The Diversity

So, it's been 3 months. Since then back in Cannes, I paid a visit to Brazil- but that was for personal time out. There's really nothing to speak of about that trip... honest....

So after a brief spell in the UK, here I am back on the blog and we start again in wonderfully hot and sunny Marseille, south coast of France. My new mode of transport is a wooden ship built in 1939 to transport marble. Since then it's had some major conversions, but now it's a state of the art private yacht.... and I think it's spectacular. I doubt many of you disagree that whoever is responsible for this vessel has made some brilliant and stylish choices in design... but I just love the fact that this is an old, old wooden ship. In just 3 days, I guess it's a little sad to say, but I get more satisfaction and pride serving on this boat than I did in one of the Royal Navy's finest. This is perhaps in part because I am the sole engineer onboard, but also because it's the kind of ship that you only ever really dream about.

My captain raising a beer and 2 of the crew, sitting in front of the wheelhouse chilling out

Not for me, but I love this copper basin (not sure if it's really copper or just styled)

The outside cabins have been stripped back to the ship's structure. Awesome.

The aft deck looking forward

Starboard midships, looking aft. Work still to be done before we sail

Passageway on the lower deck, view from the engine room door

The diversity at night. Spotlights beam down from the masts to light the deck

Our German chef is pretty cool!

Not quite in full glory yet, but she will be sailing in less than 24 hours ready for her main guests...