Another Passage - Sardinia to the Balearics

Jenny and Marcus have left us and we have spent a few days working north and west up the north east coast of Sardinia. They left us in Olbia which the pilot says is a scruffy town but that's not what we thought. We arrived after a night at anchor off the Sardinian coast. We missed out on a spot alongside due to my indecision so went to get some fuel instead. 230 litres covering Kefalonia to Sardinia (with a top up of 80 litres from George in Taormina). We motored around a bit and found another spot on the end wall and tied up nicely there with the help of another yachtie who took our ropes.

We were right in the middle of town - and it was free! A bit of shopping, a bit of tidying then out for our last meal with J and M. They treated us to a really good feast - more Sardinian fare - it is excellent food. Then back to the boat as they finalised their journey to the airport (1.50 euro on the bus). Next day we saw them off (very sad - hurry back shipmates) and then it was laundry, shopping, oil and fuel filter changes, water collection (300 litres in 20 litre containers - thank goodness for a supermarket trolley) and loads of other bits and bobs.

We then spent a nice couple of days in the Maddelena islands, playground of the rich, though it was blowing 25k most of the time we were there. We used the 'handy hooker' to catch o buoy first time and we impressed ourselves! Strict nature reserve rules mean you can't take your dinghy ashore. Next dat we anchored the dinghy off the beach for the first time and swam ashore. Today we left our mooring buas lightening spaaoy before it filled up again with Italians on their big motor boats. The Italian holidays have just started and it is absolute mayhem.

We wiggled our way through the islands. Some motoring, some sailing and some motor sailing.

Later: 11.00pm
Gill is on watch as lightening sparkles on the disappearing Sardinian coast. I am naked from the waist downdrying out after an exciting passage around Isola Arisada, the last headland before we set out towards Menorca. As we approached the predicted southerlies kicked inat around 15k. We had already reefed ready for the night. As we closed the final headland the waveskicked up, the winds leapt to 38k and our speed varied from 7k to 0k. Yikes!! We managed to get most of the sails down and eventually ran for shelter at 7.4k under genoa and engine. After 5 or 6 miles though the wind dropped again and we decided to push on as the forecsst was for fairly benign weather. For the second time (Cape Malea at the bottom of Greece was the first) we went too close to a major cape - and paid the price.

Anyway, all has calmed downagain and I'm off to grab a bit of sleep before my watch in an hour's time. Goodnight for now.

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com