Sardinia Summer 2015

[Deleted User YDKXO]

One of the nicest is the road that goes to the lighthouse, on the W coast.

Yup we did that run in our rental car. Lovely spot. Another thing we enjoyed touring the island were the signs explaining the geological formations. We also found this cala on the north side of the island. Is this an anchoring spot, Mapism, or is the seabed too rocky?

 

[Hurricane]

that's the preferred transport system on the island .

Ahh - that explains something.
On our bike ride to the south of the island we passed a local guy - also on an electric bike.
He saw us again later when we were having the ice creams and he waved at us as he rode past.
Something (electric bikes) in common we thought.

BTW these fold up electric bikes are one of the most useful things that we have bought for the boat.
Ours Look a bit stupid but we bought side paniers and handle bar canvas baskets for them.
And with the luggage support over the rear wheel, two bikes can carry all the provisions from a full supermarket shopping trolley.
Crates of beer stack nicely on the back!
We bought the first ones 6 years ago
Got 4 of them now - all on board.
So thats 3 spare batteries for mine!!
Seriously though, on the island recently, we have been taking the spare batteries with us - just in case we run out of power.
In fact they have been managing without running out.

 

[MapisM]

We also found this cala on the north side of the island. Is this an anchoring spot, Mapism, or is the seabed too rocky?

That's called "Cala Fico", and it's exactly half way between the markers "Capo Sandalo" and "Cala Vinagra" in the map I sent you.
Pretty exposed to Mistral, but completely flat with the Scirocco.
And yep, the seabed is all rocky, but actually it is also in Capo Sandalo - that's not a big problem normally, because you can see clearly the bottom and pick a good spot also in 10+ metres of water.
There's another reason why I didn't mark it though, which is not obvious from your pic: Cala Fico is shaped like a long natural harbour (wihch makes it sheltered from all winds but Mistral), but it's pretty narrow.
With a 20m boat, plus say 25m chain, you obviously need almost a 100m circle to avoid the risk of going aground, and that bay is not wide enough. Perfectly fine for a RIB, though.

Apropos, I forgot to mention so far: all around the island there are several beautiful but very tight spots, only just reachable with boats up to 6 or 7 metres.
Of course, one option is using the tender, but I would rather want at least a 5m rib to make the whole circumnavigation, unless you find a day with flat seas everywhere, as Hurric did for his crossing.
FYI, the marina has some boats available for rent, that are just the right size for this purpose.

 

[MapisM]

Ahh - that explains something.
On our bike ride to the south of the island we passed a local guy - also on an electric bike.
He saw us again later when we were having the ice creams and he waved at us as he rode past.
Something (electric bikes) in common we thought.

Not long ago, there were talks of restricting the whole island to any sort of thermal combustion vehicle.
The idea encountered a lot of oppositions though, also among the locals. It's a pity that it didn't fly...

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Thanks Mapism

 

[jfm]

restricting the whole island to any sort of thermal combustion vehicle.

Haha! Drive an electric car and move your emissions to the next town along, where the power generation station is located...

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Haha! Drive an electric car and move your emissions to the next town along, where the power generation station is located...

Not to mention the fact that just across the water from Carloforte in Portovesme is the biggest aluminium smelting plant you ever saw. The pollution and electricity consumption of that place will dwarf any green willy waving gestures that the island of S Pietro can make

In any case, if they're going to ban thermal combustion vehicles, doesn't that mean they're going to ban motorboats too?

 

[MapisM]

LOL, I should have seen these objections coming, from the 12V guzzlers fans!
Though Deleted User has a point re. banning also mobos, I must say.
They didn't go anywhere near these details in that project, I reckon. But I guess that they wouldn't have gone that far anyway, for very obvious reasons.

That aside, there are several BUTs to your comments:
1) the alu plant was dismissed a couple of years ago. There are talks of converting Portovesme harbour (whose depth is considerable) in a marina capable to host also megayachts, but I'm not sure I'll live long enough to see it...
2) as Deleted User and Hurric surely noticed, in Portovesme (which is the "next town along", in jfm sense), there's a large wind farm, recently built, and currently underutilized.
3) imho, the idea would have fitted nicely with the overall size and the relaxed atmosphere of the island, contributing to the touristic vocation of the place.

Last but not least, jfm, you should know by now that I'm good at finding previous posts...
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...ctive-Lithium-Batteries&p=5277039#post5277039
Do tell, at which next town along were you thinking exactly, while driving the Tesla S in London?

 

[EME]

Great post Mike. Haven't been on for ages but smashing read -- thank you.

Love the upholstery .. lush -- as they'd say in Barry Island.

Looking forward to the rest of th thread.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

2) as Deleted User and Hurric surely noticed, in Portovesme (which is the "next town along", in jfm sense), there's a large wind farm, recently built, and currently underutilized.

Large being a relative term There are indeed a few windmills scattered on a hillside above the aluminium plant some of which were lazily turning when we went past and others which were not. Not sure they will generate enough leccy to recharge jfm's Tesla though let alone drive the aircon plant on my boat

 

[MapisM]

Well yeah, everything in life is relative.
But those few windmills are actually 39, capable of 2.3MW each, and at 90MW overall it's the largest wind farm in Italy.
Your a/c must be pretty demanding, if it's not happy with that sort of power....

 

[jfm]

Last but not least, jfm, you should know by now that I'm good at finding previous posts...

You are The Grand Master previous post finder

Do tell, at which next town along were you thinking exactly, while driving the Tesla S in London?

