In June 2005, I won a competition the prize being a day sailing with Dame Ellen Macarthur, the fastest solo sailor around the globe aboard her trimaran B&Q. This film is a medley of photos and clips taken with my small digital camera and serves as a lasting memory of a day which will remain as a lasting “bookmark” in my colourful life!

 

I also went on Holiday to the Islands off Croatia in the Adriatic, leaving Trogir, near Split in May 2006.  There are many beautiful Islands around the Dalmation coastline, many are small and uninhabited, but several of the larger islands have a permanent population.  They mainly live off the tourist industry, which runs primarily from May through to October each year.

 

We cruised in the company of three yachts in total.  The holiday was the first real lasting time to get back on the water again for a couple of decades for me. It has rekindled my affinity for the sea, and my love of life under sail. Vince was our skipper, and the remainder were made up of mainly ex-RoundTablers, with a couple of younger guys. Our yacht was a new Bavaria 50, which had only been delivered a couple of weeks earlier. Although some of the crew knew each other, about half of us were strangers to each other at the start. However, such is the nature of this type of holiday, we were all familiar with each other within a very short time!

 

Most evenings were spent ashore discovering the delights of the numerous fish restaurants and their daily catch, and sampling the local drink.......  Whatever the checkered past of recent historical events in Croatia, the tourist industry is now back in full swing catering for the likes of us, but leaving the unspoilt delights of the islands for us to explore.

 

Indeed, I enjoyed it so much that I will do everything possible to ensure I go again in May 2007.  Anyone want to join me? (cost around £380 + flight) This time there will be 4 yachts!