19 June – early start, sail for an hour, then more motoring to v pretty port of Bonifacio

Depart Campomoro 0600

Arrive Bonifacio 1330 30nm

Sunny, but coast shrouded in mist for middle bit, stunning striated limestone cliffs with citadel buildings overhanging  as approach

 

Raise anchor, sun rises over mountains 0610 as motoring out. Sail for an hour from 0750 (SWf2/3), but otherwise a plod under motor. 1130 – meet loads of yachts coming other way – should be room for us to park in popular Bonificio. Before entering motored on down just off the beautiful high undercut cliffs with all the tripper boats- many buildings look as tho they are about to collapse into sea. Harbour is long calanque – huge luxury myachts at end (Caymen Island red ensigns – “Diamonds are Forever” is the largest). Natural port used for many centuries – thought to be where Homer described as “a curious bay with mountain walls of stone to left and right, and reaching far inland, a narrow entrance opening from the sea cliffs converging as though to touch and close”. As arrive fairly early not difficult to park – bows to as no way D`fly will reverse in like the modern boats. Talk to Swedish couple already in. Need to get electrical bit to take shoreside 3pin up to a larger size. Good chandlery, only open some odd days a week, fortunately today is one of them. Watch many boats arrive. Entertaining as wind has freshened and is blowing straight up the harbour Have to go to quayside bar for beer with Jan, to get wifi and catchup on blogs! Having got code may be able to access from boat (blast – didn't work!), so no excuse for a second (and should have had a second!). Evening stroll up to citadel, and down spectacular l`escalier du Roi d`Aragon. He tried to attack the citadel town in 1420, and failed – not sure where the steps come in but a spectacular decent to walkway at sea level, all cut in to the cliffs, and 215 steps back up again. Many restaurants (with attractive prices) and tourist shops in citadel, as well as many inhabited ramshackled buildings. Nice feel to the place – preferred to Carcasson on the canals which was ott. Wind keeps fresh for evening requiring fleece tops for meal in cockpit. Prob off to Maddalena islands tomorrow, part of Italian Sardinia. Need to get next chart and pilot out.