Friday, November 20, 2009

Restaurante X Robert Venturi

Wintering in Arbatax



We are located in the port of Arbatax already been a month, how time flies ...
Life revolves on board and we begin to take our brands after acknowledging around with our little bikes. The place
is very nice, very clean and wearing clean water, only the 2 large cranes near the commercial port and major project Intermare (construction of oil rigs) that could be embarrassing but there is very little activity at this time.
Lucio, the head of the marina is very nice and helpful, he is assisted by a friendly English arrived by boat and settled here for eight years.
West Side Arbatax, extends a long beach lined with pine trees along a picturesque bay on the bottom of mountains and accented with small lagoons. In the middle of the bay, the island of Ogliastra , Pebble-covered cactus that gives its name to the province.
East Side, a large hill topped by a lighthouse and covered with eucalyptus and pine. The rock is red and the seaside cliffs are spectacular, like the Cala Moresca.
Southside, Arbatax, believed to be a small village, we were surprised because many buildings and residential areas were developed but are invisible from the port.
A road, on any flat ground (useful for cycling) joined Arbatax Tortoli distance of 4 miles. This small city of 10,000 inhabitants, with a modest airport (Which operates only in summer) is very much alive and we go there often.
the right of the road lies a large shopping area where you find everything you need and which is less than 2 kms from the port.
Surrounds Tortoli, except the eastern side we have mentioned, are mainly agricultural. Orange orchards, olive, pomegranate and other fruit are everywhere ... Later, at the foot of the mountains, large green pastures with grazing sheep jingling their bells.
On leaving the town, we immediately find small roads sympathetic one of which runs along a very steep hill with beautiful houses surrounded by beautiful gardens. This small road climbs and then attack the hill with very steep slopes, pigs free soil burrow their snouts, they can keep track. It meanders through and cysts, juniper, myrtle, lavender and cactus to the top of this rocky hill on foot to explore the town of Tortoli and sea
Another time, we take a small road that passes through plantations of orange, tangerine, pomegranate and other fruit. It is mid-November and the weather is wonderful, we walk quietly in the scents of flowers loquat, orange, most of which are covered with fruits which are colored and some are in bloom.
The area is beautiful, it's just unfortunate that the Sardinians are not a bit more concerned about their environment ... Indeed, the roadsides are littered with papers, plastic bags, bottles and other litter, fly-tipping are also many ... Too bad!
Mornings are often used to maintain the boat, we rinsed and stored in the sails, clean the funds, replaced the used equipment ... etc. This means that we do not see the time go!
We are thinking already at a small interlude to a month in Britain, the return is expected on December 9.
you soon.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Coleslaw Dressing Coupon

Ver wintering in Arbatax Arbatax


Tuesday 15 to Saturday 19 September - Calasetta

Weather conditions have deteriorated altogether, every day we are entitled to thunderstorms and heavy showers, so we decide to stay in this small port, although immune.
We enjoy the lull periods to visit the village and its surroundings. Calasetta not particularly attractive, the streets are straight and form a regular grid, an ancient tower restored watchtower overlooking the village.
A fishing port and trade occupies the eastern tip, the ferry traffic between Calasetta is relatively large and Carlo Forte.
The west coast is very rugged and made of a reddish brown cliffs falling into the sea, many rocks are riddled with holes caused by erosion.
We will also walk along small country roads along the vineyards and olive groves and we enjoy the quiet of the place.
One day in a small back street, we pass a sort of basement / garage is open. Is parked in front of a small scooter containing buckets of grapes pressed. As we
curious and look inside, a man asks us to return. This is a small cellar where the man makes his homemade wine, and his name is Lino has two hectares of vines, grapes and Cannonau Monica.
We propose to taste his wine, which I accept with pleasure, you can imagine, especially since it is very good!
We ask him if he agrees to sell and we put four liters but no more!
This man, a former merchant navy is very nice and we will be a good time to chat in Italian for the least hesitation.

Sunday, September 20 - Calasetta - Teulada - 31 miles

Seeing the weather that should not work out as planned, we enjoy a day of calm to begin the return to Arbatax.
However, the swell is well formed and the navigation is not very nice, daubed sailor ... The wind from the West that is favorable to us begins to force it to noon and will crescendo, reaching over 30 knots about 15 hours, when we double Cape Teulada to enter the bay of the same name. This is another arrival with great fanfare, the spray flying into the port ... However, once inside, calm returned.
This small port is built into this strange deserted place where there is nothing! The village is 8 kilometers inland. We will therefore only a short stop.

