38 56.2N 10 06.94E Cource 104, 159 nautical miles to Palermo, Sicily

Pipedream
Sun 18 Apr 2010 19:57
At sea. Left Sardinia at about 9:30 AM 4/18/10. Waited a day for better wind direction... got out in the bay to find 20 Kts on our nose. We motored for about 4 hours until we cleared the head lands and then were able to set up a tack a bit south of out ideal course. We were able to make a steady 5 KTS with the main and Genoa reefed. All that means we could not sail into the strong wind so we took down some of the sail and did the best we could. We had good sailing until about an hour after sunset and then the wind dropped to about 7 and we are only making about 2 knots now.

George is taking advantage of the lull to cook dinner. Tonight it is spaghetti... again. Last night Antony found a Brazilian restraint in town and he and George had horse steaks. Tasted just like... horse I guess. After dinner and several Grappas (local pear brandy) we came back to the marina where a full scale Saturday night party was in swing. Lots of English speakers from all parts of the world and a few Italians thrown in to remind you it wasn't Kansas anymore. Met some real characters. One Irish paramedic had live at the marina over 8 years.

Pretty uneventful day except for the wild life. Antony and I saw what I think was a tuna pounding bait fish under a flock of bird eating up the scraps. The tuna cleared the water several times. Then right around sunset two small birds (like dark sparrows) came aboard. One was so tame it landed on Anthony's head and then perched on my shoulder for pictures. One stayed and is asleep in Anthony's stocking cap lying under the dodger. Hope no one sits on him in the dark. Time to eat - more later.

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