Long day's journey into night
I left Guilvinec at seven, more than an hour before the sun was up. That would give me ample time to be at the start of Raz du Sein at slack water just before quarter to three. Last year I had a fearful experience there going south through the raz, but that was on a tidal coefficient of more than 10...
Portimao
Varying winds took me to Portimao on Tuesday. First two hours for the engine, then a gentle breeze from northwest, that let me hold a course almost straight to Portimao, albeit rather slow. In the afternoon the wind increased and backed to become more westerly and I had to start beating, which of co...
Who can sail without a wind?
The title is from a famous Swedish song, where the poet says he can sail without a wind and row without oars, but not leave his friend without shedding tears. I can hereby verify that this is a truth solely in the poetic sense. There was some wind when I left Port Portinatx, so I raised the main alr...
Weatherbound again
I was stuck two days in Mahon because of strongs winds, then two days again in Port de Pollensa. Windy's AROME model was the only one that could forecast this last gale, that seemed very local, but quite intense, over the Balearic Sea. I guess there was quite a few sailors that was taken by surprise...
Sardinia
Strait of Bonifacio didn't live up to it´s reputation today. Smooth sailing all the way. I was outside Vignola before eight in the evening. A very small village it seemed from my anchorage, just a beach on a few houses. I didn´t bother go ashore, went to bed early for an early start tomorrow.
Crossing the Tyrrhenian sea
I spent one more week at Constellation Nautica in Fiumicino after coming back from Sweden. I had to install a new gas stove and do some carpentry work for that, plus I had ordered a new pump for the Jabsco toilet. I think it was the old pump that was causing the vacuum in the sea water strainer. The...
Summary of the last week
The wind forecasts was contradicting each other significantly while I stayed in Livorno, so I ended up one more night in the marina. It was rather strong winds still on Tuesday morning but I felt I had to do some headway on my way to Fiumicino, I wanted to avoid being stuck somewhere in hard weather...
Almost mingling with the rich and famous
The humming from the wind generator woke me up before the sun was up at my anchorage outside Noli. Eager to take advantage of the wind I was on my way within 15 minutes. The wind was quite strong and increasing, I had to take in a reef on the genoa not long after I took off, but had to furl it out s...
Change of plans
I had gladly stayed longer at the anchorage outside Villefranche, it ís such a nice area with lots of opportunities for things to see and do, but I have to start moving towards Fiumicino, so I don´t miss the flight to Sweden and my son's wedding. Saturday looked like a good chance for crossing the L...
Late arrival to wrong destination
I had estimated around 40 hours to reach Beaulieu when I left river Arno on Sunday morning. Instead it took me 24 hours more to reach Imperia, about 30 miles east of Beaulieu. But it was still with great relief I went in to the marina. The town looked pretty enough, and it wasn't an expensive moorin...
Misery, and more misery. Part two.
My plan for going to Beaulieu was to make a long leg on a southwesterly course towards north tip of Corsica. There I should be around five in the afternoon with the forecasted wind, and then hit a good southerly that could take me to Beaulieu on one long leg. Getting close to Gorgona, the northernmo...
Misery, and more misery. Part one
People are mailing and calling me for updates, so I better get on with it. The last two weeks has been mostly misery, so if you don't want to hear more of that, stop reading here. Having been at anchor close to the Arno estuary, with no possibility to move the boat due to the cooling system breakdow...
Engine problem
After two weeks on beautiful Elba, I continued north along the Italian west coast. Around 15 knots of wind made me decide to try for Pisa, 60 miles away. It took me 13 hours with the wind from behind all the time. It died out a bit in the evening, so the last hour I went for the engine to come to th...
With strong winds to Elba
Strong winds from the south took me from Porto Giglio to Elba in five and a half hour, which gives an average speed of around 6 knots. New record for Atlantis over such a long distance, 33 miles. And that was for the genoa only. Maybe I would have gained a little speed with the main up, but hoisting...
Isola del Giglio again
Since it was first of May yesterday, they jacked up the mooring price in Cala Galera marina, more than doubled it, so I went out in the bay and dropped the anchor. Before I departed I had the time to take the bike to nearby Porto Ercoli. Very nice place, in a very sheltered bay. They take no visitor...
Touristing
Thursday I took the bus to Marseille. I have heard about this city that you love it or you hate it. I didn't find much to hate, but not much to love either. Just another big city, from what I saw strolling in the center. Friday I rode my new bike to Martigues. The little I saw on Wednesday made me c...