No, internet connections are as scarce as woolly mammoths! Not sure when you are going to get this post but I will write it on the off chance of finding a connection sometime soon.
We left Carloforte on Sunday morning after a lazy start to the day. The plan was to head towards an anchorage on the southern tip of Sardinia (or Pilchard Island as Martin is now referring to it). It was 35 miles away and we spent most of the time motor sailing. We did try and sail for a couple of hours but only managed about 7 miles in that time. The sea had settled down a lot from the state it was in on Saturday with the Mistral blowing. Pretty much a boring motor with the wind mostly behind us at 5-8knots. Tried dragging a fishing lure behind us but no success again.
We got to the anchorage at Porto Malfatano around six-ish and dropped the anchor – only to pull it up and drop it again as Pam was worried it was a bit shallow. Once again no problem getting it to dig in despite the dire warnings in the doom and gloom book about thick weed. It is very easy to see the sandy patches and then it digs in easily. The wind was a light 5knts and it remained that way all night. A very pleasant anchorage – well sheltered and only a bit of swell finding its way in. Martin and I spent a few hours gazing at the night sky with Martin winning the “spot the satellite” completion 3-2 after extra time. We were hoping there would be some reasonable size fish in the anchorage to try and catch but all we found were too small to consider eating.
There was not a lot ashore other than a really nice beach so this was one of those places to chill out and relax. A good 7/10 place. One of the nicest we have been to this trip.
Today then we pulled up the anchor around 10.30am and headed east round the tip of Sardinia (Capo Spartivento) and headed towards south east tip of the island. Reading the doom and gloom book, the description of Villasimius (where we were aiming) didn’t give us much hope of refuelling or provisioning the boat so we changed course and headed towards Marina di Capitana where at least there was a promise of a supermarket and fuel. The fuel was needed yet again as all we seemed to be doing was motor! It is starting to get a lot hotter in the afternoons to the point where Pam has not been complaining about the cold!! It was too hot for Martin and I today.
We arrived at Marina di Capitana (again no fish caught) before 6pm (another 35 mile trip – 2 hours sailing but this time we did 8 miles – before the wind died) and radioed for a berth. No answer. Now my record to date since leaving Lagos has been 100% in getting a response but today zilch – and not for want of trying. We tied up to the fuel berth and went off in search of somebody to tell us where to go. The main marina office was open and the helpful lady directed us to a berth although the marinier failed to turn up to catch ropes. Once again we were between two great gin palaces.
Seems a nice marina and is only 28 Euros a day which is the cheapest since Almerimar. No wifi though and not a lot else. There is a supermarket nearby and a big hotel with private pool and beach and a rather empty looking restaurant charging very high prices for beer and wine (11 Euros for 2 beers and a glass of wine ...eeek!). Verdict on the marina, cheap (by western med standards – but still too high!) but not a lot else. I wonder if the marinier will bother to turn up tomorrow to let us get some fuel. I’ll give it 4/10 mainly for it’s poor location.
Looks like then we will head down to Villasimius tomorrow (all of 12 miles away) and either anchor or go into the marina ahead of an early start on Wednesday to cross to Sicily. My aim for this next overnight trip is not to be overtaken by any butterflies. On our last two long crossings I have been astonished to see a number of butterflies overtaking the boat at great speed. Now I thought these creatures were fairly slow, laid back sort of animals. Down here – no chance! Turbo charging must be the norm as they whiz past you.
We will need to go and visit the supermarket and give the boat a bit of clean down – including a scrub around the waterline as it is starting to get a bit green. I will have to start thinking seriously about how we get the boat lifted and antifouled in the next couple of months.
More when we find another internet connection.
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