Giles and Paula's Great Retirement Adventure

[Giles]

The passage to Gibraltar was amazing. Took us about 43 hours. It was a tad over 400 miles.

We lost power to the port engine coming into Gibraltar, we think it is probably a fuel flow issue, but the diagnostics say "call a Volvo Penta engineer".

We are currently moored up in Le Línea (Spain) going through Spanish exit formalities. Once that is sorted, we will motor around the corner and take a berth in Gibraltar proper.

We'll get the engine and the AIS looked at there.....

[A Former User]

@Giles nice picture and what a ride! Hope the engine thingy will be fixed soon, have a nice trip G!

[goosehd]

@Giles How does your gangplank work? It looks like it's on a hydraulic piston to lengthen/shorten it, but the height of it looks like you get on from the seat vs. onto the deck. Mind taking a picture or two of what's going on?

[Matt]

@goosehd said in Giles and Paula's Great Retirement Adventure:

@Giles How does your gangplank work?

At his age he’s lucky if it works at all.

[goosehd]

@Matt You bastard...you owe me a beer and a keyboard...

[goosehd]

@goosehd said in Giles and Paula's Great Retirement Adventure:

@Giles Mind taking a picture or two of what's going on?

On second thought after @Matt post, please do not share pictures.

[Matt]

I was waiting patiently.

[goosehd]

@Matt I take it you haven’t subscribed to @Giles onlyfans account. Once you see that you’ll never be the same…

I’m surprised he hasn’t chimed in, but he’s probably off playing with his dinghy.

[Daniel San]

Awesome entertainment for breakfast gentlemen!
Have swallowed me with coffee, cause Of laughing

[Giles]

It is called a Paserelle. Because there is very little tide in the Mediterranean the docks are fixed, rather than floating. Stern-to mooring is the norm and you need to be able to walk, not climb off the boat.

https://www.opacmare.com/en/category/gangways

Here is ours:

We are currently in Gibraltar where side-to mooring is the norm, so there is no need for the Pasarelle.

[Giles]

@Madame-Buttonfly signed the paperwork yesterday. we are now officially the owners of SAKURA. Which means that I can start after-marketing - Flag poles installed and flags a flying....

[Matt]

Congratulations Captain.

[Daniel San]

Awesome
congratulations to you !!

[Twistlock]

Oh yes! Congrats!!

[A Former User]

Congrats G and i wish you and @Madame-Buttonfly many save trips ️

[endo]

Captain Padmore ... ah, and Giles

[motojobobo]

Awesome!!!
Velas y buen viento capitan!!!

[ROman]

Many congratulation @Giles & @Madame-Buttonfly ️

[sabergirl]

That’s so wonderful. We’re very happy for you two.

[Giles]

Still have the engine issue, took SAKURA out this morning hoping that it had miraculously resolved itself, but when we put the engine under load, it cut out. I think that we have managed to get an engineer to agree to meet us at the boat tomorrow. I am pretty sure that the problem is relatively minor, but I do not want to nullify the warranty, so need an official Volvo Penta engineer.

I think that we are now trackable. Let me know:

Go here:

https://www.vesselfinder.com/

Go to "Search Ships/Ports" on the top right, and enter our MMSI number - 232046961. You can search for SAKURA but there are loads of boats called SAKURA.