From Marsala Riposto Hello,
Our stay in Sicily coming to an end and we prepare to join the Italian mainland, here's a quick summary:
21 to 25 April 2010 - Marsala
We had a good shot Scirocco for 3 days with a cloudy and sometimes a little rain and sometimes the sunshine. We took the opportunity to visit this beautiful city as I have already said. The "Centro Storico" is particularly interesting, with its narrow streets, a magnificent cathedral, palaces, churches, old walls and ruins of the rich past at all street corners.
Marsala was so named by the Arab "Marsa Allah" which means the Port of God. His story is of course very rich with successive invasions: Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Carthaginians, Arabs ... The Normans and even sweet wine is famous worldwide, he became known thanks to John Woodhouse, an Englishman who discovered this wine and marketed it to England ... Sacred English!
April 26, 2010 - Marsala - Mazarr del Vallo - 16,000
We opted to drive along the south coast of Sicily, now is a good short navigation downwind. The wind was much stronger along the way and that over 25 knots as we enter the harbor filled Mazarr trawlers and fishing boats of all kinds. There are some pontoons for the marina to starboard entering and while we seek a place, a marinero we made great signs, it is effective and help us pull the mooring lines, which is not easy with the wind.
We will stay the next day to visit this small city with a strong Arab influence. The old town with its narrow winding streets, has the look of Medina. We can see many small shops and we could even see a suit (of clothes) to work.
Moreover, the cathedral, whose ceilings are painted, is admirable and churches, with their equally beautiful towers decorated with ceramic or wrought iron, are legion.
April 28, 2010 - Mazarr del Vallo - Sciacca - 30,000
Mazarr We leave mid-morning light wind from south / southeast, however, we can sail sail upwind, close reach. With 5 knots, 4 knots Algieba fact, what makes us happy, especially as the sun is shining. Around 13h, I have a contact with a ham radio and we stay in Nantes to discuss a good half hour, he told me he is super nice there ... All the better, there's something for everyone !
But later the wind shifted to the west, about 15 knots, we were sailing downwind and the sky is blackish in color, the storm threat ... However, it will not fire and we arrive, dry, Sciacca. It was sailing well, entirely under sail!
April 29 to May 5, Sciacca - Agrigento visit
We intend to stay for several days in Sciacca is a very beautiful city, very steep and rich in monuments. It is an ancient fortified town and the ramparts is still present, the doors that gave access to the city are still in good condition.
Like many Sicilian cities, churches are numerous, and small businesses located in the steep streets.
The main streets and alleys called Via Vicolo, we see much of what appears to be an alley but ends in a cul de sac in a courtyard, it is the "cortile", sometimes beautiful but sometimes very degraded .
On Sunday afternoon, a small square at the top of the city, we enjoyed sitting down on a bench and watch the elders who gather in an atmosphere of calm and time seems to stand still. Send us some words but we find it hard to understand especially since they are sometimes toothless!
Monday, May 3, we took the bus for us go to Agrigento, the former Akragas, Greek city founded in 581 BC, where you can admire the Valley of the Temples, some of which are still well preserved, like the temple of Concord. You can admire the remains of a civilization very prosperous and very organized.
All these remains are located on a rocky ridge overlooking a green valley up to the sea are of course many flocks of tourists of all nationalities who roam the rocks, preceded by a guide ... Others have their ear glued to a kind of apparatus to serve as their guide ... Seen temperature, the ear must be heated quickly!
The city of Agrigento, located a little higher is fun but it developed and many buildings have appeared.
So we thought we could leave, the barometer is falling rapidly and the scirocco reappeared, 40 knots on the night of Monday to Tuesday and provided the following morning ... Algieba pulls hard on its moorings, it also promises a great swell for days to come!
May 6 - Sciacca - Licata 52,000
It was another great sailing wind ... Gone away, it began to appear one hour after our departure. First a light southeast breeze allowing us to sail quietly in the near-full and by then it was gradually strengthened while tilting to the west, we flew so full tailwind.
course, the sea was formed, but remained friendly navigation, the boat at 7 / 8 15/18 knots by knots of wind on a sea that starts to sprinkle with white spots. The jade-colored sea of contrasting nicely with the coastal mountains and rather peeled in this corner of southern Sicily. To 16h, the airspeed is increased to 20/25 knots and already we had to Licata. We
entered the great industrial port, seeking a space to put ... Having noticed a kind of pontoon where there were few boats, we approached ... Not a cat in the corner! So we decide to put ourselves in a couple motorboat to explore ways that we think docking complex. The maneuver is complicated by the strong crosswind but we are succeeding.
Installing the gateway to reach the dock which is on stilts and must moor on four moorings ... That seems very complicated as far as we are having trouble locating the mooring lines. To the front, it will ... But for the back, I found a miserable dangling which is connected to one line seemed to me much smaller section and I find it hard to catch the wind ... to weaken the night, we decide to stay like that and the night went well although we chop has somewhat embarrassed! ... But it was free.
May 7 - Licata - Marina di Ragusa - 36000
The marina where we plan to go is considered very expensive but we do not have much choice as possible stopovers rather rare. We leave the cargo Licata without too many regrets in good weather and little wind. We will alternate sailing and motor and sailing will enjoy a quiet (tan ...) enhanced by the visit of a few dolphins.
We cut the shorter the great Gulf of Gela, other industrial port and oil and we are moving toward a flatter coast, in places covered greenhouses which we see shining plastic. We have not seen a single track from Sciacca ... We are now under the 37th parallel, by 36 ° 59 latitude ... Africa is nearby.
