On Tuesday the forecast was perfect to make the crossing so at 11h30 we lifted anchor and headed out past Ile du Cros and Ile du Levant before turning East and a straight line to Corsica (Cap Corse). As there was no wind we motored the way and the Perkins did us proud. All Svein’s hard work to strip and rebuild the engine paid off and she went like a dream. The crossing was pretty uneventful with some heavy swell at the beginning (the aftermath of the previous day’s winds) but as the day went on the sea became calmer and by night we were merrily on our way with an average on 6 knots. We had to take watches so Svein took the first watch and at 23h00 Caryn took over. There was a good moon so plenty of visibility and always the radar and AIS to check for other ships in the area. At 02h00 Svein took over the watch just in time to see the ballet of the ferries and cruise ships around us (all on their way to Corsica as well but not at the same speed!). By dawn we could see Corsica but still were quite a way off. We gradually reached the first waypoint since Ile du Levant by which time we had been at sea for just under 24 hours. We had managed to hoist the mizzen and genoa around 07h00 which gave us a little more speed and improved the stability of the boat to stop us rolling too much. We eventually came in sight of our destination Macinaggio on the east side of the tip of Cap Corse. There we joined Anne Laure, Laurent and Antoine on “Anelo & moi”. We anchored at 12h15 so had been at sea for just over 24 hours se we had made very good time.
They joined us for a drink and we then went over to their boat for lunch. The afternoon called for a snooze, so that we could get back on track, and in the evening we went into the town in the dinghy to have a meal. Again the forecast is not too good for a few days so we will continue to wind down and plan the next stage of the journey.

At last underway. We left the harbour at 11h30 under brilliant sunshine and thus ended 4 years living in France. Friends waved us off and others telephoned to wish us good sailing. Originally we had thought to cover a little distance and anchor not far from the harbor to get our sea legs back again but the weather and wind were so right that we scrapped that idea and headed for our first port of call the lovely island of Porquerolles off the mainland opposite Hyères. We hoisted the sails after crossing the Baie de Fos and had a good 6 hours before it dropped in the evening and we finished the journey under engine. We arrived in Porquerolles at 00h15 (Caryn having slept a few hours) and proceeded to anchor. It was the first time that we had been here and discovered in the morning the reason we had had so much trouble (4 attempts before we got a grip) the seabed was covered in grass. Eventually at 01h15 we were able to turn off the engine and get to bed. It was the perfect day to unwind and get used to being able to do what we want with no constraints.
Next morning we woke to brilliant sunshine but the water was too cold to take a swim. Instead we wandered into the island in the dinghy to pick up some stores and odd items we still needed. We decided to treat ourselves to a lunch out and a beer (at the prices on the island not something we will be doing too often!).
Svein checked the weather forecast and the winds were not right to proceed to Corsica so we enjoyed the scenery and worked a little on the boat whilst Svein checked out the two outboard engines for the dinghy. The next day the forecast was still not good with too much head wind so we again went into town for a walk and in the late afternoon took the dinghy to the beach where Caryn had the first, if short, swim of the year.

The final countdown has begun, All last urgent last minute jobs have been completed and we are ready to start our new adventure. Thursday was Caryn’s last working day and it was spent getting her replacement up ad running and finishing off the remaining work. Alex has joined us for a few days and has been a great help. He will leave tomorrow in our faithful Volvo so it too is starting a new adventure.

We had a flag cermony this evening where we lowered the Norwegian flag and hoisted the French.

We are now ready to set sail for new adventures under the French flag and should be leaving our home for the last four years in the late morning.

There have been a lot of people wishing us goodbye and all are wondering when we shall be back. It is difficult for them to understand that this chapter is closed and a new one is opening. We hope however that many of them will meet us again in new waters in the future.