Wednesday 17^th June – Vulcano, Isole Eolie (Aeolian Islands)

38:25.177N 14:57.206E

Once again a smooth night – this is one of the smoothest anchorages we've been in.  Despite the SunSail fleet being in overnight, we all kept our distance nicely.

This morning we said goodbye to Trevor and Lesley on Kishorn and swapped details as they are heading to Sicily.  They are off to Greece too so we hope to see them again.

We decided to move on and take a look around the other islands.  Mid-morning we shipped anchor and set off north-west, past the south coast of the island of Lipari, to Isola Salina.  There was no wind so we were motoring along gently and simply enjoying the scenery; the sun was beating down so I think we may have overdone on sun today, despite the sun cream.

For lunch we anchored off a small hamlet called Rinella on the south coast of Isola Salina.  We liked the view but there were a number of motor boats passing by, and the arrival of the high speed hydrofoil at the mole, which gave rise to an uncomfortable amount of swell.  We decided that it may be OK for lunch but certainly not somewhere we'd like to be over night.

After lunch we set sail and ghosted along on the genoa to Pta Lingua before running out of wind and current altogether and donking on up the east coast of Salina to Santa Marina.  We motored past the small marina and town but decided we preferred the anchorage on Vulcano and continued on our way. 

At the top of Salina we turned and headed across to the top of Isola Lipari and down its east coast, past Porticello and Lipari, and back to our favourite anchorage on Isola Vulcano.  In the distance we could see Isola Panarea but could barely make out Stromboli beyond it due to the haze.

We were pleased to see that our spot was pretty much available when we arrived, despite a SailItalia charter boat which had arrived there whilst we were away.  So, we anchored almost where we were this morning and I went along the chain with the dinghy again.  The anchor was not quite set properly so Richard gave a burst of astern and I watched as the anchor sank squarely into the coarse sand – very satisfying.

This evening we have enjoyed swordfish for dinner, a speciality around here.

Isola Salina:  Rinella

Isola Salina:  Santa Marina

Isola Volcano: Yachts lined up at anchor;  More sunsets

© Pyxis 2009