Italian Islands
Dearloves
Thu 11 Aug 2005 12:55
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We have had some technical issues, which have meant
that we have not updated
our website for a while, however we have had a wonderful time visiting Isola di Giannutri (a small rocky island which is virtually uninhabited, about 30 miles from Civitaveccia), Isola di Giglio (a bustling fishing village where we just managed to fit Keoma into the harbour - see pictures) and Elba which is picturesque with a beautiful port (Portoferraio) and some lovely anchorages and beaches.  Giannutri Rocks
 Giglio Harbour
 Giglio Doorway
 Giglio Buildings
 Giglio Castello
 View from Giglio
Castello
 Giglio Castello from
afar
 Leaving Giglio
 Elba from the sea
 Portoferraio Harbour
 Ice Cream in
Portoferraio
 View of castle from Elba
anchorage
 View of Portoferraio from Elba
anchorage
 Children on foredeck
 Charlie at computer
 Lighthouse outside Elba
 New spinnaker! We sailed across to Sardinia in a force 6, with the wind virtually on the nose and big waves. It was 120 miles and quite hard work, but the boat coped brilliantly and it was a good test for us. Particularly reassuring was that the children were on deck at 4am enjoying it! They had heard the rustle of chocolate bars being unwrapped (C and J had done quite a few sail changes and were feeling a bit low on energy) and sprang out of bed. This also meant they saw some shooting stars so they were doubly pleased.  Sunset on night sail
 Charlie wiring in
inverter
 Sardinia has proved rather eventful so far. We arrived to a beautiful natural anchorage - turquoise waters and an amazing panorama of mountains. The place is called Punta di Capecciolo. We spent a couple of nights here, including a barbecue on one of the nearby islands (see picture of us with "Wilson"). Unfortunately we also had an encounter between a rock and our keel, meaning we now need to have the boat lifted out for an inspection.  Hermit crab island - Punto de
Capecciolo
 View of mountains - Punto de
Capecciolo
 BBQ
 View of anchorage
 Collecting firewood
We moved onto another bay around 20 miles further north, called Golfo di Marinella. By now it was getting quite windy and we spent a couple of days there, storm bound by the Mistral. We had some amazing gusts of wind, up to 37 knots. It was very reassuring that our anchor held through this. There was a forest fire and we watched the helecopter taking bags of water from the sea. Yesterday the wind started to abate and Alice had a windsurfing lesson. Juan and Charlie hired jetskis. In the evening we went to Olbia, ready for the lift out tomorrow and Victoria and Juan's ferry back to the mainland. It was great to have them with us for a few days.  Windsurfing lesson
 Jetskis
 Lighthouse outside
Olbia |