Italy

Arrived yesterday on the island of Elba. A sensible target on the mainland is 14nm away, so need a bit more than today's feeble breeze to make the next hop. Napoleon was exiled here and escaped after 300 days. Reckon he could have made it off quicker than that, but the ice-cream and pizza really is good.

Corsica visible on the sail over. A pirate ship thing in the distance. Very Master and Commander.

From the stunning beauty of the Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre, past the 13 miles of sunbeds leading up to Viareggio, to the natural beaches of the Natural Park Migliarino San Rossore - a downwind dustbin for the sunbed strip. Pictures speak more than words.

Not a lot of wind about in the Ligurian Sea. Long days needed to make significant progress. A half metre 4 second period swell yesterday - and I see for today too - makes it as hard work on the legs as on arms and fingers. Having the Hobie cat brothers sailing the same way makes it fun and is good for motivation. I am quicker than them but they sail in more comfort and are not quite as averse as I to the really light stuff. So I forge a lead and stop when it becomes too painful, but they keep going a few more hours and close the gap right down.

Had a very restorative few days in Juan-les-Pins staying with Pablo and Shona. Got lots done. Proper repairs to deck of board that had suffered a bit of cracking and delamination as a result of me occasionally jumping on bits of 'deck furniture' - clips and the like. I did some writing. Eat lots of healthy and tasty food. Watched France win the World Cup. Aquapac very kindly and super speedily sent me out a replacement bag for the front load. After a couple of days use I'm delighted with it. The contents finish each day bone dry.