Well there’s been a fair bit happening since our last update. After Wayne & Pat (the previous owners) departed on the evening of Sat 10th we spent an enormous amount of time finding things on Envoy, re-stowing to suit our needs and unpacking and stowing our gear. Envoy is like a floating “Sailor’s Corner” chandlery shop with an enormous amount of equipment, spare parts, tools, etc. For example we discovered a water blaster that we didn’t even know was there. There are so many very practical features like walkie talkie headsets so that Di & I can talk to each other when we are berthing (you can’t really see anything from the Pilothouse when reversing into a berth so I rely on instructions from Di in the cockpit).
So Envoy settled another 50 mm or so into the water when we loaded our groceries, provisions and the odd bottle of wine !
Because Envoy has been out of the water for 5 months we have also needed to check all systems are working and this has been time consuming but fun and educational as we find our way around the boat.
Soon after buying Envoy, we retained the services of an Italian maritime lawyer – Andrea Petragnani Ciancarelli who was recommended by Wayne & Pat. His help & advice has been great and for example he liased between us and the Italian boatyard – Rizzardi – who worked on Envoy during the time she was out of the water. So with Andrea last Tuesday we went to the head office of the Coastguard to sort out our Italian and EC entry documentation. This was quite different to Coastguard as we know it. There was heavy security there with guards wearing sidearms, everybody in uniform (even the receptionist I noticed) and quite formal. Italy is quite bureaucratic and to do what we in NZ might consider simple takes a while. For example Di & I went to the Post Office to buy some stamps and post some cards. Well we might have been asking for tickets for lunar travel ! As Frank had warned us these things take much time, much conversation and gesticulation by all involved including everybody in the place.
That afternoon we completed our shopping and went to a frozen foods shop where we bought some NZ lamb. We couldn’t resist it but it was NZ$40 for a leg. Again much fun with the sales lady and we left there with Di and her giving each other a big cuddle
(I missed out !).
On Thursday we went to the airport to collect our unaccompanied luggage that we’d sent from NZ. Fortunately we got on well with Riccardo the taxi van driver who took us to our hotel on our arrival in Rome on 1 March. Riccardo is the Italian equivalent of a Corporate Cab owner. So we phoned him and he picked us up and took us to the airport. What a performance ! Without Riccardo we’d have had a snowball’s chance in hell of getting our luggage. The bureaucracy was incredible and even Riccardo couldn’t understand the system and what needed to be done. He shrugged his shoulders and said “This is Italy …. and we have to wait ..” Anyway 3 hours later we were on our way and then spent the rest of the day finding room for the contents of 5 suitcases on a very full boat. What has been amazing here is the weather. Bearing in mind this is early Spring the weather is day after day sunny and very still ! The wind has never been over 10 knots and mostly much less. Nothing like the Hauraki Gulf where it seems there’s a wind warning every other day. Anyway next week there’s a cold front coming down from Northern Europe so we’ll see.
Today we finally did our first voyage ! Left Ostia for a 5 hour round trip and everything ran fine. The sensation is very different to what we are used to. It’s a very “solid” feeling and of course slow. Unlike a planing vessel you don’t need to move things because Envoy just sits there, aided of course by stabilizers. So today was an exciting day and we’re pleased to have a first trip under our belt. Coming back into the marina we were a little apprehensive but it was fine. Envoy is very heavy at about 30 tonne, doesn’t move much with the wind and with the bow thruster is quite manoeverable so no real problem.
Up to now we’ve not had time to do any sight seeing in Rome itself but hope to do some this coming week. We plan to leave here in about a week for Sicily but are pretty well organized now so should have some time.
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4 comments:
Sounds like a real beast of a boat guys. The walky talky headsets are definately a bonus, they sound pretty cool. Well done for your successful maiden voyage. Have a safe trip to Sicily!
James
Hi there - testing my Google Account access
Great to see you have got all systems sorted.
Have at least a couple of days looking around Rome - its too good to miss.
Have a coffee and just sit looking at the Trevi fountain and the Spanish Steps.
Go and see "The Pieta" at St Peter's.
Have a meal at a restaurant on the Via Veneto.
Just joined your journey, and where better to start than at the beginning I guess. I've done some sailing in my distant past, a lot of RV'ing around North America, but at present I am seeing a lot of Arizona and Alberta in Canada from the back of my horse. Some kind of trawler has always been in the back of my mind, so who knows what the future will bring.
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