Where Costa Concordia Passed Us

Here's a picture of use anchored between Stromboli and the small island you see - Stromboliccio. That night, a cruise ship, which we believe was the Costa Concordia, passed between us and the island. It is steep-to around the island, with over 40 metres of water right up almost to the rocks.

The picture is taken from the beach at San Bartolomeo.

Big Waves

Caught this on the BBC this morning. Blue Hound was there a few years ago. I think it's Nazare...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15670415

Stromboli

After anchoring overnight off San Pietro in Panarea (anchor hooked on rock, no tripline, but got it out in the end), we anchored overnight off San Bartolomeo on NE corner of Stromboli, in 14 metres, bottom visible, sand, good holding. Lucky with wind - none, and little rolling except from cruise liners passing inside Stomboliccio.

Left at 08:00 just ahead of an electrical storm. Motor sailed down to Taormina Roads anchorage, and then on to Syracusa the next day.

Maltese Falcon

Followers will know that this is a yacht I love.

This was taken during the Perini-Navi Cup racing this year. Full story at
http://www.charterworld.com/news/2011-perini-navi-cup-sailing-yacht-maltese-falcon-wins-final-race-cancelled

Pic courtesy of charterworld.com

Etna from Taormina

Anchored in Taormina Roads, caught this pic of Etna in the evening sun:

Anchored at Taormina Roads - Mt Etna

Marina de Ragusa

A great little town, and Ragusa itself is worth seeing (UNESCO world heritage site). If you are coming into the marina though, then check this video first, and watch the weather. Read the notes below the video too.


Marina de Ragusa - enter with caution in strong winds. This video was taken after a couple of days of 20-25kts from the east, with stronger winds out in the Ionian. You could time it well and be lucky, but there's only 5.5 metres or so depth in the entrance and some rollers were big. Earlier in the year we passed by in an easterly F8 and anchored round Punta Scalambri off a good sandy beach in 5 m, out of wind and swell.

Aeolian Islands

We're tucked up in a bay, hiding from bad weather, on the island of Vulcano in the Aelolian group (Stromboli, Lipari etc.), under one of the two active volcanoes in the island group. Smells like rotten eggs a lot of the time. From Acitrezza we stopped at Taormina. Then it was an interesting, windy trip up the Straits of Messina, past the whirlpools of Scylla and Charibdis, which we didn't see. Almost turned back, but persisted through the wind and then the Tyrrenhian Sea was like a millpond - until yesterday. Salina next, then Lipari, Panarea and Stromboli.

In Porto Ponente, Vulcano