Once dubbed the Punta Secca, we see the piers of the marina. We are greeted by a marinero zodiac (very nice) which leads us to a place. There not many boats in this great brand new marina! Mooring
impeccable ... There is no quarter of an hour that we are that this is the scirocco that rises abruptly. We quickly realize that Algieba gets in and flirted back with the dock.
course, impossible to pull on the ropes for mooring with the wind ... I'm trying to winch but it is not sufficient because the position of moorings can not draw properly.
We therefore appeal to marineros and with the help of the zodiac, which pushes the nose of the boat, we can take another mooring farthest ... and it gets better! For security, we add a third mooring line attached to a different mooring ... I'm exhausted!
pleasant surprise, the score was much less salty than expected, we will give a second night, leaving us time to visit Ragusa distant 25 kms.
A tour bus that allows us to see that the region is agriculture, we see great farms, all plots demarcated by stone walls, herds of cows etc. ...
We will not disappointed by this city perched on the side of a green valley where we can stroll quietly through the old neighborhoods and see (again!) the beautiful old buildings and enjoy an atmosphere of another time.
May 9 - Marina di Ragusa - Pozzallo - 23,000
Short sail downwind cool completely under sail but, again, arriving in the great sport industrial port of Pozzallo. The wind freshened in one fell swoop, from 9 / 10 knots over 20 knots while we were early (15h). You have to go completely into the bottom of the harbor where there are 2 small docks that we do not see, so we'll tie on a pontoon which in fact serves to grounding of boats ... and we need to clear out go in front when we see the boats of the carabinieri, guardia costera etc!
We finally find the right place but Algieba stubbornly refuses to go to the dock in reverse (windy ferry), so we have to bow to the dock, which is not practical to go down! In addition there is a vicious chop ... and it's expensive!
The city is arbitrary, we shall not return!
May 10 - Pozzallo - Marzamemi - 22,000
Again, start small by Brisette south, we're not going fast at full speed by 3 or 4 knots of wind, but we're in no hurry ... I also want to tinker inside the boat.
Gradually, the wind will increase, allowing us to sail at a slow pace. After passing Cape Passero, which marks the end of the south coast of Sicily, the wind freshened to 20 knots as we move through at a pace, we were sailing at 8 knots, so that is close to Marzamemi quickly. We believe then that the mooring will be sports, but no, this small port is well sheltered and the maneuver will be in peace!
May 12 - Marzamemi - Syracuse
The wind blows from the east moderately but we must learn more edges pour remonter vers Syracuse. La côte est plus montagneuse et bordée de plages. Au moment de doubler le cap Murro di Porco, le vent adonne et nous passons comme une fleur ! S’ouvre alors un grand golfe avec, dans le fond, Syracuse la magnifique.
Nous entrons dans une vaste baie, fermée par l’antique île Ortigia et ses remparts , quelques bateaux sont à l’ancre vers le fond et nous les imitons.
Le mouillage est calme et magnifique, avec vue sur la ville fortifiée dans la lumière rose du soleil couchant.
13 mai au 17 mai - Syracuse
Nous restons 2 jours à l’ancre et visitons cette merveilleuse ville pleine de trésors architecturaux. La muse de cette ville Aretusa is called. In mythology, the nymph was turned into a source Artemisia after being seduced by the god Alpheus ... However, Zeus, moved by the pain of Alpheus, transformed it into a river so that lovers can come together ...
can see the fountain Aretusa with papyrus, this fountain of fresh water is located a few meters from the sea! The weather forecast
announcing a gale, we choose to go to the marina where we will be more quiet. Although we took because the next night was very rough and the next morning several boats remained at anchor seek refuge in the marina, with great difficulty in docking maneuvers. The waves pass over the pontoon outside!
This marina is poorly sheltered from the west and the boats are somewhat roughed us because we are not too good inside. To 13h, gusts reached 40 knots, it is impossible to take the pontoon breakwater out without being watered thoroughly.
We continue our tour of the city already receives many tourists, the Greek Theatre leave us a little about our hunger for the stone steps were covered with planks wood painted gray, some old buildings were also covered with wood and a modern floor covering the stage!
Finally, the gale lasted three days, we take the opportunity to change the two service batteries that show signs of fatigue.
May 18 - Syracuse - Catania -32 000
We left the bay of Syracuse in the mid-morning and sail upwind in light wind from the northeast. Around noon, the wind turns south / southwest and is a nice breeze that will push us towards Catania.
way, we can observe small swordfish than fifty centimeters doing aerials ... We put the line in the water but we will once again empty handed!
Then the majestic Etna looming on the horizon, its summit lost in the mists and is the port of Catania.
Pleasure boats start at the bottom of this port that receives huge cargo ships and ferries.
The city is rather pleasant once crossed the port area that are dirty. We make a quick visit that allows us to admire the beautiful buildings (town hall, palace, churches) that are often blackened facades.
This city has suffered greatly, at first almost entirely destroyed by a lava flow in 1669, an earthquake in 1693 finished work. It was rebuilt in an elegant style XVIII and many blocks of lava were used.
The city is very active, either on land (cars and traffic jams), sea (ferries, freighters) or air with the international airport in heavy traffic.
May 19 - Catania - Riposto - 20,000
We left port around 10 am, the wind is significant enough south and strengthened rapidly, reaching 16 knots at 13h. We sail along the coast near, good tail wind, under the domination of the imposing Mount Etna we can still see the top cover of snow patches. A military boat escorted by two helicopter was practicing and they will turn around ...
Arrive before 14 pm Riposto - Marina Grande preppy, expensive, and city street layout geometry without much interest.
We should cross from here to mainland Italy but the weather is once again uncertain and the barometer is falling! Continued ...
