19 June 2023 - Bari



The buses in Bari are excellent. They mainly run to time. They are clean, and there’s a flat fee of 1.5 euros per journey, no matter how far, within the city.

 There are coffee shops about every 100 metres in the centre, so it’s not difficult to get some delicious coffee, while the laundry is doing. Everything is reasonably priced.

 

With perfect timing, Tomasso came to tell us the yard was ready for the boat lift, after we had put everything away. There was little wind and a flat calm sea, so getting into the lifting dock was one of the easiest we’ve had.

 

We like the boat to come out of the water while we are away, as it gives a chance for the hull to dry out, it gets a good wash, we can check all is well, and it’s cheaper than leaving it in the water, especially in high season. It is always very reassuring when you see how careful the guys in the yards are, in their care. It seems quite a slow process, but that is because they are making sure everything is in order at each step of the process. 





It didn’t take long to spot that there is damage to the keel. It is too much like coincidence that this must have been caused by driving through the sand about ten days ago. Thank goodness we were lifting the boat and can see it promptly. Fortunately it’s the outer gel coat which is affected, not deep enough for the fibreglass. Also, having six weeks before Italy goes on holiday for August, means that the yard have plenty of time to make a plan for the repair. It’s an awkward place to get at, involving putting the boat back in the sling, while they do it, but otherwise, a repair that they are well used to doing. We haven’t had any other prangs during this three months, so this is the only hull repair.

 

There’s always a lot of hanging around for us on boat lift day, and it was late afternoon when we could get on board to close everything up and put the cover on. We have a canvass cover that goes over the whole of the deck, protecting the teak from the sun. It went on in record time, probably because we’ve now done it several times before. 

 

Now we could relax over our last Puglian dinner, before heading to a B&B, close to the airport.

Miles today             0

Miles in 2023      747

Tricia (& Steve)

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