Escape from the Boat yard

Well we decided we had to get out of the Marina and Boat yard at Marina do Ragusa or we would go nuts. The weather is incredibly hot and in the marina it is stifling and you can’t swim. Have been forgoing outside in the dingy each day and swimming.

Anyway so on Friday decided to take two friends, Nick and MAddie, who we meet two years ago, and also have a Fountaine-Pajot and set off for a “sail”. Didn’t manage to leave until noon as too busy tidying up the boat to go to sea.

Maddie is very good at the “keep everything out of the sun”, says she is leading the future trend. My daughter Izi totally agrees with his dress code as her skin is as prone to sunburn as Maddie’s!!

We were all very keen to go . Left the marina, had a swim straight away as the yacht floated away on the current – a steady 0.5kt and calm.

Wind came in very light 5kts so up go the number 1 and the main and we toddle off at 2 kts!! Under sail we reached a maximum of 4 kts and after lunch and some consideration we decided that if we wanted to reach our destination before dark and on Saturday we would motor sail – typical Mediterranean.

We arrived at Isola do Capo Passero on the SE corner of Sicily around 7pm. Quite a few boats still around but as normal most left for the night and only three larger boats stayed.

Next day we had a slow start, late breakfast and swim, then decided we really needed to walk to the Torre before the hordes of people arrived. It was just so nice to be anchored out again that you did not feel like moving.

Anyway off for the hike over the island.

To the north is a tonnara, dating to the thirteenth century, now abandoned and where you can still see a number of large rusty anchors used to attach heavy nets to the bottom of the sea that led to the tuna “death chambers” in the caves in the cliffs.

In the center of the island is populated by dwarf palms which have been newly classified as a protected species.

The main structure is the 16th century fortress of Charles V, that was probably built on something that already existed and that occupied the highest part of Capo Passero. It was built to protect against pirates and has a square plan and stands, elevated, to 22 meters high. Atop this structure is a lighthouse. The entranceway faces the sea and not the land and the crest at the entrance is almost worn off.

There are very few exterior windows but a large central courtyard can be ween through the grated door. The Madonna and Baby are on the plinth.

After walking up cross country we found the path down.

I then swam back to the yacht via the caves in the cliffs. Many tiny fish (1cm-5cm) but no large ones. It was great to have a good swim.

Then, unfortunately it was time to leave. as all breeze of 5kts had come up and we wet off to sail home. Several hours and several tacks later the after a nice breeze of 10 kts and speed of around 5 kts but already 7pm we decided that reverting to motoring the rest of the way to make it before 10 back at Marina do Ragusa.

we arrived with 15minutes to spare and so got the help and a great welcome back from the ormeggiatori. Feels like we belong here!!

A lovely weekend and great to be out of the marina.

Note: This is out of sequence but blogs relating to the period in Marina do Ragusa follow shortly as will some videos when I have them sorted!!