Raffaellesco - Bill and Suzette's Sailing Adventure

 3/22/2024 Marina di Scarlino Up with the sun with great anticipation of a generator technician arriving today! No word from Boma so I assume they will be here today. I was getting excited every time a little service truck drove by and happily, they showed up at about 0945. The technician spoke enough English for us to get by. I had opened everything up for access and they quickly got to work. He busted a knuckle in the process of disassembly, made me feel like a professional as we compared war wounds. They ran their tests and concluded that the control board would need replacement. The technician called Cummins in Milan and they confirmed the replacement and located a new control board in Belgium. He expected to have it in his office at Boma by Tuesday and return to install it on Wednesday.   They buttoned up the generator and went on their way. I was very optimistic. With the day half gone we stopped for lunch and then moved on to one more rigging issues, the main sail. ...

 3/14/2024 Marina di Scarlino The cabin was 51 degrees when I got up. Turning the heater on and brewing coffee had the temperature rising quickly. No useful overnight emails, so we wait for a generator repair. Suzette continued waxing while I assembled the dinghy. While working we noticed that the marina was installing what turned out to be new WIFI antennas. Low and behold we have a much better WIFI signal. After lunch we walked to the two marine stores for some miscellaneous parts. After rummaging through disorganized drawers at both stores, we found most of what we needed. We also stopped at the gourmet store for some fruits and bread.   By the time we got back to the boat it was 1530, quitting time. With the sun shining we relaxed in the cockpit before heading off to the showers. It is much more enjoyable to take a hot shower while there is still enough warm sunshine to dry our hair. It was another beautiful sunshiny calm day. I just wish we could get some resolution o...

  3/4/2024 Huntington Beach Up early to do some last-minute preparations, but we were more than ready to go. We are down to one smaller rolling duffle bag, a carry-on sized rolling suitcase and our respective briefcases. With the boat well stocked with clothes etc. we are schlepping some warm clothes, but mostly boat maintenance parts that are cheaper and easier to get in the states. Downtown HB We do live in paradise Last look at the beach for awhile Our good friend Inez picked us up promptly at 1000 and we were off for another 3-month adventure on Raffaellesco in the Med. This trip will take us down the west coast of Italy, Sicily, and around the boot heal into the Adriatic Sea. We breezed through a very quiet Orange County airport, love my Delta Sky Priority and TSA Pre. It was a beautiful day for flying. The plane departed on time, smooth flight and an early arrival into Detroit. Suzette’s brother Bobby and sister Rene picked us up at the airport. It was great to see Rene o...