We decide that we will not go into the harbour here. Instead we will go to a harbour on the
other side of the island. We set
out after 9:00am, but before we can go we have to get fuel. We still have been motoring a lot. We have to queue for the fuel pontoon,
but we finally fill up (taking nearly 2/3 of a tank, so we really did need
it).
Off we go. It is a real
game of dodgems avoiding all the ferries.
They are coming from both directions crossing each other. There is one, which is a monohull, but
it cuts through water rather like a fast cat. The problem is that is leaves the most horrendous wash. It is wave after wave of about one
metre in height, or perhaps a bit more.
It is impossible to avoid.
Richard thinks the wash could easily swamp a small boat.
We did put the sail up and for the first hour or so we did a bit of
sailing. But as we rounded the
headland the wind turned directly on the nose, so we had to motor again.
It is forecast to be very warm today and it certainly is sunny. So we are determined to stop for a
swim. We make it nearly to our
destination and put the anchor down.
We then have our swim, which is lovely. While in the water Richard decides that it would be a good
time to tie on the new line we bought for the dinghy. He does it just in time. As I watch him working on the rope I ask why the old painter
looks so much more shredded. He
then works out that as we were anchoring he went over the painter again and cut
it again!
So after a nice stop we make our way in to Porto Azzurro. The pilot book suggests that this is a
very busy port and may not have room.
But there is no problem. We
get a berth right away. The
organisation of the port is a bit of a mystery. There are the usual men with hand held radios, who you call
up and assign you a berth and help take your lines. They all wear official tee shirts for the port. But there does not seem to be a harbour
office where you check in and pay.
Eventually we see a sign at the town hall indicating an office that
deals with the pontoons. We find
it and are told that they only deal with payments in the mornings! We then speak to one of the staff who
tells us where the toilets and showers are. They are another municipal lot, where payment is expected,
but as part of the cost we get a card to get in free! There is also supposed to be free WIFI, but it does not seem
to work. I dread to think what
this will cost us!
We have a walk around the town.
It is all closed down for siesta, but it looks very nice. Another typical upmarket seaside place. There is a beach in the harbour, but
the signs on it say “it is forbidden to swim”. However no one seems to be paying much attention to
that! Very Italian.
It is a diet day, so we can’t go out to eat or get a drink other than
fizzy water. The weather for
tomorrow is forecast to be winds gusting up to force 8, so we will probably
stay here and eat out then.
Richard is still trying to find a place that serves Moray eel, which he
was recommended to eat by a visiting Rotarian from this part of the world who
came to one of our meetings. So
far, no luck, but he thinks one bar sold some as tapas and will try to have it
for lunch!
We have our meagre dinner on board and then walk around the town. It is much more lively now. All the shops are open and there are
loads of stalls selling handicrafts and the like.
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