20th August – Goodbye to Corsica
Monday 20th August: Saint Florent
I had flying withdrawal symptoms so we went ashore to the water sports centre to try and get a ride on the flying boat but they said it would need to be at 1700 as already other bookings for the morning. We agreed to return then. I then headed off to town to try and find someone to do my hair. As always the option of flying came first. Anyway I found a salon which had the door open with one person in it. I found that they couldn’t speak English but the lady who was getting her hair done told me that they were not open and so could I do it the next day. When I said no and we were going they agreed to do it then. They were marvellous – great colour and great cut – my hair needed it and I was starting to feel like a ragged boatie.
What was more interesting though was the other lady having her hair done was getting married that day – all the official forms and a family dinner, then a cathedral wedding the next day with a reception at the citadel. Followed by a third day with lunch for close friends. The couple were from Paris – but he had a holiday house in Saint Florent and they both loved the town. I asked how many guests– 2500 – amazing!!!!
1700 arrived and we went of to go fly but the wind was up and the water way too rough. Had a good chat to the friendly pilot and paragliders as they had been up all afternoon and said the wind was “shit” all over the place and not good paragliding either. They offered to pick me up from the boat if the wind dropped. Their program for the neft few days was very full. Lots of water sports here – sailing, skiing, floating seat rides, jet skis , parapenting, flying boat , gyrocopter etc etc. All very friendly.
Back to the boat to watch Hew and James take some more wires out while trying to find a path for some cockpit speakers. I think James has caught the boat fiddlers disease – or like father like son!!
Cocktail hour entertainment in Saint Florent is the same as Bonifacio – watching boats racing each other to get into the harbor and if they can’t they just anchor off the entrance – all around us. The bigger ones need to back in also like Bonifacio. Obviously a very popular town and marina. Nearly all people on the anchored boats seem to go in for dinner. We opted for the BBQ on board by the chief chef!!
Forecast for tomorrow good but a front passing through overhead so will wait and see. Unfortunately no flying today.
Tuesday 21st August
We departed Saint Florent and we about 45 mins out when our flying friends rang and said they had a cancellation – unfortunately we had already departed so decided we better keep going – very sad.
We stopped at Porto Centuri – an old fishing village – as it seemed a good place for a swim and lunch . We walked around and loved the little town. It is a tiny port with the houses all close to the boats and many of the houses were now restaurants. It is beautiful how they present the tables even in the smallest restaurants and loved the menu on the tree. Also everywhere we found it refreshing how they combine old with new in the buildings. They are lucky that of course there is so many old buildings to chose from as well Many of the islands around corrsica and Sardinia had spare buildings in them that were not being used. The people have left the villages and not come back in many cases.
Anchoring outside was easy and James and I snorkeled around the rocks but not much to be seen. We decided to stay for the night.
Wednesday 22nd August: Motored round to Machinaggio in very light winds – some spectacular view of the cliffs. Had good look around the town and lunch. Could have easily stayed another day. but decided to move on while the weather was good as forecast high winds later in the week.
This was our last stop in Corsica and we were sad to leave. the island has very high mountains and lusher than Sardinia so some spectacular views. Where Sardinia was all about the super yachts, very large fast RIBs and expensive hotels – Corsica was much more about family sailing. We loved the Torres on nearly every point and also all the citadels in nearly every town. As Hew said the bread and croissants were definitely french and not italian.
James has also put up a photo album of his shots in Corsica which are great.
