43 32.9N   010 17.9E

Having spent the last couple of days in a lovely quiet Marina (Marcianne) in the North of Elba we decided to head North today.

A bit of a mistake – whilst the recent strong winds in the West of the Med haven’t affected us the resultant waves and swell rolls unabated to the Italian coast. Having done about twenty miles we were no longer in the shelter/lee of Corsica and the swell rose to a good 2/2.5 metres. The wind then decided to pick up to F5/6 which soon gave us a wet and rough sail. My shoes were washed overboard, the front hatch wasn’t completely shut so the front cabin is now pretty wet. One particular wave hit the side and soaked me completely – happily being hit by a relatively warm Med sea isn’t too bad. A change of clothes and some oil skins sorted that out. Needless to say it wasn’t Alison’s most memorable sail – or maybe it is.

Having arrived in Livorno which is a big port for cruise ships etc. we find that it is also the Venice of the East Coast with canals that run throughout the city. The guy at the marina suggested we take our tender for a tour of the town by canal which we may do. Tomorrow however the plan is to take a bus and train to Pisa – more later.

Some picys of the canals etc.