied the cables that run from top to bottom inside the mast. There is action, at last.


The long awaited parts, finally here...

...and the mast being prepared

We have interspersed the days with painting a protective dressing on the teak deck, food shopping and heading into central Bari for some sight seeing and window shopping. Italian clothes are so stylish, it’s very temping to buy. The locals are incredibly friendly and engaging, also delighting speaking English at the slightest opportunity, which is very nice, but doesn’t help our trying to immerse Italian and improve our speaking. Stopping for an aperitivo in the late afternoon allows some great people watching across a piazza, particularly on the day we sat outside a stylish bar / cafe / gelateria, where hoards were indulging in gelato in the late afternoon sunshine.



Putting the protective dressing on the teak has been something we have had in mind to try for sometime and the delays with the mast has meant we could go for it this week. The result is very pleasing; the deck looks great and the dry wood has sucked it in like a thirsty animal.

Tricia (and Steve and Chris)|

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