38:12.0N 13:33.5E

 

6 July – got to pick Rosemary up from Sicily so must head south

Depart Isola Panomea 1000

Arrive Marina Nettuno, Porto Messina 2045 43nm

Sun and v hot, SW f2 & a bit, NW f2

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Have to get south as R flys in to Catania on Monday. Don’t have time to visit Lipari- next time. Not a loss as certain we have seen the gems Beam reach and just enough to turn off engine – till 1430 when wind gets behind us. Motor with main up the rest. See turtle slowly paddling along. Pick up news on kindle about 3 nm off Sicily – Lions have hammered the Ozzies to win series. Brilliant. Have made just over 4knts so arrive Messina Strait 1hr early – tide still running N. Keep going as want to get to marina before light goes. Radio MS Control to advise intention. Have to use high power. Later on hear Amadeus do same – they were one of megga myachts  anchored off Panomea yesterday. Another one to google. Down to 1.4knts at narrow entrance. Some small whirlpools and tide rips, but nothing like off Exmouth docks on big flood spring. Lack of wind has helped keep it calm. (Pilot has all sorts of warnings). Get inshore and back eddy gives us 7knts sog. See wave approaching (less than 2ft) – no culprit in sight so must be the tagli (small bore) which occurs as tide turns  - caused by difference in density between Tyrrhenian and Ionian seas and submarine shape of strait. No one in sight on fuel pontoon 1.5nm N of marina, so pass by and will top up tomorrow. Radio ahead – don’t understand reply.  Friendly nightwatch marino waves us to large finger pontoon – huge sternlines – must be home for a big un. Loads of formfilling (and photocopying). Ouch – 80euros. Hull picks up strange underwater crackling sounds (as nothing heard on deck) as the ferries come and go. Jane starts the laundry, Skip locates tin of well travelled Heinz BBs to add to fried Prosciutto Cotto Arrosto (which is hoped to be nearest we will get to bacon) and toasted old bread. Provisions low – long life milk in tea now (and have used last of GG's Yorkshire - so on to Typhoo). Must find SM tomorrow.