Monday, September 21 - Teulada - Cagliari - 33000

It is difficult to get a weather forecast here, especially since have failed to capture the Navtex. Depending on the weather of the captaincy, little wind is expected today, but we do not know the state that take the sky. Time
morning being calm and knowing that the weather is scheduled for Wednesday, we go to Cagliari where we will be immune.
On VHF, I mean that thunderstorms are expected across ... Worrying black clouds swell before us and soon we can see that it rains along the mountains ... at this moment, we have over twenty miles to go.
The rain soon joined us, accompanied by wind. We took the precaution to reduce the sail past and we experience a heavy rain sheltered under the hood while qu'Algieba moves on smoothly.
Visibility gradually comes back and the rain stopped and ... the wind! We must cast off the reef and then start the engine.
As we move towards Cagliari back to sailing, another storm develops behind us and the mountains with an inky black sky and lightning, but fortunately, we do not catch up (with the help of the engine) and we come to Cagliari with only a few drops.
This time, it will be the Marina di Sole is moderately bound but is less expensive than others. The mooring lines are full of mold and black mud of a foul odor and should immediately wash the front of the bridge and pass the dangling jet!
This marina is full of English, the boats are hauled on a construction site "mess" and the boss, a bit bohemian, walks on the dock with her four large dogs.

September 22 to October 17 - Cagliari and return to Britain

Finally, the marina is pretty nice and we decide to stay a few days before getting back on Arbatax. We find our friends, Charley and Dominique Bastien and continue our visit to Cagliari, definitely a beautiful city.
Monday, September 28, bad news comes to us from Britain, my father, aged 86, is hospitalized, it's pretty serious. His condition worsened, we decided to go and arrive in Britain on Thursday, unfortunately, He died the next day.
We remain a dozen days there then we go back to Cagliari as we need to be Arbatax between 15 and 20.

October 18 - Cagliari - Villasimius - 22000

The wind blows in succession, we have to wait until Sunday before beginning a little unsettled weather navigation and gusty wind. Arrival at a marina in Villasimius almost deserted, it's a contrast to our previous visit! We
a walk to the town, the surroundings are very pretty and highly developed for tourism.

October 19 - Villasimius - Porto Corallo - 26,000

Another small step (voluntary) because there is little wind and it is very irregular. On leaving the port, we have a good downwind and through.
After the passage of the Narrows between the island and Carbonera Cavoli (cabbage in Italian), we take a close-hauled by 18/20 knots then all of a sudden, the wind stops while a great wave of North installs and makes navigation a bit tedious, much of the road will then be made to the engine with a few interludes of sailing.

October 20 - Porto Corallo - Arbatax - 33,000

last step that takes us from 2009 to Arbatax in light wind, sun and calm sea. The forecast is a south wind increasing during the day but remain weak ... For cons, it rolls down the next night but we will be well protected in the port of Arbatax where we were installed at place well protected.
And we go for a station nearly six months in this small village nestled at the foot of the mountains because we intend to bring the boat ashore in late February. He will need to dry a little, then a good refit.
soon for more news from wintering.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Types Of Brazilian Wax Looks

From the The island of San Pietro Sardinia East Coast

Saturday, August 29 - Arbatax - Porto Corallo - 43,000


Departing in Arbatax contrary breeze, the boat works well on flat water but we need to tack near the coast. To 13h, the wind turns more southerly and strengthens, the edges become more difficult because the sea is widening the road and we do more.
We drive along a rugged coastline made of a succession of headlands and coves, the small island of Quirra in our way and we still get an edge for double ... We still have 7 miles to go.
At this point, the wind rotates 90 ° in force at 25 knots, full through. We do not laugh, I'm just opening the mainsail and the genoa and reduce us to Porto Corallo veins in 8 knots!

Sunday, August 30 to Monday, August 31 - Porto Corallo

We stay three days in this small town lost. We take this opportunity to recover the navigation of the day, wash the boat and recharge water. There is not much to see, it's a vacation place with a campsite and holiday village nearby.
However, the coast is pretty small beaches interspersed with rocky areas, the campaign is rather arid.
We are trying to reach a small nearby town (Villaputzu) off but it's too far and we give it up. We take the bus the next day to visit this large village a little lost with a large number of houses whose facades reveal unfinished brick or cement block!

