Time to deal with the immigration wallahs!

Seems like a while since the last post. I arrived in Ibiza and anchored in the same bay as I did last year. A lot more people now and no great interest in mixing with them so stayed a couple of days to rest . Rowed a shore a few times and admired the big boys toys all over the marina.

Lamborghini!

Moved round the island to another quieter anchorage and walked through bushes and goat tracks. I think the spot is where the clubland acid heads come to to ponder life and the funny colours of our world as there were a few unlikely walkers in a very desolate place subsequent to an arduous walk from the top. Also there was a big magic mushroom painted on the rock!!

 

This spot is less than 5 miles from formentera, where two days later the first big storm hit. Not sure how I would have faired at anchor. Waited for winds then headed for mainland . Still checked out of Schengen so my little Brexit clock isn’t ticking . Hopefully I won’t be bothered by that soon. Stopped in another anchorage just south of Denia. 

Some lovely caves but too many day boats! Carried on south towards Torrevieja of all places.

Once there , time to get visa sorted . Much buggering about. Instruction from UK was go to local police and get ID card then you have a year in Spain extendable to two more at end of period. There are about 5 police forces , multiple offices and different rules in each state not apparently known to anyone I spoke to. Went to Alicante ,4 hrs walking around . Finally in the commercial container port in the Algerian ferry terminal on the second floor a very amenable police man and woman stamped my passport to enter Schengen. Unfortunately they didn’t want to stamp the one with visa in it, and I was later to find out this would be a big problem necessitating another visit to same office. Fortuitously on that occasion there were different officers and I didn’t even need to tell them I had come from Tunisia.

Still no way of finding which office to go to next and not wanting to stay in Torrevieja ( part of the process in Valencia envolves registering with town hall, using an annual berth contract. ) I know now that is in Valencia not Murcia. L.S.S. With Ali’s assistance I’m using a solicitor in La manga who absolutely knows the process but cannot book my finger print visit to police because the online booking system turns on between 1-3 but best to do it on Monday. FFS 🙄. I’m in the system and hopefully not time constrained. Chaos.

Had a holiday last week 😃 met up with Chip and Ali in Cartagena. Theo the man who got orcaerd when we met him in France. Quite nice to be back in Cartagena. I was there under duress before so had jaded views.

Then back to Torredump. Marina is good town is ugly and not interesting like La linea. 

Theo !

Presently at anchor in Tabarca where I met up again with Theo after he left Torredump. He’s good company and good fun . Don’t know why the boat full of girls went over to his boat yesterday evening? Apparently one of them fancied him but he only has eyes for his candy floss ( Candice.) shame!

Tarbaca island, thousands turn up on weekends, deserted at night.

Torrevieja!

Anchorage outside Cartagena waiting for Theo from the south

Brilliant submarine in Torre’ Marina walk around inside  €2 including other stuff on dock.

Night time in ratsville!

Tarbaca. Bit different to earlier . Over night there were just three of us.

 Our two boats are down there in the middle some where. This doesn’t show all of them . Busiest anchorage I’ve been to but still managed to pull alongside Periwinkle.

Spain hopefully next!

After my short sojourn in Caloforte, a lovely little island where I decided to wait for favourable winds ,I’m on my way.I took a ferry to the other side to get a departure stamp from Italy. Had to tell them I was heading for Tunisia but objective achieved . Looked like the isle of White ferry but cost only €10 for two 40 minute journeys , not limited on return time just hop on !

Really friendly place with a lot of character.I departed on Saturday morning and am writing this off line on Monday evening 60 miles from Ibiza ,   

 Majorca visable to the north . Plan was to head west from Caloforte and make land in Menorca but my plans as ever are fluid and my persistent priority not to motor the whole way dictated that I used the available wind and am heading instead for Ibiza. A little further hence the four days it will take. Admittedly I was mooching today at two knots and stopped for a swim as the sea was like a millpond but I did have a great 24hr sail Saturday through Sunday. 24 knots of wind and big swell coming from the NW . This conspired against my stomach so I had to have a chunder over the side . Wrong side unfortunately 🙄. What is it about sea sickness? It wasn’t a long event but leaves you totally knackered! I spent a lot of Sunday horizontal and popping up frequently to keep watch. 24 hrs later all back to normal. I’d made a mince and veg stew which was lovely but not as eager to eat it as I should have been. Anyhow finished that to day and the fishes didn’t get any of it- not from the pot anyhow!

Saw two turtles on the surface , not far from where I was swimming, funny things about 50 cm diameter. Also I had another stow away dead but obviously landed on deck during the night. I’ve seen them often . Tiny flying fish!

