Cabo Carbonara, Sardinia to Cabo San Vito, Sicily. 30th June - Ist July 2012. 38:10.71N 012:44.40E
Tioram 4
Tina & Tony
Thu 5 Jul 2012 12:59
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At 08.00 hrs on 30th June we lifted anchor from Cabo
Carbonara bay to sail a distance of approximately 200 n miles to Sicily.
The true wind speeds of 8-12 knots allowed us to sail
slowly towards Sicily although about 25 degrees off course and heading south of
the island--- at times for Tunisia--but it is still preferable to
motoring.
After and hour and half a small pod of dolphins came to
take a look at us but they didn't stay to play. We sailed for five and half
hours heading south of our course, our original estimated time of arrival
on a direct course at 6 knots put us at 33 hours--- the course we could sail put
us at 53 hours---- very disheartening.
We sailed until 20.02 hrs when we gave up and began
motoring to creep back onto our direct course. We contnued motoring through the
night, keeping a watch system and spotted a few fishing boats.
Hooray ! at 07.43 on Ist July the wind came round and with
Tony in bed and the help of the autopilot I put up the sails, turned off
the engine and.............silence is golden.
Motoring can be very wearing on a long trip and ofcourse
expensive.
At 12.40 hrs Tony called Land ho---Sicily as the mountains
of the north west coast popped out of the mist. We were motoring again in 4 knots of true wind in a mirror
flat sea.
We completed the 196 N miles as we arrived in the bay
of Cabo San Vito where we anchored at 16.35 hrs.
The holiday resort around the bay is of a Moorish
style, low lying on a flat plain surounded by a ridge and
the magnificent mountain of Cabo San Vito towering over the
bay.
When we arrived we could see the whole beach
from the boat--- it was wall to wall sun umberellas set in blocks of
various colours. The stark difference between a British resort and an Italian
one is the total sea of bronzed bodies, not anglo-saxon white and ofcourse
the noise level--- a continuous hum of people chatting whilst crammed next
to their neighbours, gesturing as only the Italians do best.
A great spot from the water with the theatrical
backdrop.
We enjoyed a calm overnight at anchor.
Love to all
Tina and Tony x x x photos to follow
soon.
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