28th June Marina de Medici to Viareggio

Sealion
Richard Martin
Sat 29 Jun 2013 09:03
43 52N  10 14E
 
Having discover this morning that my WIFI dongle wasn't working, despite having added credit a few days ago, was an irritation as I really wanted to check the weather before setting off. After some enquiries we found there was a telephone shop nearby - it appears I also needed to pay 5 Euro's as a monthly subscription. Having paid this we were away again.
 
Sorting this out meant we didn't leave port until nearly 10.30am. The winds were fine to start with but on passing the major Port of Livorno the wind suddenly shifted right onto our noise and got pretty strong - sails down and engine on at maximium cruising revs to battle the building sea, head winds and an adverse current of nearly a knot. Alison was a little apprehensive as Livorno was the scene of our worst sailing experience two years ago with strong winds and a heavy seas.
 
Fortunately having passed the port we were able to change course a little and the wind shifted more westerly allowing us to break out the sails and bash more effectively into the sea - which settled down to nothing too troublesome. Nonetheless it was a stiff sail close to the wind - the boat at maximum angle made lunch preparation fun for Alison. Heavy clouds over the mountains along the coast looked a little ominous too, but amounted to nothing.
 
The trip North up the Italian coast is beginning to feel like we are sailing around the world the wrong way - the wind is always in front of us and we continually have currents against us.
 
We finally arrived at Viareggio at about 4.00pm some 35 miles on. The port didn't seem great and walking into town - a seaside resort - initially I thought we were in South End but soon realized it was actually very nice. Very chic shops with all the international labels, nice bars and lovely Art Deco buildings dating back to the towns long history back to the 1930's as a fashionable seaside resort.
 
With a forecast tomorrow of strongish head winds (again) but improving Sunday we have decided to stay another day and enjoy the place - with long flat promanades we will get the bic's out and do some exploring and perhaps go to the beech for a while

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