1000sm in the Western Mediterranean Sea

The last cruise for this year should be the longest, so we started with my old sailing friends Gerhard Rothfuss and Gerhard Westphal sailing 197sm north to the Côte d’Azur on September 30th.









After 39 hours we moored at the Marina in St.Raphael, bought baguette, french delicatessen and wine, and continued to St.Tropez, where we got mixed up in a huge regatta and anchored in Anse des Canebiers at last.




On October 3rd we sailed along Iles D'Hyeres to Toulon, where we moored at Darse Vielle, took a stroll around Toulon, and had a nice dinner at Carre 2 Vigne.






Next day we sailed west to Marseille, where we were hapy to get a mooring place in wunderful Port Vieux at CNTL.





After intensive sightseeing and climbing up to Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde we enjoyed dinner at Le Gout des Choses.

After some more sightseeing we left Marseille in the afternoon for our next leg to Barcelona.














After 28 hours and intensive tacking we moored in Porto Blanes and cooked a lot of Palatschinken with Westphal's apricot jam. Next morning we continued tacking to Barcelona, where we moored in Port Vell for two nights to have time for visiting this beautiful city and pleasurable restaurant visits to Sequet de Almirall and Segons Mercat de la Barceloneta.







After refueling in Port Olimpic we sailed south 105sm in 20 hours to Port Soller in Mallorca. At noon on October 10th we anchored south of the harbor, took the dinghy and went by the ancient tram to the city. After sipping the famous orange juice we savoured delicious tapas at El Sabor.


Next day we sailed along Isola Dragonera, Andratx and spent hte nicht at anchor in Cala Portals. We continued east to nature reserve island Cabreras, where we moored at a bouy and enjoyed swimming and hiking.

In the night we awoke by strong gusts and left our bouy early morning, sailing fast northeast in a following sea to Porto Christo, where we moored in the public harbor.

On October 14th we intended to sail to Ciutadella de Menorca, but in the afternoon a thunderstorm with strong westerly gusts forced us to change plan and continue directly to Mahon, where we anchored in Cala Taulera and shifted to Cala Figuera the following morning. We took a stroll around the beautiful harbor and city and had exquisite Tapas im Ses Forquilles.



We started our last leg  over 180 sm back to Alghero next morning and sailed with favourable southwesterly winds via Capo Caccia to Cala Taramaglio in 30 hours. There we enjoyed our last swim for this year and moored in Porto Alghero on October 18th. Sea of Joy will safely remain in Aquatica Marina till next spring.






On this cruise my crew accomplished over 500 SSB short wave connections with their highly sophisticated radio equipment in a a world-wide marine radio amateur contest.

We sailed 994sm in 185 hours. You may download our track in gpx-format or view it directly on Google Maps: Part1 and Part2.

Sailing along Sardinia's West coast

My niece Ina and her friend Pauli came on board on September 22nd to experience some serious sailing.



So we sailed south with northerly winds to the Golfo di Oristano, where we anchored for the night.

Next day we continued to Carloforte, where we moored at Marina Sifredi and savoured a variety of exiting fish dishes at Pescheria Sandolo - Gastronomia del Mare.









Early in the morning we started tacking back north against nice northwesterly winds as far as Tharros, where we anchored at nearly midnight.







Using the same fair wind we reached Bosa on September 26th, where we moored at Nautica Pinna and had a good meal at Da Giancarlo e Rita at Hotel Mannu.








In nice weather but no wind we motored to Capo Caccia, rounded Isolotto Foradada and Cala d'Inferno and finally anchored for a nice swim in Cala de Bollo in the bay of Porto Conte.

After a good breakfast and intensive swimming we finished this cruise at Marina Aquatica in Alghero and celebrated at Mabrouk with their famous 12 course fish dinner.

 

 

We sailed 237sm in 45 hours. You may download our track in gpx-format or view it directly on Google Maps.