That’s all for now hopefully be at anchor for a day or two off Ibiza some where for a rest then another day to mainland Spain hopefully by wind.

Arrived ; anchorage out side of Ibiza town. Bit jaded but despite using the engine it could  have been a lot worse. 4 days and 360 miles.

Sardinia!

So this journey was infinitely better . Great sail on first day, but wind dropped to nothing for about 20 hours ! Sea was calm so got good speed from engine and arrived at Sardinian anchorage about 22.30. Not without drama when string of bouys from beach were virtually under the bow. Not shown on chart but that’s the downside of arriving at night with out someone up front with torch!

Cagliari , lovely as I remember but a bit of a walk from boat. Nav lights not working, diagnosed as light unit so will buy one of those tomorrow and hopefully attach!

Scruffy little marina but good price and very friendly, showers and fuel so I’ve no complaints. Interesting boats hanging around !! Obviously too expensive to move!

Next leg is round the south of mainland then anchor and wait for some wind. Still without fridge , but getting used to it. Nice to be making some progress.😃

Beaten by wind and sea again!!

That’s the Kat, middle back. 

As a result I decided to backtrack to an island I haven’t  visited and wait for more favorable winds. Ustica. A tiny little island north of Sicilys western tip previously known as the black pearl due to what I imagine is volcanic, black rock. Very accommodating harbour master! I baulked at € 72 per night and negotiated, he came back with € 60 for two nights and on paying he just took the 50. How nice is that? Ok no power,water or showers since Covid . I think that’s a nod to the fact that there is a desalination plant producing expensive water here but there must be springs somewhere because fruit and veg is grown and watered.

Walk to hill top.

                   Looking down the Main Street

First nights anchorage , in the tiny ident below and to the right of lighthouse . Arrived at 03.30 very knackered and bruised from the swell that followed me from where I did a U turn. Deafened as well from the banging and crashing of tins, cups , pans , glasses, lines , shackles and flagging sail. Thought I’d wait for wind so moved to the harbour at the top, needed to feel solid ground as well!

Palermo

I love this place. Dirty , scruffy and full of alleyways and interesting buildings. Night time is completely different to daytime with every door way turning into a restaurant or pizza venue. Action to well past midnight.

The waterfront is hosting an X cat power boat race these two days, part of the world circuit, big money and expensive toys. God knows how it makes any money.

The marina is great first proper shower in a week ! I do wash but only when swimming, seems to work. Heading to Sardinia today probably a three day trip as it looks like there will be some wind. I hope so because I can’t motor all that distance, that’s all for now. Very hot  probably low 30’s.

 

Palermo wedding
 

Messina Strait ✅

 

North exit of Messina straight from Scylla 

Departed Reggio at 06.30 to gain calm conditions and the whole trip was straight forward . No whirlpools or sea monsters . A Policia Finanzia came along side and told me to follow them to the middle of the channel which was odd because for my size and favorable currents you’re supposed to stay inshore and out of traffic lanes. I think they were helping me as I got 5.5 kts where they left me  I only had 3.8 before. Then a very large coast guard ship radios me to say keep to his starboard which put me off course , but no problem as I’m now in Scylla home of the mythical monsters.

It’s lovely and I’m in the cheap seats on anchor because they wanted €60 for a buoy!! Thieves..

That’s Katrilli the white blob furthest away..

Winter camouflage to disguise boat from authorities!

If you zoom in on the red blob that was my view of Etna coughing last night from the marina 20 miles away. Through the binoculars it was a brilliant view!

Top of the hill. A very hot and sweaty walk but great view. Zero wind so more motoring ahead unfortunately. Tomorrow morning.

Back on the water after two months

Came back to UK to sort out a Spanish visa. All done, not a simple task . Fridge on boat was supposed to be fixed in my absence but apparently not so waited for a part which does do the job now have to move to a new port in the right direction but very annoying.

Plan is to head up Messina Strait and head for Stromboli , across to Sardinia and then Menorca. Stromboli is behaving exactly as i wanted but unfortunately i am not there which is very annoying. Perhaps a blessing because it’s a bit more furious than usual. I have to pass Scyla and Charibdis first 😳.Apart from that no great action this marina is very nice the people are very friendly and helpful, fownside is very are very few boat trades hence my protracted problem.

40 immigrants turned up last night in the compound next door. They’re wandering around in red shirts and blue shorts after processing . It’s their season over here now too.!

Festival in town last night. I missed the fireworks at12pm.               

My local beach , not too busy.

View from hotel room when I flew back to Catania. Etna’s blowing as well at the moment so bad timing for that as well.