First few days on Sardinia

We spent first two nights in bay of Carbonara. First night there was a huge firework on the beach - we didn't know Italians would be so happy to welcome us. If we knew we would dress up properly - instead we watched the "show" from the boat in our pijamas.

Next day we spent cleaning our boat and bathing. The second night started very rolly, after half hour i had a strong wish to swim to the next hotel with my credit card between my teeth. Luckily wind turned and we end up having peaceful night.

Next morning we sailed towards Cagliary to meet my friend Lidija who was joining us for 10 days.

"Flying the big bird” towards Cagliari....

We moored in Marina del Sole - funny place, the only "building" on the pier is white tent, whose primary function is to serve drinks and then there is a "office" in one corner. But people are nice, price is good, you have everything you need.

Girls ready for the night in the town....

Narrow streets of Cagliari old town...

Next day we sailed back To Carbonara bay. Our plan is to sail round Sardinia going up the east side and finish our journey in Alghera.

Captain and admiral planning the route ....

Girls sailing towards Carbonara bay ....

Dinner Italian style in Carbonara bay - pasta, home made tomato sauce, good local wine, yachts in the background ....

Sardinia, here we are.

 A short update: We just finished the passage from Sicily to Sardinia. We had various winds and we managed to sail majority of time, we had motor on for about 20% of the time. Average speed was close to 6 knots, which is good for this kind of weather.

We motored first two hours N to come around the Sicily NW part as the wind was too low and directly to our nose.We then turned W towards Sardinia and we were able to shut down the engine and sail nicely in light wind. As the seas were calm we had our second laundry day and we were making water at the same time.  I love our solar panels.

There was a sailing boat in front of us, and they were flying a gennaker (or spinnaker, could not tell) and we could not close the distance.After we finished the laundry and had lunch we raised our big bird as well - our Gennaker with picture of Heron on it.I have just finished AIS installation and was looking at the sailboat on AIS.  We were closing the gap ! Ha, ha, ha. It felt so good. You know, two sailboats going in the same direction is always a race. After we came close we had a radio contact and a nice chat.

At sundown we dosed the gennaker and tried with 95% jib, but we had no chance in dying wind, so motor was on again for an hour or so.We sailed the rest of the night with a full main and 95% jib and had wind from all directions.

Lili prepared dough for baking bread and she went to bed. When she wake me in the morning for my watch I had freshly baked bread for breakfast and she made average speed above 6 knots during her watch under sails. How I love her. What a combination of sailor-wife.

Ok, have to go and jump into the blue water of Sardinia.

Via Inmarsat:

The night was ok without much excitement. Sun is shining bright and its
getting warm again. 36 more miles to go.

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Sent via Inmarsat. The mobile satellite company

Via Inmarsat:

We are 70 miles from Sicily, its been a great day with good sailing and
lots of dolphins. 100 more miles to go.

Please note your reply is limited to 160 characters.

Sent via Inmarsat. The mobile satellite company

On our way to Sardinia

Tonight we anchored in a bay near to little village of Scopollo.

Now we're on our way to San Vito da Cabo and from there straight towards Sardinia. We'll post some updates from the passage via sat phone. Bye for now.

Cefalu and towards the west of Sicily

We changed our plans and instead sailing to Ustica we went back to Sicily, and anchored by the marina near town Cefalu. Next day we stayed there and explored Cefalu, which is a beautiful little town with narrow streets.

This is how Cefalu looks from the sea - from the protected bay in north west.

Cefalu from the north - on our way towards west of Sicily.

We had some nice companions on the way, some were swimming with us, while others presented acrobatic show.

Since the sea was very calm and we had some 60 miles to make, so we decided to have a "laundry day".  The only downside was very limited although colorful view we end up having.

My semi-automatic washing machine in right corner left from the table.

Panarea and Stromboli

From Vulcano we passed Lipari and sailed towards Panarea. All the anchorages were already pretty full in the afternoon,

so we "parked" our boat under this rock for the night. Needless to say - we were not alone here either...

Next day on our way to Stromboli we passed this strange rock/island, it's called Bazilucco i think.

From the distance Stromboli looks like an ordinary round island with the cloud over the top. 

It is when you see the north side you realize that "cloud" is actually smoke coming from the crater and there are rocks flying from crater occasionally and rolling down the hill all 1000 m to the sea.

We went back (with dinghy) that nigh and then we could see the whole spectacle "in color" - red hot lava and stones flying from crater, and stones are still red and hot when they hit the sea. 

There was a rowing regatta that evening and all the locals - and many tourists - gathered on the town beach.

We climbed the streets of the old part of small town of Stromboli. Streets are so narrow, you inevitably end up taking photos of other people and vice versa. 

After a steep hot climb to the terrace near the church you are rewarded with a great view of the town, anchorage and a small rock of Strombolicchito.

Hmmm, is it gonna be ricotta or pistachio canolli today?

This is a knob for holding the window shutters in place. It is a gentleman, when in upright position, and a lady when turned upside down.

Little town of Stromboli photographed from out boat - right under the church is the terrace wit great view and delicious canolli.

Strombolicchito - a little less than a mile to the north - or "my rock is my castle".

On our way back to Panarea we couldn't resist to take some more photos of volcano.