Italy

Made it to Albania :)

Tues 28th August

Strong headwind as forecast. Choppy, but insufficient fetch to allow a real swell to develop. Late afternoon the wind has blown itself out, allowing sailing until dark. I haven't managed to reach a 'place', but once camp is set I find myself blissfully content to be on this wild part of coast.

Wed 22nd August

Morning at Katanhouse, Punta di Pelarro.  Derig the sail for a service: the cam rollers are flat spotted, so the cams put increased wear on mast. Rotate mast so that wear is on a better protected part.

Sail away ahead of an approaching thunderstorm. Quite windy. Upwind - with good breeze - always noisy, wet, jarring, and eventually cold. Push on for 8 miles before the storm gives up the chase, allowing a break to don drysuit.

Around dusk, a brief alien visit - the hum and red LED of a drone, maybe 2km from the coast.

Catching up on a few days

Saturday 18th August

A day of sail (pump!), paddle, sail, reach land for a break, sail, paddle, sail - to cut off the corner of this particular gulf. Max wind for the day about 4 knots.

Tropea looks beautiful in the evening light, and part of me says I should sail into the port to make a proper visit possible, but the secluded beach just short is a much simpler option for overnighting. I opt for an evening of anonymity.

Calabria - the front part of the boot of Italy, from the metatarsals to the toes - continues to gently resist progress. The thermal breezes are at best timid. Important miles come from the paddle. Early morning land breezes offer a few cheap miles before the calm hours arrive. Usually by then I'm a way offshore, and the still air means it is breakfast time on board: coffee from the flask, and something for the stomach. After a half hour wait the sea is smooth and glassy and invites some paddling.

A few slides. Slow miles these days. Apparently this section only sees 5 knots winds. Sounds about right apart from when the storms hit and all hell breaks loose!

Ironic really, posting a video of great wind when most of the time I'm really struggling for breeze...

Good following breezes and good fortune on land, meeting nice people, sleeping on the beach, sailing clubs, beach clubs... The late start and late finishes working well. No wind in the mornings anyway.

A multitude of grazies and photos to catch up on. Italy just fantastic!

Sant Agostino

Thanks to Chris and family for making a mid-holiday trek to meet up at Lido de Tarquinia

A short distance later that day saw me to Sant Agostino, and entirely unexpected and unsolicited warmth / food / beach house balcony for the night. To my shame I'm already struggling to name the faces hanging over the balcony in pic 2.

Sunday 29th July

It's hot! Wind typically arrives in the afternoon. Sailing along beaches it is fine to keep going till sunset, when the wind disappears. Along cliffs I should be a bit more careful! Try an evening pumpathon to get round 600m high Orbitello peninsula. Too late really, and too dark to see where I could get in. Get hassled by a concerned Italian who is eager I turn back to the safety of Santo Stefano. OK pal. Pumpathon back the way I've just come. Sun has set by time I reach land.