SAILAWAY

Sunday, 16 June 2019

Corsica R&R

The fuel berth at Port Macinaggia - note the pallets behind the quintessential white van. The fuel pontoon man spent a lot of time dismantling the pallets and making furniture (note chairs and tables outside his office). I jumped ship with a mug of coffee and gratefully relaxed there after a 26 hour passage across the Tyrrhenian Sea. What in the trade is called 'up your chuff' we were sailing with the wind and sea behind us all the way. I found it difficult on the helm trying to stop the boat broaching when the big gusts of wind turned up. Our auto helm is kaput, so hand steering the old-fashioned way. We had a lightening storm as well - all very beautiful in a wilderness way. We had two reefs in the main but Greg had to go forward and drag it all down. Sorry, conditions wouldn't allow me to take a photo of him out there strapped on for dear life! It would have made a great shot.

Now we are definitely in France

Our Hostelery of choice close to Marina

The A frame menu board propping up Marco Fillipo

Delicious fayre

Clear waters and view across entrance to marina

Wednesday, 12 June 2019

Rough old crossing from Rome to Corsica

Sailing overnight to Corsica was another experience. Lots of lovely little chunks of Italy and France hacked off and hurled into the sea. Elba, Gianuttri, Monte Cristo. Maybe the portents were there. Had to drop the main for the last few hours and more weather than expected :O) And then all calm at Port. Corsica, famous for strange customs, food, landscape, wildlife, vendettas, witches, pirates and nationalistic bomb chuckers. Also home to beautful polyphonic singing, walk a beach and you will see paths of broome, myrtle, sea hollies, poppies, violets and orchids...

Mark on daybreak helm

Greg also. We were all glad to see back of this passage!

Tuesday, 11 June 2019

Last hour at Ostia

All following unearthed on site

Marco and Greg propping up ancient 'Dosia' - large vessels used for transporting wine, water and Beer

walls of jasmine

sunsetting at marina

Escaping the crowds in Rome we went to Ostia Antica

This one is for my young Aussie mate Max in Sydney!

Ostia Antica is the massive site of the ancient harbour of Rome. You can still see the river Tiber though its course was altered by flood in the mddle ages. The sea is now 3 klms away due to 2,000 years of silting. One of many nautical mosaics.