25 th June Corsica to Imperia Italy

Sealion
Richard Martin
Fri 25 Jun 2010 18:44
With calm conditions forecast we set off at 4.45am back to the mainland - the nearest point being Imperia (near San Remo) some 85 miles/12 hours travelling at best. I had intended going at 4.30am but the alarm didn't go off or I didn't hear it but by luck I woke at 4.30am and we were on route in 15 minutes (Alison appeared as the engine started).
 
It was as expected a very calm crossing and we had to motor/motor sail all the way (No vibrations from the Propellor, so yesterdays dive paid off). A fairly eventful trip though;
 
About 15 miles out I spotted a small boat adrift - on close inspection it turned out to be a rib including engine, centre steering etc., of about 4/5 metres. One of the tubes was a little soft and there was some water in it. Fortunately nobody aboard. Would have made a  great salvage but to tow it 65 miles wasn't very appealing - so a call to the French coastguard and a full report and it was left to continue to clutter the seas.
 
We then had more wild life on this trip than I think we have seen in the Med. in two years added together. Numerous dolphin sightings - three decided to play on our bow wave for about 15 minutes. We then had a sword fish that decided to leap out of the water twice right next to the boat and finally about 50 metres off the boat we had two fin whales that gracefully swam passed - I reckon a good 25 feet in length.
 
Picture;
001/3-     Cap Corse at 5.30am
5/6-         Dolphins playing under the bow
8-            Italian flag going up
9-            Imperia

JPEG image

JPEG image

JPEG image

JPEG image

JPEG image

JPEG image