We started our last cruise with an experienced crew on September 23rd 2012: Christian Singer, Gerhard Rothfuss und Gerhard Westphal. In the evening we anchored west of the port of Scoglitti and had a wonderful fish dinner at the famous Sakello.
Next day we hoisted our red Blister and rounded Capo Passero with 9 kn speed. We moored in Syracusa and had dinner at Taverna Sveva. Early next morning we set sail northeast in the direction of Calabria, Capo Spartivento. The wind turned and became weaker, so we finally moored next noon in Bocche Gallipari, where Gerhard Westphal cooked his legendary potato gulasch.
On the 28th we turned west and had a smooth sailing to Taormina until 04:00 early morning. We had luck and fetched a buoy in splendid Mazzaro Bay near the famous cable car. A visit to the ancient town and a good dinner at Al Duomo ended a nice resting day in beautiful surroundings. Next day, after Christian left us to fly back to Vienna, we hoisted our blister again and sailed straight through Messina Strait with considerable speed.
Rounding Capo Pelloro the wind became stronger, so we had to change to 2nd reef main sail and genua. Finally after rounding Capo Milazzo we moored in Porto Rosa. Next day we sailed west in strong winds and partly heavy rain to Mondelo Bay, where we anchored in the early morning. After some hours sleep we continued to Trapani, where we moored early evening at Vento Maestrale.
Next morning we started with strong winds and heavy seas along the south coast of Sicily to Sciacca, where we moored at the pontoon of our friends of Lega Navale and hat a tradtional fish dinner at Il Faro. The next day brought us to San Leone, where my crew visited Agrigento. On our last day we sailed back to Licata and on October 5th 2012 we made Sea of Joy ready for winter and flew back home.
This cruise took 11 days with 123 hours sailing a distance of 664 sm. You may download our track in gpx-format or view it directly on Google Maps.
On August 18th 2012 our friends Gusti and Richard Stastny arrived in Palermo and next morning we sailed west to Trapani, having a swim at Capo Le Vito enroute, and moored at Vento Maestrale in Trapani harbor. We had good dinner at Al Muro and then a nice evening walk along the northern town wall.
In the next three days we explored the Egadian Islands: first we rounded and anchored at Levanzo, then Marettimo and finally Favignana and enjoyed the clear waters and impressive views.
On August 23rd we set sail along the south coast of Sicily to Sciacca, where we moored at Lega Navale, had a steep walk up to the top of Sciacca, where we had a very good dinner at Il Grappolo.
From Sciacca we sailed to San Leone, where we visited Valle dei Tempi in Agrigento in the evening and had fish at Il Pescatore in San Leone. Next morning my daughter Sophie left us to fly back home via Catania and we continued futher east to our home port of Licata. From Licata we crossed the Straits of Sicily to Gozo, where we moored at Mgarr Marina and had dinner at it-Tmun. Next day we continued to Msida Creek in Malta, where we bunkered diesel and then moored at Grand Harbour Marina, visited Valetta and had dinner at Ambrosia.
Next day we rounded the southern coast of Malta, then sailed north along the west coast and anchored in The Blue lagoon. August 29th we crossed back to Sicily, rounded Capo Passero and dropped anchor there in the north east bay. Next day we continued north to Syracusa, where we moored at Marina Yachting and had a traditional dinner at Vite e Vitello. After a nice sailing north via Brucoli we moored again in Catania harbor at at Diporto Nautico Etneo and had a leisurely dinner in the backstreets of catania at Metro.
Next day Gusti and Richard left for Austria and my new crew boarded: Aaron Kaplan, Christian Proschinger and Stefan Lenzhofer from cert.at . We visited Catania town and had a welcome dinner at Osteria Antica. On September 2nd we started from Catania and sailed in rather strong winds via Brucoli to Syracusa.
Next day we endured severe thunderstorms, so we stayed in Syracusa at Marina Yachting. On September 4th we sailed across the Straits of Sicily to the Blue Lagoon, where we dropped anchor at 03:00 in the morning.
