Making a Sprayhood

Making a Sprayhood

Having had Serenity for eight years, we decided it was time we had a sprayhood. We went for a wander around the marina and discovered that there are many different designs. Ours, however, had to fold down into the channel around the companion way. As a bought one would be way too expensive and probably not the design we wanted, we set about making our own.

First job was to design and order the stainless steel bars for the frame. We made up a template with water pipe and gave this to the steel benders in November. This was finally delivered to us in February with a few extra kinks but after a bit of alteration it fitted!

 The bars for the frame fitted in place to fold down into the channel.

 Next job was to attached the luff tape track to the deck to hold the bottom edge down.

 First piece of canvas with luff tape fitted into track. We certainly needed those clamps in the wind.

 Getting the front piece stretched around, not easy with so many curves.

 Pattern cut to size and shape.

 Next piece of canvas to make the roof. The flap in the centre is the zip to hold the sprayhood onto the front bar.

 Looking good so far! Needs a bit of stretching but the back triangles will do that.

 Dave downstairs marking out for the windows. A lot of canvas to deal with in a small space. We were very glad to be able to use Desi's sewing machine for the job.

 Windows in and back triangles attached to pull it tight. Zip over the back bar holds the edge and makes it all removable.

 Finished!!

Day Trip to Ragusa and Modica

Ragusa

Before David returned to the UK we went to Ragusa and Modica for the day.

 Ragusa is divided into the old and the new town by a deep ravine. Steep hairpin bends and probably the narrowest "road" I have ever driven along! But as Dave said "you're fine, there is at least 3 inches on either side of the wing mirrors!" Ok until you come to someone's doorstep, then it is more like one inch!

Ragusa Cathedral overlooking the main square.

A view of the interior 
 

  

A pleasant little courtyard beside the cathedral

 

Looking down into the square from the steps of the cathedral

 

 Time for coffee break with traditional biscuits.

 A view across the roof tops showing the old Roman tiles and down the valley

 

 One of the gateways into the city. Very typically Italian architecture.

The dome of the cathedral

 The Town Hall. 

Ragusa was a lovely, well kept town compared to a lot we have seen!

 Licorice ice cream? Well you have to try these things and very nice too! You really can get any flavour ice cream.

 An avenue of palm trees in the gardens at the end of town.

Modica

Leaving Ragusa we drove south to the town of Modica - a town famous for its Baroque architecture and chocolate.

 

 Town gateways.

Modica's chocolate is one of the most famous products of the Ragusa area. It is still made the same way the ancient Aztecs made chocolate in Mexico and its tradition dates back to the 16th century. The technique was brought over by the Spaniards who in turn learned about it in what is now Mexico.

Modica, along with all of southern Italy, was under Spanish rule at the time when the Spanish discovered the New World and, consequently, introduced to Europe products they found in the Americas, like sweet and chili peppers, potatoes, tomatoes and, of course, chocolate.

In Modica the original chocolate making technique from the 16th century has been maintained much truer to original intents so you get chocolate that is made straight from the cacao beans, with no added cocoa butter or soy lecithin.

One step of the old traditional process required working the cocoa on the Mexican metate, a lava stone slab with a stone rolling pin, to grind roasted cocoa beans on a fire that does not make the cocoa mass go over 40 degrees Celsius. This means that when sugar is added it gets mixed in but does not melt, thus giving the grainy texture this chocolate is famous for.

The two traditional flavors of Modica chocolate are vanilla and cinnamon, as well as hot chilli pepper (peperoncino). Today you can find all sorts of flavors, including nutmeg, white pepper, citrus, cardamom, sea salt, etc.

Delicious!! Especially the one flavoured with the local Marsala wine.

 There are a lot of churches in Sicily!

This one was reached by 250 steps!

 

Road Trip Around Western Sicily part 2

Leaving Palermo, we continued round the coast to Castellammare del Gulfo and stopped for coffee at this lovely little town with a marina. Could be a useful stopover when we are cruising this year.

 Castellammare del Gulfo

 Driving on, our next stop was to see the salt pans south of Trapani. Sadly the windmill museum wasn't open out of season but an interesting stop all the same.

 Large heaps of salt along the edge of the pans

 

 Looking back across the pans to one of the windmills.

Sciacca  (pronounced Shakka)

 Our next overnight stop was bed and breakfast at Hotel Aliai in Sciacca. We had rooms on the second floor with balconies overlooking the harbour - very pleasant!

 I love these steps in town, each flight decorated with different tiles. We had seen this in other places.

 Sciacca is renowned for its carnival and, although we just missed the actual event, we came across the floats parked up waiting to be renovated and stored for next year. These models are huge - as high as the top of the first floor of the buildings. We later saw on Sicilian TV a report about the carnival and these models are automated.

Eraclea Minoia

 The Lonely Planet guide described the ancient ruins here but, having driven down some fairly narrow tracks (not quite roads) and walked along the beach, we didn't actually find the ruins but it was a lovely walk. Shame the cafe wasn't open out of season!

Scala di Turchi

 Next stop, the amazing white steps that make up the cliffs here. 

Cultural Farm, Favara

 Having driven around this very shabby, scruffy town, we eventually found the "art farm" we were looking for. Not quite what we expected - hardly a farm as we know it!! Just a collection of old buildings where artists work. They are aiming to improve the town through art and their current project is to create a children's museum. 

Art is definitely a subjective thing!!

 

 And back to Licata!!

Music evening singalong at Cafe Letterario, in the marina. Dave playing guitar and a few of the singers - Chris and Geoff doing their duet of Waltzing Matilda, Desi and Ginny.