At 08.00 hrs on 30th June we lifted anchor from Cabo Carbonara bay to sail a distance of approximately 200 n miles to Sicily.
The true wind speeds of 8-12 knots allowed us to sail slowly towards Sicily although about 25 degrees off course and heading south of the island— at times for Tunisia–but it is still preferable to motoring.
After and hour and half a small pod of dolphins came to take a look at us but they didn’t stay to play. We sailed for five and half hours heading south of our course, our original estimated time of arrival on a direct course at 6 knots put us at 33 hours— the course we could sail put us at 53 hours—- very disheartening.
We sailed until 20.02 hrs when we gave up and began motoring to creep back onto our direct course. We contnued motoring through the night, keeping a watch system and spotted a few fishing boats.
Hooray ! at 07.43 on Ist July the wind came round and with Tony in bed and the help of the autopilot I put up the sails, turned off the engine and………….silence is golden.
Motoring can be very wearing on a long trip and ofcourse expensive.
At 12.40 hrs Tony called Land ho—Sicily as the mountains of the north west coast popped out of the mist. We were motoring again in 4 knots of true wind in a mirror flat sea.
We completed the 196 N miles as we arrived in the bay of Cabo San Vito where we anchored at 16.35 hrs.
The holiday resort around the bay is of a Moorish style, low lying on a flat plain surounded by a ridge and the magnificent mountain of Cabo San Vito towering over the bay.
When we arrived we could see the whole beach from the boat— it was wall to wall sun umberellas set in blocks of various colours. The stark difference between a British resort and an Italian one is the total sea of bronzed bodies, not anglo-saxon white and ofcourse the noise level— a continuous hum of people chatting whilst crammed next to their neighbours, gesturing as only the Italians do best.
A great spot from the water with the theatrical backdrop.
We enjoyed a calm overnight at anchor.
Love to all
Tina and Tony x x x photos to follow soon.
Yacht Tioram sailing blog.....11 years sailing the seas and oceans. 