Well don’t expect every thing to go perfect, You have to create the Perfect that suits You. If it looks hard then the outcome will be rewarding.

This event happen when we left our boat sitting in the Marina, not knowing that the( MMO) Marina Mafia Organization, was Designed to trap poor sailors so they can’t leave. Stuck for months sometimes years those dredfull stories we heard from the Sailors we met still sitting in the Marina.

Our front sail was ripped to shredds, in a winter storm late January 2019. The MMO did not even try to take our sail down before the storm arrived, the MMO took down only their peoples & friends Genoa before the storm, but left our boats Genoa on just to see the damages and expenses that they can benifit from.

That sounds cruel to say but facts showed, they did not even tried. All we got was an email that the sail got ripped and to send our Insurance papers PDF to them as soon as possible. No response why or for what reason the ripped sail remained up until we returned 4 months later. “Hmmm”

When we returned, everything was quiet, looks as no human life exsist. We took a walking Tour around the Marina hundreds of empty boats, with their Front sails taken down. This just made it more conspicuous. There were only 4 people left around the Marina, and they all had pictures to show us of our sail. They seem very concerned & Sad for what had happened. But their question was do You have Insurance?

Our questions was Why did the MMO left the sail up and took the others down? Why after the storm they left the ripped sail up? Isn’t it the MMO job to secure boats to prevent damages while we are away? Oh this gets better with their answers

They replied we asked the MMO the same question. As they took down the other boats sails before the storm.

They also replied that, it’s the MMO’s job to secure and watch over the boats in the Marina when the sailors leave their boats.

They replied if You need a written statement for the Insurance company, we will be happy to give You one on email just say if we do. “Hmmm.”

To spike things up a bit, we applied to the Insurance company for our damaged sail. They rejected our claim, and said we were responsibile for not taking down our sail when strong winds occurred. “Grrrr” if I was a dog.

Where did this leave us? No sail and a timing to leave the Marina. Mr stress thought it could get to us. But we did not let that stop us from preparing to leave without a Genoa for our boat.

We focus on the other major things needed fixing, like the exhaust pipe for the engine. Fix the motor for the Dinghy, fix the navagation lights, climb the mass to set up the radar, change matresses inside the boat, change the boats name to SHANDY. Oil down the teak, close up a few leaks from the bottom of the mass. When all was done, we started looking for a sail in the Pandemic.

This event took place in the pandemic lockdown, we still had a timing to leave the Marina. Let me remind You that we were in a Country of a greedy Nation, so even Though every where was lockdown we still have to leave the EU or pay a fine. So we were pressed for time. If you are a boat owner then the rules are familar to you. “Oh yeah” no one elses problem but ours alone.

We begin to think about Plan B to write the Immigration to extend our time until the Pandemic lockdown is over? Plan C sail without a Genoa, which will take longer to reach our destination?

Keep calm take a deep breath and exhale. Now its August our boat is still sitting in the Marina and deadline to leave is September. We prayed about this situation and left it off our mind.

August 20 I will never forget that day, we were celebrating hubby Birthday just on the boat playing music dancing, like we have no worries, laughter filled us up it spread love and kindness in the air.

Before the sunset our sailor friend named Nacho whom we met in the Marina. He was stuck through the pandemic on his boat, we became good friends. He really stop by to wish hubby happy Birthday and gave him a gift. Guess what it was? “Suspence sounds”

A bottle of vintage wine, some edibles a long conversation of after the Quarantine is done what he hopes to do. We were happy that another person is Thinking about after the quarantine lockdown is over. It seems everyone else was afraid and gave up around us. But we were happy for this guy. In the end of his chatting it seemed he was crying, like water filled eyes. He asked would You take my old Genoa? I have 2 old Sails and You can have it.

Well I am a Carribean lady, we kinda have trust issues, but my gut feeling never lead me wrong. So I did not reply, hubby replied and was happy to say yes. The kind guy and his Brother inlaw came with the sail and they put it up on our boat for us. ” Yeah is not a dream” it happened so fast. I said this is to good to be true. After they put up the sail, I said thank you for the Nice Birthday gift, The guy did not say anything he just smiled. Then hubby said thank you it’s a greatest gift ever. Our friend said yes it is enjoy it. “Ohhh so kind”

Well You know what happened next, a week later we set sail into the night heading to our destinations planned. I will say Prayers do make a difference.