Envious look

So our tour took us to St tropez, Cannes, Monaco, Imperia, Portovenere and Viareggio. As we arrived in the vicinity of a harbour, Gerald would nip in to confirm that Iduna had indeed been granted the prime dockside real estate he had ordered (and she deserves). Invariably a small crowd of spectators gathered on the quayside to admire the yacht and a ripple of applause greeted her successful docking. I confess to enjoying the slightly envious looks of those who thought Iduna was mine as we alighted for an early evening stroll.

The choice of returning to eat onboard or going to a restaurant was all ours, and fine dining was assured either way. one of the great nights out was heading through the Venetian-like canals of Port Grimaud to dinner by tender - we received a great reception from the maitre-d having arrived in such style. The simpler fare found in the delightful back streets of the Italian ports was equally memorable.

Night lights

Perhaps my favourite moment was the night we crossed the Gulf of Genoa. Although the ladies slept blissfully through, Austen and I opted for a seat on deck. Boy were we glad we did… The sights and smells of the sea are so different at night, the air is fresh, the spray revitalising. As the sun rose on the horizon ahead of us, its warmth and power was breathtaking and Iduna's varnish gleamed in a new light. When I finally went below at around 06.30 I fell into a deep sleep, waking four hours later wondering whether it had all been a dream. The photos proved otherwise...

The old adage that time flies by when you're having fun was never more appropriate than this week, and we were soon sailing into Viareggio. Before making the half-hour drive to Pisa airport, there was just time to visit lulworth, the giant restored 1920 cutter which was then close to completion at the same yard responsible for Iduna. I am now writing a book on Lulworth - now about next year's holiday...

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