Ciao

This post comes to you from Siracusa in Sicily. Since last posting we have covered a lot of ground, seen wonderful things and places, had a few adventures in the weather, such as 35 kts on the nose, and had just a great time. From Brindisi we sailed around the foot of italy and north through the Strait of Messina to the Aeolian islands in the shadow of Stromboli, before a long hop further north to the spectacular island of Ponza south of Rome and west of Napoli. From there we island hopped to Napoli where Jools ans Al joined, and then south again along the coast and across to Sicily and via beautiful Taormina to Siracusa. When in Otranto, on the heel, we managed to tangle our transom gantry on the rig of an adjacent yacht when leaving the berth and so it now is somewhat misshapen. Most of the damage was to the Skippers pride. Dobie and Carolyn are now with us for a few days before we head off to Malta where we plan to leave the boat for the winter.

Brindisi, the steps at the end of the Appian Way

Brindisi

Gallipoli on the inside of the heel

Lipari island near Stromboli

Ponza where we were windbound for a while

Ponza fishing boats

Ventotene old harbour which the Romans carved from the rock

The fortress above our anchorage at Ischia island

Vesuvius from the marina near Napoli

Our marina at Sorrento

Marina at Capri at Eu 200 a night

Amalfi harbour

Our berth at Amalfi

Positano by bus from Amalfi Maratea

Tropea

Greek theatre at Taormina

Castelmola above Taormina

Taormina

Approaching the berth in Siracusa

Ventotene again

Ventotene

Return to Italy

A brief post from Brindisi on the heel of Italy. Our route from Zadar took us to Skradin in the Krka national park up a narrow estuary past the town of Sibinek and a series of waterfalls. Very pretty. Then to Privic, a small island where the locals played dangerous games with the departing ferry. Next saw the islands of Vis and Lastovo before a long crossing in a great breeze to Italy. We arrived at Barletta but were kicked out by the Guardia Costieri as it was a commercial port. This proved a bonus as Trani, the next port close by was a delight. Then on to Bari where Michael departed and Monopoli where we were entertained by a seafood festival.


Sibinek

krka falls

Krka

Privic

Privic

Vis

Sundowners at Vis

Trani

Trani

Berth in the old port Bari

Momopoli

Monopoli

Monopoli

Monopoli

Venice & Return to Croatia

We left Trieste and made our way along the Italian coast to Venice, calling at Grado and Caorle, two delightful resort towns. At Grado we berthed in a small basin at the end of the narrow town canal and at Caorle, most of which lay below sea level protected by levee banks, in a marina off the canal. On arrival in Venice we managed to secure a berth in the yacht club basin on the island of San Giorgio, right opposite St Mark`s square. After several days we quit the teeming mid summer hordes and anchored five miles away off the island of Burano. There Michael joined before we departed for Croatia again. A calm crossing to Porec and again Rovinj and then several lovely island villages before arriving in Zadar, a busy port city with an old town centre. We plan to make our way south amongst the islands before again crossing to Italy.

Trieste city & port

Trieste

Miramare catle near Trieste

Some of the hundreds of thousands of tourists

Grado

Entering the Grado canal

Grado

In the canal at Caorle

Caorle

Caorle

Approaching Venice

St Mark`s square as we approached - hordes of tourists!

The view from San Giorgio

Venetsia

The yacht club basin at San Giorgio

The logistical challenge - feeding Venice

Burano

Burano

Met by the band at Porec in Croatia

Ivolik

Brgulje

Zadar

At the sea organ, Zadar