We were later starting our sailing this autumn because Baringo was chartered out to a sailing school for three months during the summer. When we arrived on 30^th September it was with some trepidation about what we would find but our fears were soon dispelled when we discovered Baringo in good condition apart from an end of season hull with a blooming garden of growth. 

Malcolm and Glynis Gibson with whom we crossed the Pacific Ocean joined us for the first few days which was of course a great pleasure and brought back many memories of that momentous crossing. After provisioning the boat we met them in la Seyne railway station and introduced them to the mediterranean version of Baringo . The wind permitted a timely and easy exit from the marina allowing us to anchor for the first night in Baie de Mejean on the north coast of the Rade de Toulon. Another beautiful day dawned for a pleasant sail across to Baie D’Argent on Ile de Porquerolles. En route we tried to tie up to a buoy close to a rocky bay for lunch and had the embarrassment of receiving assistance from a paddle boarder who kindly advised that the manoeuvre would be easier without a full main sail up …. had we really managed to sail around the world and we all burst into laughter! We declined to stay there not only out of embarrassment but we were far too close to the rocks so we found an alternative spot and anchored for a swim and lunch. We then continued to Ile de Porquerolles and spent a relaxing two days in Baie D’Argent enjoying the usual activities including a delicious meal on the island  accompanied by a  bottle of  vin de Porquerolles .We returned by Baie de Mejean enjoying another idyllic sail and finally back to Port Pin Rolland marina to say a sad good bye to Malcom and Glynis who were returning to Sydney .

We spent the next two days there reprovisioning and negotiating another  charter contract which much to our relief we succeeded in doing . We departed again on 6^th October and with a prevailing easterly wind we anchored in Baie de la Garonne which provided excellent shelter. The wind was perfect for sailing during the day but kindly chose to calm overnight which is always helpful and the sea was still warm enough for swimming and paddling. On 8^th October we sailed to Port man on Ile de Port Cros and the wind allowed us to sail south of the island and then north through the gap between Ile de Porquerolles and Ile de Port Cros in very pleasant conditions. The Port man anchorage is a deep narrow inlet, very sheltered but also very popular! Luck was with us when we entered just as two boats left giving us space to choose a safe anchoring spot.

Over the next two hours about 8 more boats arrived searching for space! We had gone to hike on the island which is very unspoiled but we decided to leave the next day for a less crowded anchorage and sailed to Bormes des Mimosas on the mainland. A westerly wind was now blowing and this would afford good shelter . We had the anchorage to ourselves so a complete contrast to Port Man. We walked to the village of Bormes des Mimosa, about an hour uphill but it is a very beautiful unspoiled provencal village with pink tiles on the roofs and shutters of every colour decorating the houses.

On 11^th October we returned to Baie D’Alcatre on Ile de Porquerolles and decided to stay overnight rather than move to Baie D’Argent. Once again all remained tranquil and calm. Our time was now drawing to a close so the next day we refuelled at the Porquerolles marina and had a wonderful sail with only one tack around the Presqu’Ile de Giens and then directly into Baie De Mejean on a perfect reach. That night rather unexpectedly the wind blew up to about 25knots so we woke in the early hours, checked the meteo in case we had missed something but it was still showing only 5 knots for our position. Proof that meteorology is still not an exact science. 

We motored back early the following morning and tied up in Port Pin Rolland feeling so happy that we had enjoyed such perfect conditions quite late in the season but also worried that it may be a manifestation of increasing global warming.