Further offshore to Elba
chrisandjane aboard Liveloula
Chris Cooke
Tue 7 Oct 2014 15:00
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42:44.6N 10:14.4E Tuesday 7 October Head further NW and offshore to Island of Elba, where Napolean did some time Depart Giglio 0500 Arrive Marina di Campo 1330, 40nm M3.75 S4.75 Lots of sun; good tailwind, building to f4 Up early. Mild night – 20degrees in cabin. Dead calm so with transom hung rudder steer a hard left to drag wingkeel around laid lines - some parallel to us, others across us astern. Relieved not to catch any. Orange moon and wispy clouds. Head N up E coast of Giglio, then 302degrees. Wind fills in from astern (SE) 0840 so stop motor and goosewing. George can`t cope with dead run as swell builds. Wind goes S so George can manage. Busy as approach S coast Elba – six other yachts about, having hardly seen another cruiser at sea since leaving Greece. In fact have to alter course to avoid a German flagged Bav 32 crossing us close hauled. Elba looks nice. Hilly wooded island – v green. Arrive Marina di Campo (“Marina” means village by the sea, not car park for boats.) Pilot is completely wrong – contrary to Rod`s chartlet very little room in harbour and no laid lines. Helpful old boy on quay takes our lines and suggests we move left a bit as have taken place occupied by local ferry for night. Get close to big charter cat with gang of Russians, who just keep drinking and make no move to assist with our lines. Decide go out again and launch aluminium Fortress kedge. Kedge feels well dug in. Bow lines taking strain as S wind blowing us well off quay and swell builds. Russians leave, so just us. Explore ashore. Buy expensive paracetamol as Jane’s temperature gone but headache remains, and ships supplies of painkillers exhausted. Nice place. Modern church with modern internal decoration/paintings – not the usual orthodox paintings, statues and gold. Many serious mountain bikers, and elderly German tourists. No other yachties. Ferryboat ties up to starboard. Skipper warns of strong S Sirocco wind tomorrow, and no good for heading for Corsica, as we plan. Evening beers ashore – a wopping 12euros, but amazing snacks thrown in. Back on board D`fly is rolling a lot as swell curls round end of breakwater. Safe but uncomfortable. Check forecast with Tim dongle. Passage weather gives a lull tomorrow morning, then a f5/6 for next couple of days. Decide to try an early departure, and if too rough head back and round to N side of Elba where several harbours with good shelter from S blow. |
