Pitufa.at

Being in a marina for a week has definitely its advantages, however, we’ve totally lost our sealegs that way. Now, we are attempting to getting them back. On our current leg towards the Strait of Gibraltar we are experiencing uncomfortable seas from an easterly wind pushing against a counter current from the Strait. Our last noon-to-noon run was 96 nm.

We are sailing westwards again. Whether we stop in Gibraltar, Ceuta, or the Canaries depends on the wind again.

When we left Cagliari on Sardinia, we were not quite sure where we would sail next. We considered the Balearic Islands and the mainland of Spain. Also, we were not fully provisioned for a longer passage because we had to wait out the Mistral that was blowing with up to 40 kn while at anchor in Cagliari with the dinghi already deflated and tied down… Continue reading »

… not sailing-wise, though, we are making good progress. However, a clogged toilet can ruin a day.

In the Med you usually get no wind or too much of it. At the moment we have quite a lot and Pitufa is on her way west, a bit rough though.

Finally favourable easterly winds have arrived and we’re making good progress.

We left Sardinia on Wednesday with a promising weather forecast after we had to wait out a northwesterly gale that lasted for several days in Cagliary, but unfortunately, the wind died down soon (as usually…) and left us in a high swell, so we had to motor for the entire Thursday. Now we are waiting 60 nm off the coast of Algeria for an easterly… Continue reading »

Sardinia is great for daysailing. Today we’ve stopped by in Cagliari. Connected to someone’s home internet while waiting for the laundry to finish… Tomorrow some sightseeing.

While we were anchored in Vulcano’s Porto di Levante to seek shelter from gusty westerly winds (up to 35 knots), we met Aylin and Goeran from Cantana 3, a Hallberg Rassy 35 under Swedish flag (www.cantana3.com). Those two are the first real cruisers we have met since our departure. Goeran made a 6-year circumnavigation starting in 1993 and currently they are exploring Italy. It was… Continue reading »

The wind has been blowing from the west (that’s where we want to go) with 20-30 knots for some days now, so we spend more time than planned at Vulcano.

On the island of Salina with its green hills and colorful old houses in the town, we’ve finally discovered the charm of Sicilly. Never mind the rolling anchorage…

The Strait of Messina proved to be a difficult leg: strong currents, fallwinds, strong headwinds, high waves between Taormina and the entry of the strait. As soon as we left this witches cauldron we were becalmed again.