In that post I was praising the Tesla as a driving machine, not making any point of its green (or black) credentials. Here in UK the electricity to charge the beast would mostly be fossil fuel because we have so little wind and nuclear. Different story in nuclear France of course, but that opens up a whole nuther debate...

I was at the Monaco eGrand Prix, weekend before last. Electric cars, and they claimed a green backstory because the batteries are charged by hydrogen fuel cells. Conveniently there was no mention of where they got the energy to split the hydrogen! I suppose in Monaco it was mostly nuclear to be fair, but not the other races in the series

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Well yeah, everything in life is relative.
But those few windmills are actually 39, capable of 2.3MW each, and at 90MW overall it's the largest wind farm in Italy.
Your a/c must be pretty demanding, if it's not happy with that sort of power....

What I suspect you have quoted there, M, is the maximum capacity or whats called the nameplate capacity. However windmills generally have a very low capacity factor because of course wind is a highly variable and the windmills actually have to be shut down if the wind speeds are too high. Here in the UK, windmills have capacity factors of 20-25% or less and I suspect it might be lower still in Sardinia so your 90MW might be more like an average of 20MW in reality

Yup 20MW just about drives my a/c and the SWMBO's hair curler

Anyway we've highjacked this thread enough now and I guess we ought to return to boating matters now

 

[Hurricane]

I've never been into Addaia. Would I get Match in there?

Sorry for the late reply - internet on the island went down yesterday.

Addaia
Yes - I'm sure that Match would get in safely.
The anchorage might get busy in the height of the season but thats the same anywhere.
Read the pilots - it is a tricky entrance but well marked.

Here's a chartlet showing the way in - it is very shallow either side of the marked channel.

These shots were taken a couple of years ago when we anchored in there.
Muddy bottom so it is advisable to wash the chain as the anchor is recovered.
Maybe a chain washer would be a good addition for Match!!

If you do go in, the shoreside restaurants look like they need a visit.
There is a small bar in the marina but take a walk up the hill out of the marina and there a couple more that look good.

Try the place sometime.
Much nice than Fornells - IMO
I think you said that your plans will take you nearby this summer.

BTW have you been into Es Grau?

 

[Hurricane]

Just looked at the weather forecast and it looks like we are going to be tied to this marina for a while.
Only one day in the next 10 that isn't going to be windy.
I suppose that we had our luck on the passages to here.
Now we will just have to sit it out.
OTOH it is a lovely town - lots of restaurants to try out - maybe more bike rides.
I'll finish that video sometime during this windy weather as well.

 

[MapisM]

Fwiw, the locals have an old saying for the Mistral blows, "either 3 or 7", which refers to the number of the days they usually last. And believe it or not, most of the time it's true.
Re. forecasts, personally I don't even look at those longer than 3 days. In my experience the chances that they are right are just about the same of tossing a coin.
That said, I hope it doesn't sound too much as schadenfreude if I say that there would be some justice if the weather would improve just by the time of our arrival....

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Addaia
Yes - I'm sure that Match would get in safely.

Much nice than Fornells - IMO
I think you said that your plans will take you nearby this summer.

BTW have you been into Es Grau?

We visited Addaia during our time in the Balearics and Fornells and Es Grau too. Agree that Match would get into Addaia no prob even though the entrance is tight. Wouldn't recommend the marina at all, at least based on our experience a few years ago. It seemed very run down and the leccy supply was pathetic. Didn't care too much for the town either; as you say the restaurants near the port looked uninviting although there were a couple more up the hill

Not sure why you are ambivalent about Fornells. IMHO its a better anchorage than Addaia because its a lot bigger and the holding seems v good. We sat out a mistral anchored in Fornells. We also quite liked the town. Seemed a lot livelier than Addaia

Es Grau is an excellent anchorage and is well protected by that offshore island. You can tuck in behind that island too but IIRC its very shallow if you go in too far. The village at Es Grau is pleasant enough too

The only word of caution I would mention and this applies not to Es Grau but Fornells and particularly Addaia. If there is a mistral blowing, leaving both Addaia and Fornells can be quite lumpy so make sure everything and everybody is secured before you leave the anchorage

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Just looked at the weather forecast and it looks like we are going to be tied to this marina for a while.
Only one day in the next 10 that isn't going to be windy.

Mmm, this is not what it said in Mapism's brochure! I should ask for your money back, H

 

[Andrew M]

Without tempting the weather gods

And finally - here is our anchor bridle (see other threads) after a wash and check.

Hi , the info on anchor bridles has been great, thanks. I'm getting all the bits together to make one up.

One question please...... what ends do you leave on the lines that come aboard through the fairleads. ie , the ends of the lines that disappear out the top of the photo ? I can't find and don't know if it's best to put in a loop to go onto the cleats or leave them unfinished and just tie them both off to the cleats ?

Thanks,

Andy

 

[Hurricane]

Without tempting the weather gods

And finally - here is our anchor bridle (see other threads) after a wash and check.

Hi , the info on anchor bridles has been great, thanks. I'm getting all the bits together to make one up.

One question please...... what ends do you leave on the lines that come aboard through the fairleads. ie , the ends of the lines that disappear out the top of the photo ? I can't find and don't know if it's best to put in a loop to go onto the cleats or leave them unfinished and just tie them both off to the cleats ?

Thanks,

Andy

I've got a soft eye spliced into each end but I think thats a bit naughty.
We then loop them through the deck cleats.
Could take time if we needed to release it quickly.
Still, as said earlier, the hook comes off as the chain is winched in anyway.
The advantage of soft eyes is that the lengths are exactly the same so we just loop each one over the deck cleats - thus no adjustment required.
Thats what we do anyway.