Hi All,

After the calmest of nights in Girolata, Corsica we were woken early by the swell building  and bouncing into the bay.

It is true that if you sail for long enough you become in tune with your yacht and seem to instantly wake up to strange motion or noises.

Incredibly after such a glass- like sea overnight, the exposed west coast was getting a swell pushing right into the vertical cliffs of the gulf and into the dead end bay of Girolata.

We have learned that swell like this often builds and is likely to be ahead of wind coming in.

Nothing strong was forecast but Tony wisely suggested that we should make an early start, drop the mooring and leave the tight bay in case the seas built and it may become untenable.

As we left Girolata bay and headed out into the huge gulf the swell was building considerably, it was as large as any Atlantic swell we had faced, with Tiorams bow rising high to climb the on coming sea we imagined how difficult it would be in the bay we had left behind. 

We headed north for the 46nm trip to Calve and once we had cleared the Gulf de Porto we felt more relaxed in the open sea. The coastline and cliffs between Girolata and Calve are quite hostile to a yacht with an on shore sea. 

We sailed Tioram north and looking back we saw a motor yacht approx. 80ft bashing into the sea behind us. The large swell slowed him down until eventually he seemed to come off a wave a stop dead, no doubt all of the china came off on that wave.

He limped behind us as Tioram cut through the seas slowly but effortlessly. A sailing yacht is so  much safer in any confused sea.

Finally we rounded the last headland and watched as the motor yacht settled easily into the calmer sea and blasted speedily ahead of us, disappearing quickly into Calve.

Some time later we dropped our sails and motored into the large panoramic bay passing the wonderful citadel and old town high above us before taking a buoy off the beach.

Arrival is always sweet !!

Photos of the coastline and arriving in Calve, the citadel.

Love to all

T and T xxx