Siracusa 13 to 19 August 2013
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13082013
37:03.57N 15:17.22E Siracuse , East Sicily We have spent a pleasant week at anchor in this
beautiful ancient city’s Grand Harbour the exploration of
which has proven to be a most pleasurable experience. We like
this place and the inhabitants we have met.
On Friday (16th August) son Karl and
partner Ellie arrived to spend some time with us. They had
travelled out via southern Spain where they had spent the
first week of their holidays before flying to Sicily’s nearby
Catania airport and then bussing the final 43 km to Siracuse.
Our plan to all ‘do’ Siracuse’ the following day
(Saturday) was frustrated by outboard engine failure. Our
newly arrived guests chilled out aboard on their first day
aboard whilst, J and I spent several hot, sticky and
frustrating hours at the town’s quayside whilst an Egyptian –
a suspected illegal immigrant who a local boat man believed
was a ‘mechanic’ was called to fix it. Finally he pronounced
the engine repaired. We settled up with him and headed back
out to Bootlegger. Whilst we had been away Karl had swam over to a
nearby Maltese yacht called Sang Royal where he
made friends with owner Alexander, friend Adrian and the
boat’s dog Buddy. Later, whilst taking Karl and Ellie ashore
the engine again broke down – same symptoms as before ( fuel
starvation ) requiring us to paddle them back to Bootlegger. Alex and
Adrian kindly ran them ashore whilst we managed to raise the
only qualified marine mechanic working in Siracuse that day,
the local Mercury man. We arranged to have the engine picked
up and taken ashore to him. Two hours later it was back –
repaired. Total cost of Egyptian and Mercury man - €120.
Karl and Ellie also arrived back with a bevie of
beautiful people in a large RIB which K had charmed a lift
from. We had a nice candlelight dinner aboard in the cockpit.
The next day we sailed down to a National Park
bay south of Siracuse where we picked up a buoy, had lunch
aboard and a lazy Sunday afternoon sunbathing and snorkelling
before Karl sailed us back to Siracuse’s Grand Harbour to
spend the night at anchor. A nice day. Monday 19th 37:03.57N 15:17.22E Siracuse , East Sicily 08:00 Picked up anchor and headed north for
Catania.
We stopped off in the lovely little fishing port
with castle and resort of Brucoli for lunch and a swim. K
& E swam ashore to explore with w/proof bag containing
their shoes and clothes. 17:30 NIC
Yacht Club Marina. Catania. Distance done from Siracuse - 35
nm. We are met by the friendly staff of this little marina
which has offered us a berth for just 60 € per night. We soon
see why. Trucks rumble noisily down the adjacent access quay
24/7 embarking and disembarking from RoRo ferries that share
the same quay. Inevitably the shore supply connection calls
for a change in plug. We eat aboard by candlelight in the
cockpit. J has done us proud with a lovely dinner. |
