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CRUISING PLANS Mantra is currently at Larnaca Marina, Cyprus for the 2010 winter. I’m planing to set off cruising again on 3rd July, 2010. As you will have seen from the Immediate Plans Summary I am planning to spend the 2010 season cruising from Cyprus to France. Exact route is up for discussion. It is likely to be via Greek Aegean islands, the Corinth Canal, Gulfs of Corinth and of Patras, Greek Ionian islands, the south of Italy, Malta, Sardinia, Corsica, the south of France to Port St. Louis du Rhone / Port Napoleon where we would lower the mast and prepare for the canals. Then into the River Rhone and up the Rhone and the Saone to wherever we are going to enter one of the canal routes. I am currently researching places to spend the winter and would like to pre-book a winter berth.
Scenarios for 2011 onwards At present I am thinking in terms of continuing along the canals to Paris and then down the River Seine and crossing the Channel so as to get to England where I think I will look for a shore base and where I will put Mantra seriously up for sale. Again, I would discuss precise route with whoever is cruising with me. Whether I’ll buy another boat remains to be seen. If I were to buy another boat it would be one particularly for the inland waterways of Europe and some coastal cruising Watch this space! I have not yet succeeded in doing the uploading of details of the areas sailed previously, but sometime I hope to do so.
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WHAT TO BRING Here are some suggestions on what to bring and what not to bring. As regards clothing / toiletries / cosmetics: You will not need lots of cosmetics, but bring sun oil & moisturiser cream. Ensure you bring an all-round wide brimmed hat and sun glasses. Spare prescription glasses? Any medication needed and would you please ensure you tell me in advance (ie: before joining) what medication you are on, if any. Swimming togs, several. Light (canvas or plastic?) shoes for reef walking / swimming and for use on board when anchoring, climbing mast, etc and for when better grip than bare feet is needed or when the deck is too hot to stand on comfortably; (please note that we do not wear on board any footwear that has ever been used ashore). Bring waterproof sandals to wear in marinas when going to their toilet & shower facilities. Shorts, several. Tops, including something long sleeved as protection from too much sun. A pareo / sarong if you like them could be a useful (& light) extra item. Shore shoes and / or sandals. A pair of decent jeans. A dress or skirt or, for male crew, a better pair of long trousers. A pullover or cardigan for cooler evenings. A pullover or an anorak for any unexpectedly cool night watches. For those times when we might want to go to a better restaurant or when we are invited out to someone’s home ashore, you might want to bring something nicer; but there will not be space for several nicer outfits. You might want to bring mittens or light gloves for handling ropes. Heavy oilskins are definitely not needed, nor are rubber waterproof boots (except ashore in some cases!). Bring light rainwear if you have them. You could well want to bring a camera or video camera. Bring a beach towel for use outside. We have bathroom towels, bedding, basic harnesses, lifejackets, etc, but if you have a favourite harness / lifejacket do bring it. If you have face mask & flippers & snorkel, you could bring them or borrow my spare snorkel & face mask. If you are likely to want to sleep outside from time to time, you might well want to bring a light covering or a very light sleeping bag for protection from damp & possibly for warmth as well. Our cabin bed linen is not used outside and I do not provide beach towels for use outside. If you are going to want to cover yourself with sun oil and then want to lie on the deck or on the roof or on the airbed, then please bring an ultra large beach towel or something else to lie on. Please only bring essentials. Storage space is very limited. Please really, really seriously take note that one's normal tendency, like when going on holiday, is to bring far, far too much and then only to use much less than half of the items brought. Please ensure you err on the side of conserving space. If you are in two minds whether something is essential or not, please do not bring it. If you are wanting to bring bulky or heavy items, etc (such as scuba gear, sextant, computer) or items for a continued holiday after leaving Mantra please raise the subject beforehand and then economise on what else you bring. Please only bring what fits in one bag and please ensure it is a soft bag that can be rolled up for storage, ie: not a backpack with solid tubular frame and not a suitcase (and not two bags!). This injunction to be ruthless regarding what you do (& do not) bring is serious.
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