Sailing to Sardinia

Departing Trapani   

Having spent some time in the Egadi Islands and Trapani, our ‘big picture plan’ had us heading east along the north coast of Sicily, via Palermo, Cefalú and the Aeolian Islands, towards the mainland Italian coast south of Naples, before going north to the bay of Naples, Ischia and Capri. However, the wind was not propitious. On Sunday 11 June, the forecast was for 15kts from the north (just when we would be needing to head north) and then for the next few days there was little wind forecast and that which there was, was due to be a headwind. So, we decided to go to Sardinia instead.

The north coast of Sicily   

We left the marina at 1030, after a final quick stock-up with bread, milk and tomatoes [Ed: and paying the marina bill too!]. Twenty-five minutes later we had switched off the engine and were blasting westwards with 2 reefs in each of the main and the genoa. Great sailing!

Passing the Egardi Islands   

We had some lovely views of the Egardi Islands as we passed north of them and then there was nothing but shipping, the marking of our 1000^th mile at sea this season…….and Sardinia about 150nm away.

As the day progressed the wind gradually eased (as forecast) and so we unrolled the staysail, and then the genoa, and then knocked the reefs out of the main, though the final reef didn’t come out until after dark when I was on watch and Nicky sleeping below. But before that we had a lovely pasta dinner and a beautiful sunset over a cloudless sky and, yes, we did (just) see a green flash as the sun disappeared for the night.

Land ho! Sardinia in sight   

During the night, the wind died away entirely and I awoke to a glassy sea and the news that an albacore had just jumped out of the sea less than a boat length from BV’s bows. I rushed into fishing mode but the fish just laughed at my lures and I caught nothing…..

Dragon flies hitching a lift   

…..nothing, that is, but dragonflies, several of which decided to hitch a lift with us. One or 2 were so confident of my not catching any fish that they clung onto the trailing line instead of sunning themselves on the deck!

Capo Carbonara (above) and approaching Porto Giunco (below)

Bored of motoring through a glassy calm and knowing that we would have a further 20nm to travel from the southeast tip of Sardinia to Cagliari itself, we looked for other options. The chart showed a marine protection area and the bays seemed suitable, so we decided to take a look-see at Porto Giunco, a bay protected from the forecast southerly wind (should that wind ever actually actually fill in). As we motored over, the wind did start to build but the bay looked so lovely that we decided to go there anyway. Cagliari could wait a day or so.

Porto Giunco, Sadinia, Italy