29th September

It's taken most of the day but at least I think I know why the batteries won't charge. And even better I've found someone who says he can fix it. In the meantime we've discovered that one of our windows leaks. We finished off the day with tea and drinks with our new best friends, John and Jan, on their boat further up the pontoon.

27th and 28th September

We finally arrived in Imagine's winter berth. Within a short time we had met people on several other boats who are also here until next year. There was little wind so we rapidly took all three sails off. In the evening we joined about 40 other people based here for happy hour in the local bar.

The following day the wind increased and blew one of the sail battens overboard. It was time to try out my Scuba gear. However the water was murky and quite deep so I gave up without reaching the bottom. Later we discovered our battery charger wasn't working. Several hours later reading manuals, speaking to technical help in the UK and crawling in nooks and crannies I am none the wiser. Just when we thought things were pretty well sorted this happens.

26th September

We made it back to Ragusa where Imagine will stay for the winter. It took us just under three weeks to circumnavigate Sicily. Last night It poured with rain and it's forecast to deteriorate tonight so we pushed on and covered nearly 60 miles today. We sailed most of that distance and it was a good way to end our sailing for this year.

25th September

This morning was miserable. While Lucinda went for a walk I settled down for a day in harbour reading and watching DVDs. However by lunch time the sky brightened a little so we decided to take a chance and head off to Syracuse. Most of the trip was into a lumpy grey sea but we eventually arrived before it got dark and anchored just off the town.

24th September

We spent a rolly night attached to the buoy. In the light we could see that we were by a beach with a road and railway behind. In the east there was lightning followed by thunder. By 9 a.m. the clouds moved above and heavy rain kept us inside and going nowhere. By mid morning the rain had stopped although it remained overcast and gloomy. We motored south smelling but not seeing mount Etna. By mid morning we were berthed in Catania. Later we walked into the old town for a meal. They certainly like their baroque architecture here.

23td September

Today we passed through the Strait of Messina. This has a fearsome reputation. According to Odysseus it is the location of Scilla (who lived on a cliff and plucked sailors from passing ships) and Charybdis (a giant whirlpool). Strong winds, tides and whirlpools do occur. We merely encountered a contrary wind and an adverse tide. Apart from Messina, which is not recommended, there is nowhere to stop heading south on the Sicilian side until the anchorage of Taormina. We arrived in the dark but I had phoned ahead and someone was there to guide us onto a buoy. It was a long day motoring the whole distance but at least we are through the Strait and on the east side of Sicily.

22nd September

Sadly it was time to leave the islands. We got to Milazzo on the mainland by early afternoon. We bade farewell to our guests who got a taxi to the station to get a train to Palermo. As we were in town we went to look at the castle that looms over the town. It was then back to the boat for supper on board.

21st September

We had a peaceful night at anchor. I was woken at 6:30 by thunder and a strong gust of wind only to see the bright orange motor boat next to us go backwards as her anchor dragged. It rained quite heavily but had cleared by 10 a.m. As we readied to leave my glove fell overboard and I had to rescue it. Lipari was the next island and we went to look at it and then anchored for lunch. We then sailed a further six miles to Salina where we took a berth for the night. Later we walked into the town for supper.

20th September.

A couple of storms blew through in the night but by morning it was much calmer. We decided to head for the Aeolian islands. Vulcano was the nearest and was reached it in time for a late lunch. We then went ashore to walk up the volcano of Vulcano. A sulphurous smell lies over the island and we trudged up on black sand and lava to reach the crater rim. The view over the harbour was magnificent. In the distance we could see Stromboli with an active volcano marked by the stream of smoke emanating from its top.

19th September

Several storms swept through in the night. It made me restless although Imagine was fine. Today's forecast wasn't as bad as we had anticipated although winds were still quite strong. We decided not to head out to the Aeolian Islands but chanced going 28 miles down the coast. We had a two metre following sea and westerly winds. It was an exhilarating and fast sail surging the rollers. We ended up in Sant'Agata where a huge EU funded breakwater has created a safe haven. We didn't really know what to expect but were delighted to be offered a berth on the solitary pontoon. The shop was a long walk but a lift there and back was organised. It was a 30 minute stroll into town where we found an excellent restaurant for our evening meal.

18th September

We found Barney and Mary in their hotel and had them on board before 9 a.m. Winds were light and we motored 35 miles east along the north coast to Cefalu. We anchored with the harbour breakwater outside the pontoons. We were hoping someone would come and invite us to come into the marina at a discounted rate. Disappointedly we were ignored. Later on we went ashore and walked into the town for a meal. It is a delightful warren of narrow pedestrian streets arranged along a hillside under a magnificent cathedral.

