A week away in Corsica (pics)

[jimmy_the_builder]

I've been enjoying the various end-of-season photo reports posted here ... so here's mine. We have a Fairline Targa 40 that for the last three years has lived in Port Vauban, Antibes, on the French riviera. Although we generally just enjoy the local anchorages, it's nice to try and get away a little further every now and again. This time we decided to head over to north Corsica, initially aiming for St Florent in the NE, and from there, either eastish to Italy, or westish to Scandola, depending on the weather.


This was our first time in St Florent, it's a nice town and like most places in Corsica it seems, very picturesque

You get some good clouds over Corsica. This one was Independence Day over St Florent

After three days in St Florent we headed west along the north coast of Corsica

After Calvi you round Point Revelata and just south of there is a small bay that we've overnighted in before. Really stunning spot

This is a picture from last year.

Then from there, it was south through Scandola, heading for Girolata.


Approach to the Gargalu passage

This is the passage. Looks ok I guess...

... but actually it's quite tight!

Then a bit after Gargula we saw these boats doing another loop round a rock

So we thought we'd have a go

After all that excitement, we arrived at Girolata. I love this place, it's pretty, sheltered, well organised, and all very easy.

There are lots of fish

While we were there, the Mole Sud posse turned up on their way back home from their epic Corscia/Sardinia cruise

The only thing that lowered the tone was a right cow in one of the bars

(continued in next post)

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

We spent a very enjoyable day exploring the Golfe de Girolata in the tender. The water is amazingly clear, we just jumped off the tender every now and then to snorkel about. Here is the amazing hovering tender

Then, after six days in Corsica it was time to head home. It's 110nm in open sea, and Vega is not a big boat, so weather planning is important. The forecast showed a great window to cross early on the Sunday morning, but deteriorating later. We were up early and away at 6am sharp, just before it got light.


This is what happens when you try and take a picture in the pre-dawn light, at 30kts. This is Galaxy, with Rihanna on board. (It was just after 6am, she was probably still up)

After a tiny bit of chop for the first 10nm or so, the sea flattened right off. This is 50nm off shore

We'd been cruising at 30kts, but now that we were halfway across it was time to slow down to a Jenny Wren-esque pootle and have a bit of breakfast. Absolutely on cue, we had company

After 45 mins of bimbling along at 6kts, it was time to get going again. After a while, we saw this suspicious-looking cloud on the horizon

Proper fog. We had about 6nm of 50m visibility, albeit a long way off shore and no traffic

And after that ... we were home! Fab week away.

 

[Poecheng]

Brilliant photos - thanks for allowing me to day dream at the end of the season

 

[longjohnsilver]

You must stop posting pics like this, I'm getting itchy feet, quite fancy some time in the Med, but not for a year or two. So your post is not helping me.

Seriously, great pics, can't wait to go boating in warm, clear waters.

 

[henryf]

Superb Jimmy.

How did you get the tender to float like that in mid air ?

Henry

 

[MrB]

Great write up and great pics, thanks for sharing JTB. :encouragement:

 

[MikeBrazier]

Superb Jimmy.

How did you get the tender to float like that in mid air ?

Henry

Helium instead of air ???

Mike

 

[sharpness]

Great post Jimmy, thanks for sharing. I'm very envious of your cruising ground, it looks idyllic.

Ps. The video of vega posted by JFM, your boat sure does shift along nicely

 

[MYAG]

Lovely pics Jimmy, thanks for posting. Girolata added to my visit list for next year.

 

[rafiki_]

Just adding my appreciation to the others Jimmy. Looked a fantastic trip.

 

[alt]

As I said in another thread 'some day, some day' .... Every time I see one of these threads, it makes me want to bring the boat 'down there'

 

[MapisM]

Great pics and report J, many thanks for sharing the experience.
You don't remember the name of the wooden boat moored to port side of the Tornado in your second pic, I suppose?
She very much looks like an Azzurro, the same yard which built my boat...

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Great pics and report J, many thanks for sharing the experience.
You don't remember the name of the wooden boat moored to port side of the Tornado in your second pic, I suppose?
She very much looks like an Azzurro, the same yard which built my boat...

This one? I'm afraid I don't; those berths were all visitors, so that boat was only there for a day or so iirc. There's a distinctive roundel on the 'c' pillar of the saloon; does that identify the builder?

 

[MapisM]

does that identify the builder?

Yep, but not what I thought. She's a Motomar, in fact.
At least a decade older than mine (which ain't exactly a baby... ), I would guess.
A fine vessel anyhow, back in her days. And she looks very well maintained too!

 

[wakeup]

Great pics Jimmy, St Florette looks nice. Did you get any of the restaurants or castle in Girolata.

 

[volvopaul]

Great post jimmy, I will take another look on I pad tonight as pics will be awesome on a bigger screen.

 

[Pinnacle]

JtB. Good to see you are willing to put up with all manner of discomfort to be able to continue to post such reports. I appreciate it's tough, but do, please keep taking the pain!

 

[scubaman]

Superb pics and simply amazing scenery, Jimmy. That Gargalu place looks fascinating (as does everything really...). Can't believe how clear the water is...

Posts like these do get one considering the options of getting over there.

Thank you for posting.

 

[djefabs]

Hi Jimmy
Thanks for the report, makes us very envious. I agree that Girolata is a fabulous place certainly one of our favourite's as well. Good to know your still having fun out there.

 

[lanerboy]

thanks Jimmy great pics and wright up make me want to go south NOW lol