Update and Porto Rotundo
Mor Toad / Moy Toad
David and Jocelyn Fawcett
Mon 28 May 2018 16:49
9:40.86E
Yesterday afternoon Sunday 27th May David and I arrived back in Porto Rotundo having had a good sail down the coast under the genny. Sunday a lot of boats around although weather quite murky and sea lumpy. We knew that there had been a power boat race taking place over 4 days whilst we had been out at the islands and as we arrived back there were a few ribs around manoeuvring buoys but we didn’t have any idea of the race timings and no signs of any power boats. However as we radioed into the harbour we were told ‘a problem’ and could we wait outside ok but several large black ribs were getting quite agitated with us so we hovered and then all the power boats came out of the harbour entrance and buzzed off into the distance . There was a helicopter buzzing around overhead another yacht behind us taking his sails down, several large motor boats anchored and a number of people onshore. Not a quiet scene. We radioed in again and were told we could come in and a maraniere met us and took us back to where we had been previously. Quite a breeze blowing but David very skilfully let the wind together with the bow thruster slot us into place. I threw the ropes off the back and we got the bow line on the boat. Job done we then had to do a bit of fine tuning and get the dinghy down off the Davits so we could put the ‘passerell ‘ on. A well deserved cup of tea and electricity on so we could do the washing. Fortunately by this time the weather had cheered up. We’d mostly cleaned the boat whilst at anchor that morning.
As we were doing this the power boats slowly came back in in front of the boat so we could see them up closely. Later we wandered to the yacht club where the prize giving was being held and local entertainment . We bumped into other Oyster owners who we’d met previously and had a coffee. Later in the day we met up for supper and were also fortunate enough to meet the cameraman who’d been in the helicopter. We even got given a bottle of Ferrari champagne but we just happened to be in the right place at the right time with these other people who knew him!
Alex and Dan and the children arrived about an hour late - again French air traffic control strikes along with thunderstorms had delayed their flight out of Heathrow.
As I write they have all gone to the supermarket to restock its pouring with rain but not cold . Decisions still to be taken as to where we go later but they are here for a week so hopefully some good sailing and fun family time.
An update on the last few days at anchorage. We’ve had some lovely weather some good sailing some peaceful anchorages and the water temperature has gone up to 20 - I can’t say it feels that much warmer for my morning swim.
After our anchorage that I last wrote about with the sailing school in it we headed round the south of Isola Caprera and headed north and round the top into Cala Garibaldi . A different spot as more trees ashore Mediterranean pines and in the trees lots of Rondavels an odd sight as an abandoned Club Mediterranean site apparently. Even more earie when we heard bells at dusk and realised either goats or sheep in the cliff tops. Only three boats in the anchorage and a beautiful sunset with Corsica in the distance. We had a walk ashore but failed to find either the statue of Garabaldi or the museum apparently this spot was his last resting place. He is honoured all over gate into walled cities, statues and roads with his name both in Sicily and now here and presumably Italy too for his unification of Italy.
I see Corsica !
Saturday we left and retraced our ‘steps’ back round the north end and then had an excellent sail back to Cala Pevero on mainland Sicily. This is where the Russian super yacht had been but he wasn’t there but as it was a beautiful day the bay was filled with a variety of small motor boats and ribs and the beach had more people on than we’ve seen at anytime since we started sailing round Sardinia. It’s the end of May and we have been told places will start opening up early June and in fact there was a beach cafe open but the local pizzeria was closed. We had a walk ashore and a little explore decided it to try the beach cafe as pretty busy and yet again no ‘ ice cream’
Certainly a lot of large motor boats around as this was called 007!
As the sun started to go down everyone disappeared and we were the only yacht in the bay. The following morning as we were cleaning the boat and tidying up ready to return to Porto Rotundo the superyacht came back onto a very large buoy in the bay. We also saw several of them go ashore onto a private pontoon and we discovered yesterday evening that quite few properties there are owned by Russians.
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