Amalfi to Isola Procida

Persevere
Pat and Bruce
Fri 8 Jul 2011 16:34

40:55.53N 14:01.75E

 

8 July 2011

 

Summer is arriving in full force so it is time to look at anchorages instead of marinas.  The advantages of anchoring are no close neighbors, no lights to impact the view of the night sky, cooler with normally a slight breeze, ability to just jump off the boat for a swim, you can pick your spot and generally its free.  Of course there are disadvantages like, waves and wakes roll in, winds can make the anchor drag, other boats catch your anchor chain, need to launch the dingy to get to shore for food, groceries, sightseeing and garbage disposal.  We find a mixture of both the best.  The longer at a marina the more you want to anchor.  But after a few sleepless night due to wind or waves the marinas look better.

 

So after many days in marinas we headed off to Isola Procida for a chance to anchor.  I picked a southern cove since the winds were from the north, the bottom should be sandy (good for anchoring) and the main ferry routes were to the north of the island to reduce wakes.

 

Isola Procida is just west of Naples so traveling from Amalfi past Naples (Napoli) to the island we of course passed through lots of trash floating in the water.  Naples is famous for its filth and garbage issues so some ending up in the sea is expected.  Anyway it was a hot boring motor with no wind to help with the sails.

 

Arriving at Procida the island is very pretty and from the water it competes with Capri and other famous islands but much smaller.  The anchorage was pretty full with boats but many are day visitors and would leave by evening which they did.  We anchored in 7 meters (33 feet) of water with 30 meters of rode out.  As promised the bottom was sandy once we found the right place and it looked good for the night.

 

However, with all the powerboat running to and from Naples to these islands (Ischia is next door) along with the ferries plying their way at full speed to Capri and Ischia the sea never fully calmed.  So once the daytime breezed died there was nothing to stop any incoming wakes all night.  So it is a nice place with enough wakes to make sleeping not easy for some.  But the town at night is gorgeous, other boaters were quiet and the night sky was clear.

 

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Town on the hill on south side.

 

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Small town at anchorage on south side.  Recent painting and investments have helped the view.

 

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Other side of town.  Behind the rock sea wall is a small harbor for fishing boats, locals and maybe a small sailboat at times.  There are a few restaurants along the waterfront just a dinghy ride away.

 

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Evening at the old town on the hill.