After a wonderful 7 weeks in the wondrous U.K. We had to make our way back to Poland. Leaving by early morning ferry to Dunkirk, destination Szczecin. Fantastic sunrise and the White Cliffs of Dover waving us Bon Voyage.
Author: Rich
This is a diary of hope, adventure and living life to the full
My passion is the sea and travel.
I enjoy meeting new people and visiting new places.
As a Commercially Endorsed Yacht Master Instructor I am happy to share my knowledge and offer my services to fellow sailors.
Summer Solent trip with Alex
The voyage started with Alex old nanny and second mummy Iza and her son David ( 4 years old )
We left Ocean Village on a glorious sunny day and sailed all the way to Portsmouth, one of Alex’s favourite places.
Alex was proud to show off his sailing skills and his natural ability for helming and wind awareness. Here are some photos of our trip.
Still sailing south
Our southerly journey continues. We departed Punta Aldia at 10:30 and had a cracking sail to Santa Maria Navarrese. We only used the motor for an hour or so and bathed in the glorious sunshine all the way.
Here are some videos of our trip.
Travelling South
After preparing Arctura and stowing the tender in 25kt winds we regrettably had to leave our home and set sail south for Punta Aldia. The sail south was brisk, but eventually the wind died down and we had to motor the last leg. We had spectacular scenery along the way and the last part of the journey into Punta Aldia was peppered with shouling rocks. This beautiful, quite little marina has room for 300 yachts and was moderately priced at 50€. There is a well equipped supermarket and a few shops and a couple of restaurants. We noticed that the Italian supermarkets we frequented don’t stock meat not chicken of either fresh or frozen variety. We are on a mission to find out why ?
Isola Budelli
We weighed anchor from Porto Palma and set sail for the pink coral beeches of Budelli. A cracking sailing with lots of tacking and arrived at noon at Budelli and achired in about 6 mtrs with wonderful views. After lunch we took the tender to the pink beech, although it wasn’t really that pink, so a bit of an oversell by the Sardinian tourist office, but beautiful none the less. Wonderful turquoise seas with rocks perturbing everywhere.
At anchor in Porto Palma Bay
We stayed here for two nights. It’s a beautiful and very sheltered anchorage with less sweel than you get at Town Quays marina in Southampton. In fact there was no sweel. The peacefulness was only interrupted by the passing a small sailing dingies training the new population of future yachtmen and women.
We dedcied the walk into Madellena, which was a 12km walk. The first part through the picturesque national park covered with pine trees and always wonderful views.
Across the bridge and it becomes a different world, industrial and full of what appears to be dilapidated council estates.
On reaching Madellena however the world changes again into a beautiful working harbour, bustling with tourists and a range of fantastic restaurants, one of which we frequented. We caught a cab back to Porto Palma and back to Arctura via our ever faithful tender, which has yet to be named.
The day was completed by a spectacular sunset and culminated by an explosion of bright stars and planets across the darkness of space.
Anchoring in Paradise
After a quick passage plan we set sail for some anchorages, primarily Spiaggia di Cala Coticcio, or locally know as Tahiti Bay.A wonderrous anchorage full of turquoise and blue colours with fine golden sand beeches. Ed and I took the tender out and landed on the golden sands and I went swimming in the clear, fresh waters of this beautiful bay. Even in mid May the waters were warm if not a little refreshing.
After a few hours we set sail for and sheltered Bay , Velico Caprera. The wind picked up to 22kts on our sail and arrival, but even in these conditions the bay is sheltered and comfortable with practically no movement, We anchored in 8mtrs of water as per local knowledge given to us in Portisco by a friendly chap by the name of Giusepppe, and contrary to expensive pilot books.
Here are some photos of our overnight anchorage.
Portisco
We have arrived in Sardinia. A 0630 entry into Portisco after a fantastic night sail.
We spent the first part of the morning catching up on sleep, cleaning Arctura and generally lazing around, and a lunch of mussel and clams spaghetti made by myself aboard Arctura.
Not much to see here and rather a disappointment after the last few days of being spoilt by the wonderful locations of Calvi, Elba, Capraia and Giglio. But the food was up to scratch in the local restaurants of the marina.
Giglio to Marina di Portisco
We left Giglio at 1430 on the 10th of May, our destination Portisco on the Island of Sardinia.
We had a fantastic time on Giglio with a combination of site seeing, walking, cooking on board and the occasional restaurant. But one of the best experiences was meeting new friends, including a great Swiss chap called Reto and a delightful German family wit two children. Lilli, Oli, Jakob and Emily. We already miss them, but will hopefully maintain contact. One of the most pleasurable things about sailing is meeting people of the same mindset. Here are some photos of our newly found friends.
Our last few hours on this beautiful island were spent walking the quayside followed by a light lunch.
We arrived in Portisco, a 102 miles in a 16 hours sail and it was a sail all the way, averaging 6.4kts with a maximum speed of 8.8kts. Here are some photos and video along the way.
The journey so far
Today we set sail for our original destination of Sardinia.
Here is our journey so far. Keep watching and reading for our latest adventure. Click on the link below to see our latest position.
http://logbook-app.com/live-tracking/?s=c0d3064270915a25b86971b9afd6bf5c
