Elba, anchorage, port Azzurro
SV Eleonora
Michael A. Andronov
Tue 20 Sep 2022 15:35
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42:45.679N 010:23.522E UTC 1636 We are
moving around Elba. There are a few reasons for that -- the
previous tactic of ‘stay on the same place, and people will start to
come...’ – for the reason unknown, does not work here... Probably, because the
anchorages are filled with ‘different kind of boaters’ ! Mostly
charters, very transient... Coming in the evening, leaving in the morning,
etc... -- The tourism here – very different from the tourism on other places... The place is really small... Tiny I would say... -- The
weather forecast – though I nearly gave up to trust them! – were predicting the
S, SSE' winds and swell... Meaning right into our small
bay... -- I
have the itching feeling to go sailing, and the boat seems to have the same...
So, on Friday afternoon, after making all purchases in good local shop... we lifted the anchor and moved to Porto Azzurro, just on the SE part of the island. Nothing spectacular about this leg. We made 13nm, under beautiful skies... Not enough wind for ‘full sailing’, but enough – to make motor sailing, with good impression on the face and sails that we are sailing... What was more impressive of the leg – the scenery around... As we
were approaching the South turn around point of the island -- indeed, we
saw the raw iron appears from the soil... Immediately, we saw the iron mines
build by humans... Actually, really impressive – what left, after
the mines were closed... ( The last at the middle 80th of the last
century... )... It looks like the people just left, planning to come
back tomorrow... But that ‘tomorrow’ has not occurred for some reasons...
Port Azzurro – really a tiny place. The Spaniards built the citadel here in the 16-17 centuries... As everything they build – well done! So, in modern days, the citadel has been converted into the highest security prison for special guests... With lovely name ‘Longone’... ( coming from the middle centuries, after the name of the citadel... ) But that – the prison -- seems also to be closed today... In the same fashion – everything seems to be left as is... Light towers on the corners, buildings, etc, etc... To remove the ‘dark memories’ – the place has been renamed into Porto Azzurro, and the new touristic life of place started... Small lovely hotels, café, restaurants... on both sides of the bay... boatyard... a fleet of boats on the moorings... Private villas here and there... With the old citadel on top of all! I have no chance to visit it all... But I definitely will!!!
I’ve arrived on Friday, late
afternoon... Anchored... I know that the wind will change, and the
protection is not going to be perfect... It all turned out to be true ...
But at the end – not too much wind, not too much swell... But enough to be
uncomfortable to leave the boat alone... The water is too murky... It is
not clear what is at the bottom – really sand, or weeds, or something
else... ( As the wind turned over night – the boat dragged... But during
the day – has been staying steel.... ) So, tomorrow is the other day to explore
the place... At the mean time – the major task to figure out what next... The weather is definitely changing... It is cooler then a week ago... Much cooler... Today – it has been ‘long rainy day’.... I understand that September, October are still ahead of us... But spent quite some time today to check maps, books, weather files... And... NO CLEAR IDEA where to go, and what to see next! But as usual – tomorrow is going to be another day, and something will appear on horizon! On a side of major task – planning –
the boat life as usual... Some small repairs, some cleaning ( also small,
important), some rest – very important! -- and some watching around...
Found the book – ‘All you have to
know about fishing! ‘... Well, we will see if it is going to change
the fishing reality... As you can see, everything is
good on board, and the boat and myself are looking forward for future
adventures! Talk to you soon!
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