Getting from Sicily to the Ionian

I wish Zig, the new Whisker Pole was shipped yesterday so that the mast track can be altered to fit, the new Mikuni heater goes in a week or so to be fitted, the second-hand water-maker goes out in a week to be fitted, most of the stainless steel work now done but drogue fittings to be worked out, last of the electrics almost finished. Just a small list of other outstanding jobs to complete plus the lack of power from the engine to sort out and the palace will be ready to go!!!!
I worked the route out on "My Maps" (Google) which is subject to change but I can email you the link if you want to look at it?
Jim
 
We are in Port Napoleon, currently on the hard but "the man" will be putting her back in after a couple of weeks to sort out the power problem - possible HP pump or similar. The maximum revs have been decreasing over the past year or so. Thought it was weed at first but she's clean and we could only get 1400rpm. The engine itself is fine so somewhere in the supply line we think.
I also want a couple of horizontal "chainplates" at the stern, but quite sturdy, to take a series drogue. A bit silly really as I don't aim to be out in that sort of weather !!!!!!
I imagine we will get away around the time you arrive but - hey - it's a boat.
 
Moodyjim said:
We are in Port Napoleon, currently on the hard but "the man" will be putting her back in after a couple of weeks to sort out the power problem - possible HP pump or similar. The maximum revs have been decreasing over the past year or so. Thought it was weed at first but she's clean and we could only get 1400rpm. The engine itself is fine so somewhere in the supply line we think.
I also want a couple of horizontal "chainplates" at the stern, but quite sturdy, to take a series drogue. A bit silly really as I don't aim to be out in that sort of weather !!!!!!
I imagine we will get away around the time you arrive but - hey - it's a boat.
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Hope you sort the engine problems out. I had a funny, just no power - idled OK, but just had no power. Turned out to be that I hadthe fuel tap off, and it was managing to suck just enough from the closed tap (apparently). Phew!

Check the exhaust hose for collapse as well, could be fuel starvation - or exhaust restrictions. Bon Chance.....
 
Which way around Sardinia?

No one has really answered that question! If you are coming down the west side of Corsica, I think I would keep going that way. You might go into Bonifacio, then perhaps across to Sardinia, (Stintino? - may be memory lapse), out west and south to Alghero. A couple of places you can stop, then Caroloforte on St Pietro to the south west, across and into Cagliari if you want, otherwise Vilasimius for a good departure towards Sicily. The islands on the NW are worth visiting, bays on the way to Palermo, or up to the Aeolian islands.

To be honest we never completed the circumnavigation of Sardinia, but there isn't much south of La Caletta.

We have always skipped the foot of Italy, making straight to/from either Brindisi (around the corner) or the Ionian (Nidri) with landfalls at Syracusa, or departure from the bay under Etna, whose name I forget.

Its all in boring (I don't mean that) on www.syfuga.co.uk if you want to look it up.
 
Which way round Sardinia?

If your heading for the Straits of Messina I'd go down the E side of Sardinia. More places to stop on route.
As regards the Bonafacio Straits, I would get through the straits and stop round the top NE side of Sardinia, loads of sheltered spots.
The weather in the straits can turn very quickly and you could end up being stuck there for a few days.
About 20 miles S of the Messina is a very good 'western style' marina called Riposto, just under Mount Etna. Lovely town with a market and bakers etc.Siracusa is another 36 miles further on. Great place.
Agree with other guys that there is nothing in the Straits worth stopping for.
Messina hasn't a fuel pontoon but the town is lovely and great trams!
 
John, thanks for that useful info, I have also looked at the website - I will avoid the pitfalls of the Port Police - anyone know what Corfu is like to register with?

Also - will have learnt from your unusual anchoring procedure on going bows to!!!:eek:
 
Chris_Robb said:
Thanks Charles - seems I highjacked Jims thread!

Any views on which Sardinian coast to do - east or west?
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I tend to the W side, Mainly because of the superb restaurant (La Ghingella) in Portoscuso, overlooking the rock and close to the Venetian tower.

Alghero - Portoscuso - Cagliari, but watch out for the maze of sandbanks between Carloforte and the mainland.

If you go E-about Elba is a useful stopping-off place.

More importantly go W about Sicily - don't follow the lemmings.

Most go through Messina - nasty, brutish passage. Only virtue is that it's soon over,
Go W about Sicily - Marsala with its exceptional wines, the Greek ruins of Agricento and Siracusa the jewel of Sicily - Don Camillo is another superb restaurant on Ortigia island.
 
Entry via Corfu

From Italy we entered Greece via Gouvia Marina on Corfu last Sept. Arrived about 09:30. Was previously a "one-stop shop" at the Port Police there, but now you have to go to the tax office in Corfu town first (taxi or No 7 bus) to pay €30? tax and then back to Port Police, complete a crew list, and pay a further €15? for your DEKRA. All relatively painless and friendly. NB: Port Police only work mornings!
Dave
 
charles_reed said:
I tend to the W side, Mainly because of the superb restaurant (La Ghingella) in Portoscuso, overlooking the rock and close to the Venetian tower.

Alghero - Portoscuso - Cagliari, but watch out for the maze of sandbanks between Carloforte and the mainland.

