Telltales 77
Too much Italy........
The beginning
of September saw my last charter on the Costa Esmeralda with the
Hamblin family. They had the best sailing EVER when they were with me
last year in Greece and Turkey, and I was wondering if we could do
similar this year. The three days before they came onboard, I spent at
anchorage off Porto Rotondo with a serious gale howling around the
boat. 100 meters of chain out of the locker and Sylphe nicely stayed in
position with 65 knorts of wind, but I was the only one in the bay, all
others went dragging with their anchor and most did not spend a relaxed
night.
On the day of the Hamblins arrival the sun was out, the wind gone and
summer had returned.
The family of Bryce and Ailsa, was now complete with all
three daughters present, including Lucy, who had been absent last year.
Her expectations were high, due to all great stories about last year,
but thankfully Sylphe did not disappoint her.
Over the next three days we leisurely sailed around the Madelena
islands, untill we hit on Budelli anchorage, where we wanted to stop
only for
lunch. And YES, they did it again, trying to charge us some 50 euros
for a lunch stop. By now, Roland had it. We refused to pay, were
ordered to leave and Roland forced the complete Hamblin family to leave
Sardinian waters. Off to Corsica and a more friendly welcome. We
stopped and sailed around the Lavezzi islands, Porto Vecchio and
several bays on the east coast and finally, off course, into Bonifacio
itself.
Bonifacio and its remarcable port:
Mornings were spent enjoying a swim and/or breakfast on deck. A
new sport was added called "Bimbo-ing". It basically consists of going
at full speed on a rubber raft behind the dinghy, while trying to hold
on. And Roland doing its best to find the biggest wave to get you
either airborn or off the Bimbo. Even Ailsa went for it.........!!!!
But Emily holds the absolute record, or was she just afraid of ending
in the water amidst the jellyfish?????
And Yes, sailing is very tiresome
On the last night we rerturned to Porto Rotondo to meet up with Maynard
and Gary, who were sailing with me to the italian mainland for Sylphe's
first race of the season in Imperia, Italy. Since they all
know each other we had a last and lovely diner.
And for those who wonder (and who doesn't looking at the above
picture??!!), yes we had some eyes from big groups
of men, wherever we went. Roland having the biggest laugh in the B52
bar
in Bonifacio, when 6 young men tried to chat up the girls, but finally
the girls gave them all a cold shoulder and decided to return with
Roland back to the boat. I will never forget their faces when we walked
out....... Thanks Emily, Lucy and Georgie.
Arrghhhh, the life of a skipper is not THAT easy.......or maybe it
is!!!!!!
With AHOY,
Roland
www.sail-in-style.com