[p]pjr4728
[s]
pos: 40 38.048n 014 23.139e
sp: 0.0
h: 0m
w: 0kn W, CC 0, SS 0
d: 21/08/19 17:11 GMT+0200
Sorrento: After waiting for the N winds to die down a bit, we headed N
through the Strait, passing Messina. Despite what was meant to be a N bound
tide, we still had up to 3.5kn against us at times, but did manage to hit
the narrowest part around slack, so fortunately not much drama, for us,
around the locations of the ancient whirlpools of Scilla and Charybdis (for
those who may know of the challenges faced by Odysseus?!).
It was then a bit of a slog around the corner to here at Milazzo, where we
checked into our first marina since entering Turkey.
The reason was principally to get a local SIM and complete 'formalities'
(as a non-EU boat) and try and get a 'costituto' or transit log... but we
were merely met with shrugs from the officers at the Port Police
(Coastguard), Customs and Police..and told nothing was necessary, as we
were not a 'commercial' yacht.
Here's hoping they see it like that elsewhere, as we have heard tales of
hefty fines for yachts without this mysterious document!
From Milazzo we headed N, though the Aeolian Islands, with stops off a
spectacular old pumice mining operation Lipari and then the island of
Stromboli. This really was a lovely (traffic-free!) village to walk around
below the rumbling volcano.
We left around midnight, partly as the passage north to the mainland was a
long day sail, at over 75nm, but mainly to get a good nighttime view of the
volcano's fireworks - which were indeed spectacular close-up and remained
clearly visible for the next 5 hours.
We made landfall at Salerno in good time, so had plenty of time to explore
this historic town with its superb seaside promenade and ancient alleys
behind.
(We also made a further failed and final attempt at getting a constituto
from the authorities here... We forgot about it from them on and weren't
troubled by anyone for any documents, bar a routine check of a national
park anchoring permit later in Sardinia, which we had got easily online).
Next day the weather was superb (bar v light winds which meant motoring)
for a relaxed chug east along the Amalfi Coast.
To say this was spectacular from the sea is an understatement... And I bet
would be every bit so from the land too (the little figures taking the high
coastal path did make me a little jealous, but it was going to be too hot
to take this with Mili, so we stuck to the sea).
We had a lovely lunch stop and swim along here (meeting the 'King of
Naples' or so we were told by his 'queen'.. Apparently this was his
nickname when he played professional rugby!), then headed around the
peninsula to the cliff-top town of Sorrento, with only a brief peek at the
famous and spectacular, but apparently ridicously expensive and snooty
island of Capri.

[END]