After a good sleep and some bathing we sailed south on the west side of Malta, rounded the bay of Marsaxlokk and moored again in Grand Harbour Marina between Senglea and Vittoriosa. Next day we bunkered diesel in Msida and sailed back to Licata, where our cruise ended on September 7th 2012.
This cruise took 17 days with 154 hours sailing a distance of 736sm. You may download our track in gpx-format or view it directly on Google Maps.
My next crew Shirani and Kurt arrived August 4th 2012 evening, and we went to the fishmarket for the traditional dinner at Osteria Antica. Next morning we sailed north to Taormina and anchored again south of the railway station. From Taormina we sailed north tacking through Messina Strait and finally moored at a bouy near the harbor of Scilla and visited impressive Castello Ruffo.
Next day we continued further north, rounded Capo Vaticano and moored at Tropea Marina. In the evening we climbed up to the old City and enjoyed the medieval buildings, bought the famous red onions, and had a late and traditional dinner at Osteria del Pescatore. On August 8th with weak northerly winds we sailed west to Stromboli, where we looked at the vulcano late at night and anchored as usual northeast of the village. Next day we sailed via a swimming-stop at Panarea to Lipari, where we anchored south of the city, visited the castle, and had dinner at Kasbah. In the morning we continued to Vulcano, and moored at Marina Nautico Levante.
Late afternoon we climbed up to the crater, smelled sulfur, and looked over all Aeolian Islands from the summit. I ruined my boots on the hot surface, but made it back to our boat finally. On July 11th we sailed southeast to Milazzo and moored at Marina Nettuno, where my old crew left and my daughter Sophie came on board and we had a welcome dinner at Al Bagatto.
Next day westerly winds brought us back to Stromboli, where we joined an excursion to the summit of the vulcano in the evening. After a 4 hours climb we looked down in the glowing crater, experienced smashing explosions and rains of vulcanic ash. Climbing down through fields of ash, which was like skiing in snow, we arrived on board after midnight. We motored to our usual viewing place at the foot of Sciara del Fueco and enjoyed some more explosions with a good glas of Nero d'Avola. After some sleep at anchor north of Stromboli village we spent a day of rest at anchor in Zimari Bay south of Panarea.
After sunset we anchored east of Marina Corta, Lipari and had a good dinner at Kasbah. Early on August 16th we sailed west to Palermo and spent the night at anchor in Mondello Bay. Next day afternoon we moored in Palermo at SalPancore and had dinner at Cibus,
After a day visiting the markets and sights of Palermo we waited for two more crew-members to continue our cruise.
This cruise took 13 days with 83 hours sailing a distance of 375sm. You may download our track in gpx-format or view it directly on Google Maps.
On July 14th 2012 with nice weather and some northerly wind my wife and I started early and sailed to the nice people from Lega Navale in Sciacca, where we had dinner at Grapellini. Next day brought us to Mazzarro di Vallo and again we were guests of the local Lega Navale crew. All local people where at a important religious processione and we moved with them to our very good dinner at La Bettola.
Next morning we visited many local cultural sites in Mazzarro di Vallo and then went to our quiet anchor place south of Favignana, Tremity Islands.
Next day sailing west to Marettimo in strong northerly winds the head of our genua broke. So we set course to Trapani harbor, were we moored at Trapani Boat Service to meet a sailmaker. Sig. Nicola Lombardo repaired it in one day and his wife climbed into the mast to help us to hoist the genua again.
In the meantime we visited Erice by cable car, enjoyed the beatiful buildings in Trapani, and had 2 remarkable dinners at Al Solito Posto and Caupona Tarverna.
On July 19th we sailed northeast to Terrassini harbor, where the Guardia Costiera forced us in strong winds away from our nice anchor place to moor at a dirty old footbridge and pay a mooring fee of 60 Eur. Next day we sailed early to Mondelo Bay north of Palermo and a long good swim in clear water and strong current. In the evening we motored to La Cala, the city harbor of Palermo, where we had a secure mooring place at SalPancore.