Tuesday 1st September - Porto Corallo-Villasimius (26 miles)

Our English friends, Liz and Julian of Golden Dawn are Cagliari and back to the East Coast. We therefore agree a place to find us and it will Villasimius, located about halfway between Cagliari and Porto Corallo.
Wind is, this time more favorable wind and moderately wrong, we move between the coast and the island Serpentara then we double Cape Carbonara passing through a bottleneck between the cape of the island Cavoli, large stone topped by a lighthouse.
The wind pushes us now as we go round the course to enter the bay of Carbonara and we see, with binoculars, Golden Dawn, which is anchored to the bottom of the bay.
The anchor drops on a white sand bottom and we find our friends Liz and Julian to tell us about our mutual adventures.
Golden Dawn was the first boat that we met. It was in Gijon, in our first stage last year ...
However, while we talk, the boat begins to roll and we realize that the swell enters the bay and makes the anchorage uncomfortable. Decision is taken back to the marina nearby after taking a nice bath and we will resume our discussions there good "tips."




Wednesday, September 2 - Villasimius-Cagliari (22 miles)

The wind is still with us today and blew three quarters back to 12 knots when we leave, no regrets, this artificial marina after saying- goodbye to our English friends. We therefore
veins quickly, especially as this wind is getting stronger and reaches 25 to 28 knots around midday set. Sometimes we start to surf the waves, it is happiness, we want more!
Then it was the arrival in the major port of Cagliari, where cargo leaving and entering and other large container carriers ... We go to the marina Sant'Elmo because we intend to inform us about overwintering conditions.

Thursday, September 3 to Saturday 5 September - The capital Cagliari

Sarde is a vibrant city, with a circulation of hell but also a very beautiful city with the old castle district which is actually a veritable fortress with its ramparts, towers, gates, streets. At the peak, a lovely plaza with views over the city and the sea
It is also pleasant to walk in the old cosmopolitan and colorful neighborhoods where there are small churches inserted into the rows of houses.
The city was founded by the Phoenicians in the sixth century BC and was occupied by the Romans and was fortified by Pisani in the Middle Ages. They built the most beautiful buildings including the cathedral and the towers of the elephant and San Pancrazio. It was later conquered by the Aragonese in the 13th century.
Today is a modern metropolis with an airport and a major trading port.
We take our time here to visit our friends to Vannetais Dam'Marine which is moored in a small port just outside the city. Loulou and Dominic decided to spend the winter and settled.
We hesitated, Marina Sant'Elmo is a little expensive, but the main problem is that we can not work on the boat when ashore. You have to complete all work by local professionals, which is out of question ... In addition, the harbor water is dirty, very very dirty! So we choose ... Arbatax

Sunday, September 6-Cagliari - Malfatano Bay (35 miles)

Before getting back on Arbatax, we continue our journey south / southwest. The major port of Cagliari is left in our wake a fair wind from the West that leads us nicely. We
and road crossing some petroleum terminal located just below the city.
Suddenly the wind shifted 180 degrees and comes from the southeast, forcing us to sail close to an edge but supports our way. When doubling the Capo di Pula, where lie the ruins of a city of the period Nuraghe the wind shifted suddenly to the southwest and this time we take an edge seaward to double the Cape.
The wind began to freshen 25/30 knots, rising seas and short lasting, it becomes a little galley. The boat becomes a submarine, water submerges the entire front as it passes through the wave, we go hard with the mainsail with 2 reef, genoa reduced in the angry hiss of the wind and the road is long ... I remember the day my 60 years!
Finally, after much typing and makes the leap-sheep, we are for the entrance of the bay Malfatano, shelter as desired! We put the engine crossing the last 3 miles that separate us and eventually succeed in this beautiful haven where the sea becomes flat.
The anchor is thrown into clear water by 5 meters on a sandy bottom and sea grass, she immediately eighth in the sand and we are quiet! Besides the wind decreases and becomes zero at dusk.
We had read that the Gulf of Cagliari is famous for being very windy, but more than the wind, it is mainly the state of the sea which have impressed us.
On the phone, a message for parents who wish me a happy birthday ... They thought we were going to celebrate and have fun!

Monday, September 7 - Bay Malfatano

We remain a day in this beautiful fountain surrounded by mountains ... The program includes swimming, scraping the hull to remove the kinds of small limpets, setting up a latte in the missing mainsail and walk along the coast to the jagged rocks, some of which are made of a soft rock that glows softly in the sun.
the evening, near the boat, a fisherman came up he had put his net in the morning ... Beautiful peaceful image in the light of late afternoon ...

