42:40.8N 9:18.0E

 

14 June Easy rise, long leg ahead to Corsica

 

Depart St Tropez 0930

Arrive Saint Florent, Corsica 15 June 1150 (just over 26hrs) 129nm

Sunny day, clear night, sunny day, Ef3, then nothing, swf3/4 late afternoon/overnight, dieing for last few hours

 

We seem to be in the middle of  small high pressure as forecast of little wind all over the place. Gotta go as Danuta arrives Corsica on Sunday  (16th). No recent reports in Kindle Telegraph of air traffic controller strikes, so should be OK. Topped up fuel on way in yesterday (and have 2 jerry cans x 18ltr). Set off around the yellow buoys and 2 stone daymarks that all have to round on way in/out of St T. Ring in home to wish mum happy birthday. Have a good daytrip to the Dart! Here like a mway with loads of m yachts (large and V large) racing out too. Guests on the small ones just sit on stern deck out of the sun listening to the rumble of twin diesels. Not our scene. Nice super villas to stbd on pretty headland with more building work in progress (3 cranes at work), but view across the bay to sprawl of  development along what must have been an unspoilt coastline many year ago. Also not our scene. Straightline course 105M from 2nd daymark round the corner. Can sail 30degrees off so head more S as forecast says some Ws down there. Wind dies to a breath after an hour. Motor on (keep sails up doing comfy top end of 4knts).Dead flat bit later with lots of plastic/organic debris collected.(Dead centre of high?) After long wait cats paws develop and eventually enough SW to turn off engine (1600). Full sails beam reach for next 12hrs  5knts and building to 6 and 7. D`fly happy again.Skip rests, sunset 2108 (not quite half way there),hot pizza, Jan continues long spell on helm till 2300. Skip takes over till till 0400. Occasional zigzag and flap of sails as eyes close. Wind eases but still a beam reach. Thank you wind gods. Lit up by searchlight from craft approaching from stern quarter. Luff up to get out of his track. Turns out to be big overnight ferry on way to Calvi just wondering what is causing blip on his radar. Jan back on watch 0400 – skip crashes out. Motor has to come on sometime as wind dies and Jane monitors George for the last few hours. Spectacular mountainous coastline. Looks like bit of snow in a few v high gulleys. Just outside St F see remains of the original Martello tower that Lord Hood had difficulty taking in 1794. He was so impressed that design copied and used for all the Martello towers built around Britain (and we know Guernsey) in 1803 to protect against French, including that ambitious Corsican Napoleon. Get another good slot (stern too and line) on end of quay. More catchup sleep, wander ashore – Capitainery hours not as advertised in pilot, and not even as advertised on the door, but only 35euros despite warnings of high charge band. Pretty place, no real tack shops – but not as exclusive as our last stop  Jan replaces Brompton tyre (nearly did a favour for neighbour with similar bike!), and gets pigeon droppings on shorts from above when sneak into bar for quick beer with skip on way back from good chandlery. More beer on board (am now into last case (24) of Bass) watching big myachts and others arrive for the night. One skipper looks on anxiously as tubby owner allowed to drive and park! Good job no wind! Do laundry, hoover thro so D`fly n crew clean for Danuta.