If you go E-about Elba is a useful stopping-off place.

More importantly go W about Sicily - don't follow the lemmings.

Most go through Messina - nasty, brutish passage. Only virtue is that it's soon over,
Go W about Sicily - Marsala with its exceptional wines, the Greek ruins of Agricento and Siracusa the jewel of Sicily - Don Camillo is another superb restaurant on Ortigia island.
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Just to clarify - you mean go round anti clockwise along the south coast? This would mean we would miss the Aolean Islands.
 
charles_reed said:
<<Also - will have learnt from your unusual anchoring procedure on going bows to!!!>>

You'd be well advised unless you KNOW there's deep water to go bows to in many Greek harbours.
It does mean you need a good stern bower.
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Yes I do remember from a previous charter that many quays had rubble bases. We have a rather oversize fortress which I have never used before.
 
Our route last May was E side of Sardinia down to the south to Villasimius(where you can anchor outside the marina) then across to Tripani on Sciliy.(there are free mooring buoys within the harbour wall). Then onto Sciacca about a days sail away. Stayed in marina.Following day early start to sail to Gozo which is about 16hrs away.
I mentioned the Straits of Messina route as I thought if you are going to follow the S coast of Italy this is probably the shortest route up to Corfu. I’ve done this particular route 20 odd times in my yacht delivery days.
There is another Tax office between Gouvia marina and Corfu Town, the marina staff will advise.We paid €30 for the tax and €30 for the taxi!
 
syfuga said:
We have always skipped the foot of Italy, making straight to/from either Brindisi (around the corner) or the Ionian (Nidri) with landfalls at Syracusa, or departure from the bay under Etna, whose name I forget.
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Taormina - spent 3 fabulous weeks anchored there in the summer of 2007 and, during some R & R in Riposto marina, saw Etna erupt over several days, and the boat got covered in ash. All in all, and unforgettable few weeks!!

When I was planning a single handed trip from Malta to Greece, (which didnt come to fruition), my plan was to day hop to Taormina, via Porto Palo and Syracusa, before heading off to the Italian mainland, (probably Rocella IIRC).
 
Sardinia - Sicily

Both Sardinia and Sicily are described with a fair bit of detail on my web site, with nice big blue blobs on the map pages to identify places worth visiting and 'must sees'.

When choosing a route to Greece from France, many people rush it. Fine, if you don't have time. But if you do have time (or can make time) there are some really great spots en route. For instance, I arrived in the Aeolians, then did an anticlock around the whole of Sicily to Taormina (4 weeks, could be done in 2 and still hit the high spots) then set off for long hops to Greece. Great experience.

Corsica and Sardinia the same - lots to see. Me? Yes, SW corner of Sardinia is interesting, making the long hop down the rather more exposed west coast worth while. And in high summer this avoids the rather strong SE sea breezes that build along the E coast.
 
quite right

charles_reed said:
<<Also - will have learnt from your unusual anchoring procedure on going bows to!!!>>

You'd be well advised unless you KNOW there's deep water to go bows to in many Greek harbours.
It does mean you need a good stern bower.
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one of at least three advantages and one disadvantage of going bows to. is that the engine/gear can be cut 2 boats lengths before hitting the wall. use the kedge. no noise of rattling chain.threading the way out in the morning is a dream ,even if you need to lift your rope or someones chain its easier. the pointed end gets into places that heiniken cant reach
sit in the cockpit at least 8metres from the scooters. nobody tries to bounce off your passerelle. nobody counts your cans of beer.disadvantage, you need a system to dismount over the bow,which discounts an over enthusiastic run ashore. tongue in cheek. cant wait for summer. even though greece is in shock and horror
 
re Bows-to anchoring on town quays.

The concern about using a relatively lighweight kedge and chain/warp combination if anchoring bows to is obviously well placed. Apart from the reduced holding power, it means you can't use your windlass to recover the hook and can end up with a pile of bottom crud where you least want it -- in the cockpit.

However, there's no reason that with a little forethought you can't use your bower to berth bows-to:
1. flake out, say, 15 metres of anchor rode. Make a suitable warp fast to a stern cleat and the chain that distance from the hook, having fed the line outside stanchions etc.
2. head for the quay (fairly slowly if no cross-wind) and at the appropriate distance drop the bower, at the same time putting the engine into neutral. Keep a light tension on the line to keep it away from the prop. The chain can be positively paid out, or allowed to run on the windlass clutch, as desired.
3. If necessary to maintain way, drive can be engaged again once the stern has cleared the line.
4. Tie up and adjust tension on the line to the chain.

The boat is now bow-to, with the anchor chain lying under its entire length and astern of the boat to the bower. There is little or no load on the chain at the bow, so it can be allowed to hang away from the topsides. Holding is helped by the fact that the line is held by heavy chain in two directions.

To leave the quay, haul back on the line until clear of other boats. If someone is maintaining tension on the line, this can be power-assisted. Then recover the hook as per normal.

It sounds complicated, but once you get your head around it, it's not so bad. I've used the technique single-handed (a bit of a struggle...not enough hands). It's much easier if you have crew to attend to the line and chain. And it works.
 
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