Tuesday, September 8 - Malfatano - Ponte Roman - 31 miles

After doubling Cape guarding the entrance to West Bay Malfatano, we head on Teulada, a small port just 6 miles distant, where there is a possibility of docking and refueling.
Arriving near the fountain seems to us very exposed to prevailing choppy right now, so we turn around and go up the wind to enter the Grand Gulf Di Palmas, bounded by the island to the west San Antioco and the "continent" Sardinian east. The island is also connected to the mainland by a causeway started by the Phoenicians and completed by the Romans.
Ponte Romano is at the bottom of this gulf, near the famous road and is surrounded by salt. We also distinguish the distant white shapes that are a lot of salt.
embouqué After the narrow entrance channel, we enter the port where there are only large wharves clearly designed to accommodate large vessels. Guide specifying that can moor on one of these platforms, we approach and try a mooring but a man in white uniform asks us to "identify", you and your boat "he said in English and to go on a dock on the other side.
So before we obtempérons air vindictive this zealous servant and we realize the other side of tall buildings to discover a large pier to starboard filled with fishing boats to port, an area with a fuel dock and a few places already occupied by vessels.
We end up finding a small niche at the starboard end of the dock, before the fishing boats, we can stay there ...
The place is not ideal and does a little "box", large buildings nearby are abandoned and this is not very clean. Nevertheless, we are further away from the city of San Antioco and we stay a while if you do not dislodge us!

Wednesday, September 9 to Friday, September 11 - Ponte Romano / San Antioco

By midday Wednesday, a violent thunderstorm raged over Ponte Romano, with lots of rain, things get quieter and we can undertake the visit San Antioco distance of 2 miles.
is a very old city, called Sulcis time of the first Carthaginian colony, and claims to have always been inhabited since 2600 years, we have to go a little outside to find the remains of the times old.
We will visit these places is a reconstructed ancient village where were buried and uncovered a Punic necropolis and the remains of an ancient civilization.
The streets of the city sometimes steep, keep some old facades and one can admire beautiful buildings including the Basilica of San Antioco, which is also the patron of Sardinia.

Saturday, September 12 - Ponte Romano - Carlo Forte - 22,000

Navigation quiet, in part to the engine, towards the island of San Pietro. We enter the harbor Carlo Forte in the early afternoon. We planned to go to the Municipal Wharf (free), but it is occupied by passenger vessels, we So we have to switch to one of the marinas.
We will stay here on Sunday and take the opportunity to visit this beautiful colorful city with its beautiful seaside promenade decorated with palm trees and beautiful houses with facades worked.



Then we climb to the ramparts and then it's maze of narrow streets interspersed with steep stairs, and always these pastel-colored houses with pretty balconies carved and often rounded openings.
the evening, we noticed a boat moored at French. We have already met Mark and Catherine traveling aboard "Passenger Wind "A Cigale16 aluminum. It was in Chipiona, in April, before leaving for the new season.
We spend a good time to tell us aboard our respective adventures ... The ship will spend the winter here at Carlo Forte.

Monday, September 14 - Carlo Forte - Calasetta - 5000

The navigation was very short but very eventful! Indeed, we leave Carlo Forte in the late morning to return to the island of S. Antioco. We must move towards an anchorage near Calasetta, north of the island.
Leaving the harbor, we see the distant sky darken, there's a good downwind and we unroll the genoa only, it is progressing well and the trip promises to be short. But the big black clouds are gaining ground and we catch up, the sky is inky and lightning began to streak the sky ... Seeing that bad weather happens, we decide to go to the port that is more remote Calasetta Now that half a mile. We see perfectly
entry and large buoy that marks the northern cardinal shoals
neighbors ... At this point, a severe thunderstorm sounds, accompanied by heavy rain and strong gusts of wind. I can not see the harbor entrance and frankly, I do see anything at all, the curtain of rain was so intense! Fortunately we rolled the genoa.
I turned around and, under bare poles, helping the engine, trying to stay believes in an area where I am sure to find water because we are in shallow all around. We can not even fly in the wind because the coast is nearby. I also stopped all the instruments to avoid grilling by storm ...
The boat heels under strong wind gusts over 50 knots and we still see nothing ... In a hole, I saw the south cardinal buoy which tells me that we stay in the right area, then it becomes blocked again with a vengeance, lightning criss-cross the sky, hail from the horizontal lashing our faces and we continue to wander in front of the harbor entrance without being able to go!
Finally the storm passes, calm returned, and with relief, we can enter this port Calasetta "wet-Guen! So many emotions ...