Greetings from Bonifacio

Nick_H

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Joined
20 Apr 2004
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www.ybw-boatsforsale.com
Well, we're about half way round Corsica on our 3 week trip, first few days were v windy, so we were using small weather windows to hop along the coast, but last couple of days much better, and a couple more calm days are forecast, so we can explore the islands off south Corsica, and trip across to Sardinia.

Difficult to upload piccies on 3G card, but here's a couple to wet the appetite.

Our lunch stop yesterday:

IMGP0074-lunch.jpg

entrance to Bonifacio this evening:
IMGP0107-bon.jpg


Full report when we get back. How's the waether in the UK? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 
Youlook as if you are having fun ! Weather somewhat better than around your permanent berth as well .

Bonifacio amongst my favourite approaches ,, I hope you took some photos when you were wondering where it was !
 
Good stuff. Yesterday's lunch stop looks like one of the bays N side Propriano, but I'm not sure. You got ashore by tender?

Bonifacio is beautiful. Have correct papers (which of course you do) for detax fuel in the port becuase douanes office is right there by the pump!

If you get to the islands in the straits of Boni they're all beautiful but a fab place to anchor is in the Lavezzi islands at 41deg 20.40N, 9deg 15.06E. You can go ashore to a nice beach by tender. Watch out for many sunken rocks as you enter

Further on I love that cala in Spargi, of which I've posted a pic with turquiose sea a few times. Spargi is more a lump of rock than anything else, not inhabited I think, but anyway that Cala is ( +/- one or two calas along the stretch) 41deg 14.30N 9deg 21.54E. Again, you can go ashore, no lines of yellow buoys. White sand beach. Post an updated version of the pic below if you can, cos I haven't seen it for a few years... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Your berth is occupied by a clunky liveaboard ferrocementer. So you're getting lots of rental income. :-)

SardiniaSpargiIsland.jpg
 
Will try and check out those spots over the next couple of days. Good to hear I have some rental income, as most places here are north of 100 euros a night! Eating out is cheaper than I expected though, the battle of the fixed price menu rages, even in the good restaurants. Tonight's meal was dreadful though, I hope Rod and Penny faired better on the table next to us (/shamelessnamesdropping) /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
Did you invite Rod and Penny onto your boat for a quick look round before they have lunch on it next month at Pampelonne? [/assisting you in shameless namedropping]. Were they there on a boat? They charteredd the Aicon 56 (a few doors down from you an me in Antibes) in 2007.
Ben Affleck complimented the chef for the food on my boat the last time he was on it. And that was before I had fitted the new oven [/a bit of shameless name dropping of my own] /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
R&P (as their friends refer to them) are here in a superyacht, moored on its own at the end of the main quay. They strolled past the back of our boat later on, I think they were fishing for an invite on board. We had to refuse, but I did agree to rub sun lotion on Penny's back this morning, seemed the least I could do.
 
Aaahhh, the memories! Sheltering in Bonifacio for three days from a F9.

Porto Vecchio is well worth a visit. Some life around the marina but the old town on the hill is the place to go. Rather than pay extortionate marina fees, it is easy to anchor. To the south of the commercial port is fine provided the wind is not whistling down the valley from the hills. Otherwise the Baie de Stagnolo on the north side of the gulf is sheltered.

Just to the north of Porto Vecchio, the Golfe de San Ciprianu is beautiful with such crystal clear blue water you feel you can lean over and touch the bottom.

I guess you have come down the west coast, but if you are going back that way, it would be a shame, but easy, to miss stopping off in the small rocky inlet on the head at Gargalu, north of Girolata, which has 10m of unbelievably clear water.

Enjoy the islands and northern Sardinia. The islands are mostly barren rocks, but that water! If you think Corsican marinas are expensive, be prepared for worse in Sardinia. Plenty of places to anchor, though.
 
Yes, good stuff fatlady. I dont have a pic of actual ile de Gargalu (and have always wimped out of taking boat thru the passage twixt island and mainland, though I beleive it is possible) but here is one of the stretch. This shot is taken along the coast twixt Girolata and Gargalu, about 1nm south of Gargalu, all red rocks country and beautiful boating/anchorages/swimming in clear water etc...

IMG_4627.sized.jpg
 
I took my Camargue 47 through the passage - no problems.
Looking at the chart, the little inlet I'm talking about is on the mainland at the outer end of the cliff face on the south side of the Baie d'Elbo. You can get the boat into a small pool (big enough for a few boats) between the rocks and the water is soooo clear. Also some caves to dinghy around.

Unfortunately, I don't have photos because it's all on video.
 
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