Milazzo Peninsula, north coast Sicily. 4th July 2012 38:16.025N 015:13.84E
Tioram 4
Tina & Tony
Thu 5 Jul 2012 13:05
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We lifted anchor from Cefalu to sail the approx. direct
course of 50 n miles east along the north coast of Sicily to an anchorage
near Milazzo.
In our days of Solent sailing a 60 N mile Channel
crossing was a trip we would take a deep breath before sailing. The thought of
10-12 hours at sea being thrown around in a choppy sea, trying to eat, drink and
function in drizzle and tanker traffic. Now 50N miles seems simpler. It
takes time, but has become a day sail in the distances we have
travelled.
Now soothed by hot sun, mediterranean climate and stunning
scenery, it is all the more sweet when we remember our training
grounds.
The Solent and Channel certainly dont have what the Med
has--- but its a great place to learn to sail with strong tides, shallows,
tanker traffic, usually wind on the nose and ofcourse the weather
makes you stoic for future sailing- hey ho !
We are sailing east to an anchorage for the night before
heading 15 n miles further tomorrow morning for the Straits of Messina. There
are very few sheltered anchorages on the north coast of Sicily especially
as you near the Messina Straits, there are however a few
mariinas.
Tony and I have anchored as it is quicker and easier
when travelling, it also means we enjoy nice bays and save expensive overnight
marina fees.
En route across the Med, we had planned to go into
Cagliari on Sardinia to provision, but the bays were so inviting we stayed at
anchor knowing we had enough food on board until we arrived in another bay
in Sicily.
What we didnt bargain for was the 300 metre distance for
anchoring from the beach/shore restrictions now in place in much of
Sicily.
With our dinghy securely stowed away we had figured to
swim ashore with a non leak dry-bag to get some basic fresh food from a local
shop--- as yet we havent seen any shops in the anchorages we have used even
if we fancied the 300 m plus swim !!
And so our fresh food has nearly gone and we are
down to good old stoggy stuff----pasta, sauces, tinned stuff---- all the healthy
salad ends today and the fruit shortly---- and we have about 4 days before
we get to Greece---------it feels like an Atlantic trip rustling
around in the stores to put strange combinations together---no treats left and
nothing slimmimg.
After a long slow day mainly motoring into the swell and
8/9 knots of true wind on the nose from the East the wind backed to a
Northerly wind and the swell NW and so we found a sheltered lee from both
at the end of the Milazzo peninsula. Arrived 18.00 after 63N
miles.
No beach as such, just a coastal path and lots of
shoreline boulders.
We anchored safely away from the shore to enjoy a calm
evening----- STILL no shops and so the gourmet meal at anchor was egg and beans
on toast and a glass of coca cola----we know how to do
glamour !!
Love to all
Tina and Tony x x x
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