Rome
Show on Map
One regatta finishes another starts. Arriving even before the prize giving for the Maxi Worlds, are the Farr 40s and Swan 45s for yet another regatta. Kokomo from Australia is racing and once again the Costa Smeralda Yacht Club is very busy.
A beautiful day's sail north to Corsica, a change of flag to French and meet Gail in Porto Vecchio. On our way we call into Tahiti Bay just for a swim and just as we get our anchor down they want $60. After a lot of arm waving, we leave very quickly. A night in Rondinara Bay and a definite autumn feel is in the air.
On the islands of Lavezzi of which consist of a pile of rocks, we navigate our way through them and find shelter from the wind in an idealic bay. A cemetery ashore is a memorial to a ship wreck when all 750 passengers lost their lives on the way to the Crimean War. It is also a reminder to how dangerous the windy and rocky Bonifacio Straits between Corsica and Sardinia are.
Its time to go up the mast and take some photos, but my bravado soon disappears and at the first spreaders, I can go no further. As I cling to the mast that I can't let go of, I don't have enough hands to take the photos. Lots of advice coming from the deck below and with the wind picking up I have suddenly lots of admiration for Ian and anyone who goes up these things. Shear guts, I get some photos, not many, shut my eyes and couldn't wait to get down.
Bonifacio for the night and a meal at our favourite restaurant Le Voilier isin the port. Mussels, rack of lamb and sorbets, all very delicious and veryFrench. Breakfast up in the citadel, walk around the old centre and a mustsee cemetery. Must be something about this place as we don't usually visit cemeteries.
Janey leaves us and we say farewell until Sydney, but how plans can change.We poke our nose out the entrance and with wind on the nose to go west up the coast, it's all too hard and turn around and head back to Sardinia. Very nice to have the choice.
Suddenly the Mediterranean summer has come to an end as we 'fly' back to Porto Cervo in a fresh breeze. A change of flags again to Italian and Janey is here to meet us. Here we wait for the right conditions and will head for Rome. If you can't swim you can always go shopping, all roads lead to Rome.
What to do on a wet day? Visit some Neo Lythical ruins. Near Porto Cervo is Arzachena and here are the very old stones of the Gigantic Tombs. Just a pile of rocks actually, but the lunch on the way home was great at Dante's. More mussels, great pizza and plenty of wine.
We have had a great season in the Mediterranean and ready to head home at the end of September. Cadiz will be once again high and dry up the Fumicino Canal where we left her in 2003.
20th September, the weather is predicting strong winds from the NE so we decide to head for Rome earlier than planned. An overnight crossing to Rome of 130nms taking 18 hours was mostly a motor sail under a beautiful moon and interesting lightning on the horizon. Gail was impressed as we shared several watches and at how many Ships we had to navigate around.
Just found out that the Fumicino lifting Bridge has broken down and we arenow looking for another place to leave the boat .Decisions!!!!!!!