8th June - Anzio to Gaeta

Sealion
Richard Martin
Sun 9 Jun 2013 08:35
41 13N  13 34E
 
We set off leisurely expecting a short 25 mile trip to the next port - San Felice Circeo. The wind was very light most of the time but we got some sailing in - thinking we were not in  a hurry we didn't worry about the speed too much.
 
Around 2.30pm we arrived at the Port - the pilot book warned that the entrance was difficult with sandbanks and very shallow - they were right at one stage the alarm went off and registered 2.00mtrs as we draw 1.85m there was little margin. Once in, what looked like a nice Port, we got no welcome. Trying the radio we got a curt 'don't understand English' - which clearly they did, as we heard on the radio later.  Anyway after a mix of English/Italian it soon became clear they were not going to give us a place despite places apparently being available on the Quai which was otherwise occupied by flash motor boats.
 
Well we decided to press on - the problem being the next marina at Terrecina 9 miles away was reported as possibly being silted up in our latest book so given the experience at Circeo we decided to put the accelerator down and head to Gaeta which we had reserved for Sunday/Monday anyway as the meeting point for Bob who is flying out Monday. 
 
An hour or so after leaving Circeo we heard a Dutch boat (that had been in Port with us last night) getting the same treatment at Circeo. He then proceeded to radio Terrecina who surprisingly seemed very helpful and one assumes the silting isn't an issue (or maybe they weren't that nice and he is aground). Anyway we were committed to Gaeta by now.
 
On route I saw the latest must have equipment - A motorised para glider, the cockpit of which was a boat tender - we saw it fly around and land take off on the water a few times. Definitely on my xmas list for Sealion. I too can join the mega yachts, with my on boat air transport.
 
Finally we arrived at Geata at 6.00pm after a stretch of 50 miles. Well after nearly a week on the move it will be nice to have a couple of days rest and tourism. Happily the Marina and town seem very pleasant and full of life.
 
We are now a days sail to the gulf of Naples were we hope to do some shore trips before sailing around the surrounding Islands etc.

JPEG image