38:43.06N 16:07.67E

27 June 2011

Glad to have left Salina after a  few days of surge in the marina.  Not a bad place by any means just tired of the docklines snatching.  Tried to sail some but the winds were not good and the rolling waves made the boom bang around.  So motoring we headed to Vibo Valentia on the mainland east of the islands.  Along the way we took a look at Panarea and Stromboli.  Both nice islands but little place to anchor.

The seas just kept building along the way and made the ride uncomfortable.  Just the angle to really roll the boat and not enough wind to set the mainsail for comfort.  So we motored as fast as we could to get out of this.

Arriving at Stella di Sud in Vibo Valentia was a pleasure.  Big protected harbor and a ready to help marina staff.  They were jumping all over the boat grabbing lines and making sure we were berthed okay.  Wow.  What a nice situation.  Stern to at a floating dock with two stout mooring lines out front and four to the stern.  Calm place and next to a nice British (South African and Australian couple actually with dual citizenship) next to us.  The marina owner is Canadian married to an Italian husband, very helpful in all respects.

Why would anyone pick Vibo Valentia over Tropea down here?  The answer is now simple to us, better mooring fees, nicer owners, shorter walk to town, technicians that can perform most repairs (oil change, filters, anodes, new A/C water pumps, etc).  This is not a tourist place but the beach is nice, people even nicer, stores and produce great, quiet and calm berth.  By the way the price is the cheapest I have seen.

We enjoyed a few days of rest and relaxation, exchanged nice conversations and drinks with our neighbors.  This is a place to come to if you are sailing along this coast and want to relax.  Having  marina owners who speak English really helps with the arrangements for repairs, transportation, supplies and just having a nice conversation.  Get the point I like the place a lot.

One our neighbors at the marina.  Looks small but it is about one foot across.  Nice guy but did not have much to say.

Here is the marina as we left.  Nice calm water even with a good swell running outside as we left.