Decisions - if only there was one to make

I've been in Sardinia almost 2 months now, and I'm chafing at the bit. Wind today E 4/5 and then swinging NW 6/7. I could be down in Gib in 4 days, but commitments and work mean I have to hang around. Med is done for me, but looks like it will be next year before I'm back in the Atlantic. Still, tonight's sunset was a tonic!

(c) James Marinero

There's a time to run...

You've got to know when to stick and know when to twist (was it Kenny Rogers?). This was time to twist

Sardinian Sailing

I was just getting used to the vagaries of the wind here, anchored near Cagliari, when Gaia came in. What a beauty! 100' of sailing superyacht spent 3 days anchored alongside: They obviously knew I was here!

Sardinia

Finally arrived in Porto Giunco last week after much motor sailing from Sicily and really uncomfortable cross seas. We've had a windy few days here at anchor and little sailing, but hopefully today will see us in Calaforte, on San Pietro (SW corner). The local Ichnuso beer is good, and was very welcome after a tough day yesterday getting the mainsail off to repair the stakpak. Fuel? €1.98 a litre - that is painful!

Strange Phenomena - the Morrabio in Sicily

By yesterday morning it had been blowing 7-8 from the SE for almost 24 hours. It was wearing, and as I stepped onto the pontoon I noticed that the water was dirty and very turbulent - in fact there was a strong current swirling through the pontoons. As I looked S towards the control tower - see pic - I could see the water level dropping as I watched. In minutes it dropped a foot, and then started coming up again. This continued for most of the morning. I estimate that the amplitude was about 6" (12" trought to peak) with a period of 8-10 minutes. I believe the phenonmenon is called the Morrabio (spelling?), and occurs in certain pressure conditions between Pozzallo and Sciacca.

Afloat Again

It's been a long winter - grim in England and not brilliant in Sicily, but at least I'm back aboard now and the sun is warm. Plans haven't gelled yet for this summer, but I'm getting there.

Problems at sea are solved in many ways, but here's one that used a digger:

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.