Belle Hélène: Bandol to Rome ….

Oh well yet another day storm bound in Bandol! Lots more cleaning – J finished the stainless and spent all afternoon cleaning the dinghy. Also fitted Rob’s plate over the hole left by the bow thruster control.

Helen spent the afternoon hard at work out of the wind!

In the evening we rigged up the windlass to recover the dinghy on deck – very successful!

We were treated to a lovely meal of stuffed peppers followed by another brilliant fireworks display just above the boat.

Monday morning – time to leave as the wind had dropped and we needed to get back out to sea!

A quick shopping trip and J went to pay for the mooring and off we were.

We had a great sail to Calvi – 23 hours with slight seas and a following wind. Much more comfortable than our last night’s passage!

Arrival in Calvi.

Managed to get a mooring in the bay – after a quick rest took a trip ashore to the beach where J and his sister Ann spent so many great times during their holiday 30 years ago with Steve Cowley and Amanda Benbow!

Helen had her first swim and we went ashore to have a look at the town – absolutely beautiful.

After a good night’s sleep J went ashore early to get some provisions and the forecast – all looking good for our next step to St Florent.

Apparently the coastline is beautiful between Calvi and St Florent but we didn’t see much of it because we were in thick fog! Thank goodness for radar! We arrived late afternoon in a strong force 5 having had very little wind all day and decided to anchor outside the marina – a very good call as the wind dropped and we had a brilliant night’s sleep.

St Florent is a beautiful place – we went ashore early to pick up a few provisions and had a fab cafe au lait and croissant in town.

Forecast didn’t look too bad – force 3-4 locally 5 in the afternoon so set off early on route for Capraia island. No wind at all in the morning so motor sailed along the East side of the Cap Corse. Helen on dolphin watch – managed to spot a couple which came for a play – beautiful.

Just as we rounded the cap we were hit with 25-30 knot winds – very big seas and unfortunately we were still towing the dinghy which was caught by the wind and sea and turned over! I would have a photo but it was a little too hairy at the time! Quickly decided to turn for shelter and managed to right the dinghy, after losing the seat and a pair of Helen’s flip-flops. Belle Helene did her stuff and coped well.

We managed to anchor in Centuri, a small fishing village on the east side of Cap Corse. J got in the dinghy and the motor started first time! Brilliant!

Centuri is a lovely spot – went ashore for a walk and ice cream.

Many yachts joined us un the anchorage for the night – the wind blew up and the swell was horrible. The worst night yet at anchor!

Oh well – got up very early and checked the forecast – looked OK for a blast straight to Elba.

A lovely sail – managed to get around the Cap Corse without incident – a little calmer this time!

After a pretty sleepless night – managed to get some rest during the day before arriving at the beautiful island of Elba.

Decided to opt for an anchorage as it was very hot. Forecast threatened force 7 from the NW over night so snuck in to a small bay and laid the kedge into the swell – very successful.

Woke early to go to Portefarrio to refuel – managed to get onto the fuel berth before a couple of superyachts!

Filled up and then went into the port to try to get some water. We were met by the harbourmaster who allowed us to moor alongside and fill up. We had to pay though – 35 cents for a tank and a half of water – not bad!

Left the beautiful Portefarrio and headed for an anchorage on the South of the island for the night. Had a brilliant broad reach sail to Port Azzuro. 9.99 knots showing on the log at one stage! Managed to broach the boat though but Helen did her stuff with the main sheet and quickly got us back on track.

Port Azzuro is another beautiful anchorage – when we arrived there were a few boats in but by 6 pm you couldn’t move. Went ashore in the dinghy for provisions and found the supermarket from hell! It was just like Asda’s in Taunton at 7 pm on a Friday night with all the kids running around in their Pyjamas!

Never mind – managed to buy some homemade tortellini, – two portions that lasted us both for two meals, delicious! Had a drink in a bar and returned to the boat for a beautiful evening under the stars.

Decided to get up early the following day and head for Rome! A long trip but an overnight passage would allow us to catch up on a couple of days and get back on schedule for Dubrovnik.

Managed to manoeuvre out of the anchorage at 7.30 am and set course for Rome. The wind was from astern most of the way and managed to goose wing for a time. Sailed past Monte Christo and arrived in Port Turistico de Roma at 2.30 am.

No one around so we picked our own berth and got our heads’ down. We can’t believe we have made it to Rome – Brilliant!!

After some sleep J went to sort out the berth – we had to move but just onto the other side of the pontoon. Paid 30 euros as deposit for the key to the showers and the pontoon and the first thing j does when he returns from the harbourmaster’s office is drop it in the drink! Jumped straight in fully clothed and just managed to catch it about three foot down!

Took two loads of washing to the laundry on the marina and rigged up a washing line on the foredeck – it looked like Who Flung Do’s laundry!

After a rest took the bus and train into Rome and went to have a look around the Coliseum – unfortunately it had just closed but we managed to walk around it.

Had a lovely meal in a small Italian restaurant and returned to the marina for a good rest.

Following morning after a cappuccino and croissant in the local cafe, we ventured back into Rome. Went to St peter’s square and the Basilica in the Vatican and went to see the Sistine Chapel. All absolutely amazing although the tour of the Vatican museum seemed to go on forever!