30th June

We continued heading south to Siracusa. We started off motoring in calm seas and ended up pounding into spray in 25 knots of wind. We are now safely at anchor off Siracusa.

29th June

Our anniversary. One person remembered. Thanks. Today we passed through the Strait of Messina. The forecast was for light winds. That was not what we got. For once the wind was behind so we had a fast and enjoyable passage south to Riposto where we are moored in the shadow of mount Etna.

27th June

We motored to Stromboli. On the way we passed Panarea where the superyacht S of two Russian oligarchs were moored along with a superyacht support vessel called garçon. Garçon carried the toys including a helicopter and an assorted array of boats. In the evening we walked to the pizzeria overlooking the volcano. The pizza was better than last week as were the eruptions.

26th June

There was no urgency to get up and we drifted across to Lipari to anchor for lunch. We returned to Vulcano and, once again, climbed the volcano. It was then off as usual to Maurizio to eat followed by ice cream at Antonios.

25th June

We hired a car to explore the island. It didn't take long. One view, a short drive to the far end of the island for lunch, and that was it. In the evening Sue and Roger arrived.

24th June

Emily and Tanner left early to go to Catania. After breakfast Lucinda and I climbed to the top of the volcano, again. Why? Because it's there. The afternoon spent on maintenance in, on and under the boat. Pizza and ice cream in the evening.

23rd June

It's Tanner's birthday. We anchored off the south coast of Lipari for lunch and then came to Vulcano for the night. In the evening we had a farewell dinner in town for Emily and Tanner.

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22nd June

Today we stayed in Lipari. Emily and Tanner did their own thing. Lucinda and I explored the town. The archeological museum had a lot of pots. We did an enormous shop as the supermarket delivers to the boat. In the evening the others went to a fancy restaurant while Lucinda and I had a mediocre dinner in town.

21st June

We upped anchor and motored past the slope beneath the crater. A couple of puffs showed us the volcano was active. We stopped for lunch off Panarea. By late afternoon we were tied up in the marina on Lipari.

20th June

There should have been some wind, but there wasn't. So it was motoring again, this time back to Stromboli. The anchorage was much busier than a week ago, mainly crowded with charter yachts some of whom had interesting anchoring techniques. In the early evening we walked to a viewpoint overlooking the slope below the volcano. The volcano was not very lively but we did see a few eruptions. Lower down the slope we had an indifferent pizza but were able to continue watching the explosions while we ate.

19th June

Correction to last post. After the volcano and granita we went to the west of the island. The wind did change as predicted to be from the west and almost all the boats decided to go to the other side of the island where we had rolled last night. Despite all that we had a much better night. I was right then to move, but a day out.

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19th June

Today we did our normal Vulcano routine. Off early to climb the volcano, granitas back in town, Maurizio in the evening followed by ice cream. The wind was predicted to change to a westerly so I left our lovely spot on the west and went into the eastern bay where we had an unpleasant night at anchor. Funnily enough none of the other boats in the anchorage made the same decision.

18th June

I should have said that Emily and Tanner made it here. It's great to have them on board.

18th June

We finally got a bit of wind. Inevitably it was blowing from where we wanted to go. We did manage to sail a bit and ended up back at anchor off Vulcano. The wind started as an easterly but as it swung round to the west I decided to go round to the other side of the island. No one else followed us. Was it a good idea?

17th June

In the morning we hacked up to see the prehistoric site overlooking the anchorage. After a granita we motored round the island and picked up a buoy on the south side. We ate at a restaurant on the front.

16th June

We saw Kennan and Melanie off this morning. We have two days before Emily arrives so what should we do? We decided to head to Filicudi, a small island off the beaten track. All the information we had suggested that anchoring is difficult but there might be some buoys. On arrival Massimo came out and we negotiated to use one of his buoys. There are footpaths crisscrossing the island weaving steeply up and down among the houses most of which do not have road access. We followed a map and ended up on the south side of the island at Pecorini where we had a drink overlooking the sea before having a hair-raising taxi ride back to the small pier that counts as the port.

15th June

It was time to climb the volcano once again. At the top we could see Stromboli to the north east and Etna to the south west. We were on a steaming volcano half way between two active volcanoes. Down in the village we had granitas. In the afternoon I dived to fix the sail drive anode. I'm getting the hang of SCUBA. In the evening it was back to our favourite restaurant, Maurizio, followed by an ice cream at the best Gelateria on the island.