Late at night my son Matthias and his girlfriend Isabella arrived to join us for the next eight days. After a day full of sightseeing in Palermo and nice dinner at Cibus we continued to Cefalu, where we moored in the easterly harbor in a strong thunderstorm.
On July 24th we sailed northeast to the Aeolian Islands. South of Filicudi a group of dolphins joined us for a while. After some more hours we anchored south of the harbor of Salina, where we had a nice evening walk and a good seafood dinner at nniLausta. Next morning we went to Panarea and anchored in Baja Milazzese and had a lazy swim. At midnight we set sail further northeast to Stromboli, where we enjoyed the explosions of the vulcano north of Sciara del Fueco around midnight. After getting some sleep at anchor northeast Stromboli we continued south first to Basiluzzo and then Dattilo, where we had a nice swim, regardless of some small medusa.
In the evening we moored at Marine Service in Lipari and had extraordinary pizza at La Cambusa. Next morning we visited Lipari town, bought some fresh food, bunkered diesel and then continued to Vulcano Porto Levante. After visiting the sulfur baths we continued south and spent the night anchoring east of of Capo Gelso.
Next morning we sailed southeast thru Messina strait and moored at Marina Nettuno We visited Messina and had dinner at Osteria del Campanile. Early next morning Isabella and Matthias left us to catch a plane from Catania back to Vienna.
My wife and I sailed in light northerly winds to Taormina, where we anchored near the railway station. After visiting Theatro Graeco and the beatiful churches of Taormina we enjoyed an extraordinary dinner at Al Doumo. Next day we continued under strong winds to Marina Riposto.
On July 31st we sailed further south to Aci Trezza, where we anchored southwest of Isole Cyclopi and celebrated my birthday with a homemade risotto on board.
Next day we continued south to Syracusa, where we visited the famous Roman Ruins, Amphitheatro Graeco, the Ear of Dionysius, and Ortiega, the old City where we had fabolous pasta at Sicilia in Tavola. Next day we went north again, spent the night at anchor in Brucoli Bay and finally went to Catania harbor, where we moored at Diporto Nautico Etneo.
After a incredible 12-course fish dinner at Tre Bocche my wife went to Catania airport to fly home next morning and I waited for my next crew.
This cruise took 19 days with 76 hours sailing a distance of 550sm. You may download our track in gpx-format or view it directly on Google Maps.
To start the sailing season and to test the boat after maintenance work and antifouling I sailed upwind on May 9th 2012 from Licata to San Leone harbor, In the evening I had a tasty sole al limone at Il Pescatore. Everything went smooth and next day I sailed back to Licata with moderate westerly winds.
This cruise took 2 days with 12 hours sailing a distance of 66sm. You may download our track in gpx-format or view it directly on Google Maps.
We started our last cruise with an experienced crew on September 23rd 2012: Christian Singer, Gerhard Rothfuss und Gerhard Westphal. In the evening we anchored west of the port of Scoglitti and had a wonderful fish dinner at the famous Sakello. 
On the 28th we turned west and had a smooth sailing to Taormina until 04:00 early morning. We had luck and fetched a buoy in splendid Mazzaro Bay near the famous cable car. A visit to the ancient town and a good dinner at Al Duomo ended a nice resting day in beautiful surroundings. Next day, after Christian left us to fly back to Vienna, we hoisted our blister again and sailed straight through Messina Strait with considerable speed. 
Rounding Capo Pelloro the wind became stronger, so we had to change to 2nd reef main sail and genua. Finally after rounding Capo Milazzo we moored in Porto Rosa. Next day we sailed west in strong winds and partly heavy rain to Mondelo Bay, where we anchored in the early morning. After some hours sleep we continued to Trapani, where we moored early evening at Vento Maestrale.
