43:01.5N 6:24.8E

 

12 June – Gentle motor (and a bit of sailin) with spectacular coastline to anchor for the night (first night of the voyage at anchor).

 

Depart Cassis 0600

Arrive bay on E end of Ile de Port-Cros (the middle of the 3 Iles d’Hyeres) 1900. 46nm (3 under sail)

Sun, sun, sun (thank goodness we have now rigged the bimini) and no wind, save for a breath late afternoon

 

Set off early as a long day ahead. Flat sea – such a contrast to when came in. (Forgot to mention had our first visit from dolphins as we surfed our way down 2 days ago.) Strange James Bond type building complex on Cape Sicie, looks like life there but can’t see how they get there  – prob something to do with the huge naval base at Toulon. Quite a bit of military warship/helicopter/aircraft activity. Break out code zero for a spell PM, then a later sail (without zero) up to  anchorage. Lots of yellow marker buoys off islands – nothing in pilot or chart – guess areas for divers – or at least exclusion zones for us boaties. Some yachts/mboats already in bay - find spot and anchor in 27ft.  V attractive v shaped bay with steep wooded slopes. Edge of bay is buoyed off with a line to prevent boats taking a sternline ashore Must be hell when busy in summer Not many anchorages about, as some areas anchoring is prohibited – the 3 islands are a National Park. No smoking, camping etc on the island.(www.portcrosparcnational.fr) Didn’t land – too much hassle to unpack and inflate duck and repack for imminent long sea passage.Speedboats upanchor and head for land and electricity. V peaceful night cept for light pollution (and confusion) from  what we discover to be  name on transom of motor boat that is underlit all night - in changing colours! How tacky is that. And navigation confusion as red, green and white are some of the colours that shine brightly for considerable time before moving on.