35:51.3N 15:18.2E

 

7 July Hectic morning doing laundry, SM shop, water up, and get S for Rosemary pickup

Depart Porto Messina 1230

Arrive Mazzaro Bay 1800 38nm

Sun, then thunder clouds late pm, Nf5 to nothing

 

Busy morning – no sign of launderette so hand wash with the B&Q buckets! Get good wifi and blogs uptodate. Some sort of wreath laying goes on. Party taken to sea (all of 50m off marina entrance) where wreath is committed to the sea, then all back ashore, religious robes removed and that’s it! Find SM for large shop. Buy bread in bakery – once again the fancy paper bag raises hopes, but the bread itself is disappointing. Still can’t find small pot of basil – one bought in Agen now looking v sad. Loads of wind funnelling down straights. Told fuel pontoon will close at 1300 – don’t fancy slog 1.5nm N against wind and tide, so head S. 5 plus knts under just genny. Squally. 1600 see thunder clouds ahead, and lightening ashore – but it fizzles out as we get there. Wind dies too, so motor for last couple of hours. Jane gets Murray final on kindle. Freezes at crucial time with match points, then joy. Poke nose into Mazzaro bay – no details on chart or chart plotter, but good chartlet in pilot. Two free buoys with large lines – decide to pickup and stay. V rolly with swell – expected to fall away, but did opposite. No wind so lots of buoy  banging against hull, right next to forecabin. Jane gets out earplugs. Decide a run ashore difficult as entire beach is parasolled for exclusive shoreside hotels. This is part of Taormina, reputed to be the most exclusive resort on Sicily.