Fwd: 15th June

Sorry this should be 14th June

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Begin forwarded message:

From: david goldhill <davidrgoldhill@gmail.com>
Date: 14 June 2017 at 21:52:06 CEST
To: Imagine Blogger <david.goldhill.lepicaron@blogger.com>
Subject: 15th June

We motored across to Lipari and anchored for a swim and lunch on the south east corner. We then carried on the short distance to anchor at Vulcano. Kennan and Melanie had a hot mud bath while Lucinda and I had a drink.

15th June

We motored across to Lipari and anchored for a swim and lunch on the south east corner. We then carried on the short distance to anchor at Vulcano. Kennan and Melanie had a hot mud bath while Lucinda and I had a drink.

13th June

Today we motored across to Salina. We paid for a berth in the harbour for the night which meant water, electricity and showers. In the afternoon we took a bus to Malfa, had a drink, looked around and came back. In the evening we ate in a restaurant where the waiter asked me why I didn't like raw fish. He didn't want to take my order for fish cakes.

12th June

There was plenty of time this morning for a swim before going into town. After shopping we had a leisurely lunch before going back to the boat for a few hours. At 5 pm we set off in a group to walk to the top of the volcano. It was a three hour upward plod but we were rewarded with a fabulous sunset and the fireworks of the volcano erupting seen from above. Going down was dusty and hard on the knees but it was worth the effort.

11th June

It was a windless night and we all slept well to wake up in our wonderful anchorage. There was time for swimming and paddling the kayak before setting off to Stromboli. Once there we picked up a buoy and went ashore to explore and have an ice cream. At dusk we motored round to see the volcano erupt. About every ten minutes flame shot into the air followed shortly after by a rumble. A few seconds later the boat rocked as a series of waves passed through. We then had to find our mooring buoy in the dark.

10th June

In light winds we motored to Isola Panarea. We arrive early afternoon and found a stunning anchorage. I went for a swim and discovered one of the saildrive anodes had fallen off. That's what my wetsuit and SCUBA gear are for. I had one spare anode which I replaced. However I managed only to insert one of the two bolts before I ran out of air. Let's hope it holds. We then went for a walk up the hill behind us on a winding path heading to the mountain top.

9th June

We awoke to momentous news about the effect of the votes of the great British electorate upon the political landscape. We then motored back to Milazzo to wait for Kennan and Melanie. It gave as an opportunity to clean and reprovision. In the evening we ate at a sea food restaurant near the castle.

8th June

We slept soundly lulled by the rocking of the wash from the ferries and the stuporous smell of sulphur from the volcano. As soon as we had eaten breakfast we walked to the top of the volcano and were rewarded with spectacular views and few other people. As we descended large groups were struggling up the slope. Later we went shopping and I had a brief dip in the warm bubbling water.

7th addendum

The earlier post should have read sailed Biscay.
In the evening we ate in the number one restaurant on Volcano according to TripAdvisor. After we had ice cream in the best gelateria on the island. It was very good.

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7th June

We were the only boat at anchor off the promenade at Milazzo. With the oil refinery to our left it wasn't the prettiest of anchorages but apart from the wash of ferries we had a peaceful night. The closest Aeolian Island was only 20 miles away so we headed there. By lunchtime we were anchored off the souther tip. Later we moved north to the main anchorage. There we met one of the boats that sailed Bissau with us. The volcano looms over the anchorage, the water bubbles hot and a smell of sulphur is in the air.

6th June

We rolled all night even though there wasn't much wind. Rain at 6am woke us up. Today we passed through the Straits of Messina. We had everything from light to strong winds. The only consistent feature was it blew at us. We had to motor and even when the tide should have been with us it resolutely opposed our progress. Anyway we made it OK and are now at anchor just off the promenade at Milazzo.

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5th June

Although the barometer is dropping there was almost no wind as we motored north to Taormina. On our left was the gloomy presence of mount Etna with a strong of white cloud rising from its summit.

4th June

We spent the morning seeing the sights of Syracuse. Some time ago it was the largest town in the world. Lots of ancient history. We had drinks aboard another British cat and ate dinner with our new best friends, Chris and Carolyn.

3rd June

We made our way north to Syracuse to anchor in the big natural harbour. As we were setting off to shore in the dinghy a Broadblue 435 called Splice came by to say hello. They moored on the town quay where we met them. We walked around the old town and ate in a small restaurant.

1st and 2nd June

Sophie and her lot went yesterday and we spent the day cleaning and tidying. Today we set off heading east. We're at anchor in Porto Pola on the south eastern tip of Sicily.