17th September

For once we had a wonderful downwind sail. It was a pleasure to be gently surfing the waves while other yachts were wearily bashing their way to windward. We opted to go onto a pontoon near the centre of Palermo. It was smelly and basic but we could walk into town. We said farewell to Emily and restocked and cleaned the boat in preparation for Barney and Mary who arrive in the morning.

16th September

I keep on dreaming the anchor had dragged. After a restless night I was relived that Imagine was more or less in the same place as the night before. We set off east along the north coast of Sicily. For the first half of our journey we good good winds from more or less the right direction. Later the wind died off and we ended up motoring the last eight miles into Castellammare del Golfo. In the evening we had a farewell dinner for Emily. It's been great having her onboard.

15th September

The castle on top of the hill overlooking the harbour was shrouded in mist. Lucinda and I set off early to walk up to it. We felt virtuous and somewhat sweaty by the time we got back to the boat for breakfast. Later we sailed a couple of miles round the coast to anchor in a bay for lunch and a swim. We headed back to the harbour later in the afternoon and decided, instead of going onto a pontoon, we would anchor for the night.


Sent from my iPhone

14th September

It's only a few miles across to Favignana, the largest of the Egadi islands. We had planned to anchor in the harbour. A mile out we were intercepted by the marina Rib. We were told there was a festival in town tonight and after some negotiations we decided to take a place on the quayside. Later we went into the town. I had a local Sicilian delicacy. It's an ice cream filled brioche, a gelato hamburger. In the evening fireworks were set off on the far side of the harbour. We then went to the town square where lots of people gathered but not much happened. A marching band briefly appeared. A statue was taken into the church. People milled around. Eventually we went back to bed on the boat.

13th September

We watched the dive boats head out and then cast off heading to Levanzo, another of the Egadi islands. Once there we picked up a buoy just past the tiny village that is the only settlement. We spent the afternoon swimming, lying out and catching up on maintenance. In the evening we went out in the dinghy to the village to eat.

12th September

We spent a peaceful night at anchor and for the first time there was no pressure to get up in the morning. After breakfast we made our leisurely way to Marettimo, the most westerly if the Egadi islands. Half way across a pod of about 20 dolphins joined us to play around our bows before heading off. This island is a treasure with one small village, a tiny harbour and no traffic. Before supper we walked into the hills above the village to see the ruins of a Byzantine church.

11th September

It's been a slog but we've made it to the Egadi Islands at the western tip of Sicily and Emily has been able to have her first swim. Apart from a solitary hour we've motored the whole way. Hopefully we'll now manage to get some sailing. We anchored off Favignana. For the first time we saw other boats as there were 10 of us here for the night.

10th September

We made another early start to reach Sciacca before the winds increased. I should have got a motor boat. Once again what winds there were blew straight at us. We were safely moored by the time things got unpleasant. In the evening we walked up to the town overlooking the harbour. There was apparently a festival tonight. Either there wasn't much too it or it was just about to get going when we went back to the boat to sleep.

9th September

Once again the forecast was for light winds becoming stronger from the direction we were aiming for. Today the sun was actually up, just, as we left harbour. We headed for San Leone, 20 miles up the coast. The plan was to get there early enough to visit Agrigento in the afternoon. Agrigento was the fourth largest city in the known world. This was some time ago. It is now, apparently, Sicily's most impressive Greek ruins. We spent a couple of interesting hours there although one roped off temple and several piles of old stones do not compare to Petra or the Parthenon.

8th September

We left at first dawn as adverse winds were forecast for later. The sun rose spectacularly over the hills to the east as we left the harbour. Every type of cloud was visible during the day, as well as patches of clear blue sky, all attesting to the changeable weather. We got into Licata as the wind was building and rested for a few hours after lunch. We then stocked up in the supermarket before heading into town for a meal.

7th September

This morning we carried on sorting out the boat and made another trip to the supermarket. Emily arrived mid afternoon and we celebrated her new job before having an early night. Today we saw some extraordinary cloud formations and a spectacular sunset.

Sent from my iPhone

5th and 6th September

We arrived back at Comiso at 9 p.m. Our taxi driver was waiting to take us to our hotel. Imagine was out of the water and not a comfortable place to spend the night. In the morning we got a lift to the marina and I reattached the propellers. By lunchtime we were back in the water and proved we could go forwards and backwards. The weather was strange; strong winds then calms and even a heavy rain storm. We went to the shops and had to track down a water leak. We're almost back to normal.