Through the Messina Straights to Taormina
Buesnel
Mon 6 Jul 2009 21:30
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37:51.00N 15:18.04E
We sailed (mainly motored) through the Messina
Straights today. It was very busy with some sort of ferry on every quarter most
of the time. The wind was bizarre too - 3-5 knots on the nose for most of the
time the it switch to directly astern and climbed to 32 knots (!) and then in an
instant swung 180 degrees to be back on the nose at only 3 knots.
We arrived at Taormina at 5.15pm - it is lovely
here with a town up on the hill and overlooking Etna with really clear and clean
waters.
We are staying at the "yachthotel" - a concept set
up by a local Italian entrepreneur (http://www.yachthotel.it/). You moor on a
buoy in the bay so dont worry about anchoring. He collects your rubish, books
tours, you have use of a pool at the local hotel and there is a wireless
internet service - so far so good.
Jack climbed to the top of the mast to retrieve the
Spinnaker halyard thatg Clive lost while trying to launch Wacky
Jack and Harry did some snorkelling and Jack took
some underwater pictures.
 Looking back at the Messina Straights - Italy on
the right Sciliy on the left - this is before the wind got up
 Clive (on the phone to the office??)
 Jack at the top of the mast to retrieve the
spinnaker halyard
 Jack and Harry snorkeling off the boat
 Underwater picture taken off the beach (taken by
Jack)
 Jack and Harry snorkelling (taken underwater
looking up at themselves by Jack)
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