Olbia via Bonifacio to Alghero

With my experienced sailing companion Kurt we left Olbia tacking against a fresh northerly breeze and spent a windy night at anchor in Cala Granu.

Early next morning we continued tacking in fine weather and northerly winds around Maddalena archipelago to Santa Teresa di Gallura, where we had a good dinner at Pape Satan.

Finally in the evening our second crew Aaron Kaplan came on board - exhausted from a long odyssey in search for his Alitalia lost luggage.
After a refreshing morning swim at Cala Spinosa northeast of Capo Testa we sailed north to Bonifacio, where we visited the old city and her beautiful surroundings and had a good dinner at Cantina Doria.

Next morning after cleaning the ashes from last night's fireworks and refueling we continued to Cala Fazziolu for a swim and then Cala Paragnanu for the night.





On September 10th we sailed southwest to Stintino, where we had a nice fish menu at Da Antonio.




Next morning we sailed to Asinara and spent the night at a bouy in Cala Ponte Bianco. We rounded Pta dello Scorno early next day and sailed 55sm south to Capo Caccia and anchored in Cala del Bollo.





On September 13th we finally moored at Aquatica Marina in Alghero harbor.

We sailed 215sm in 50 hours. You may download our track in gpx-format or view it directly on Google Maps.

Sailing with my grandson Jonas

On Saturday, August 23rd my grandson Jonas came on board  together with his parents Matthias and Isa and their friends Steffi, Vicky and Phillip. Jonas was soon comfortable in his small world on board with his age of 16 months.













So we left Olbia for Cala Coda Cavallo, where we spent two nights at anchor and Jonas had his first beach and sea adventures. Next day Jonas and the rest of us visited the beach in Porto Taverna and enjoyed a bumpy ride with our dinghy and the new Torqeedo electric outboard engine through high waves back on board.













In the afternoon we sailed northwest to Portisco harbor. On August 29th we tacked to Porto Liccia, where we spent two nights at anchor with intensive swimming.







Weather forecast claimed heavy winds, so we sailed back to Olbia and spent two nights moored in Circolo Nautico di Olbia and Steffi, Vicky and Phillip left us for Vienna.


On September 2nd weather was fine again and we sailed back north to Porto Palma in the south of Isola Caprera, where we met our friends Gabi and Gerald of S/Y Viva Mare and stayed for two nights at a convenient mooring bouy.




Finally we sailed back to Olbia spending a last night in Porto Taverna en route.
In Olbia we celebrated Jonas first cruise at Ristorante Da Paolo.

Jonas had enjoyed his first cruise, he and his parents left after 14 happy days on board.




We sailed 133sm in 35 hours. You may download our track in gpx-format or view it directly on Google Maps.

Exploring Costa Smeralda and Maddalena

On  Ferragosto my next crew arrived: Eva and Evi, my consulting and sailing friends came on board.


We left Olbia for Cala Brandinghi and when the wind turned southerly we spent the night at anchor in Porto Taverna.

 

 

With nice winds we sailed then to Cala di Volpe and on August 18th we tacked to Porto Garibaldi, where we anchored and enjoyed a lot of swimming and cooking.

Next morning we sailed north passing Isola Santa Maria, Isola Buddeli, anchored for a swim in Cala Corsara south of Isola Spargi and finally found a mooring place in Cala Gavetta harbor in Maddalena, where we explored the city, had a dinner at Ristorante Lio, and replenished our provisions.

Weather and winds continued fair and so we sailed back to Olbia in two days, on route swimming in Cala Granu and spending the last night at anchor in Cala Coda Cavallo.

We sailed 137sm in 52 hours. You may download our track in gpx-format or view it directly on Google Maps.

Cruising Costa Smeralda and Bonifacio

 

 

After having the UV-protection on our Genua repaired and replenished our provisions we sailed north with my daughter Sophie and her friend Christian Stocker

For the first evening we anchored in the far south of Golfo Pevero.




Fair winds took us north round Isola Caprera to another favourite spot at Porto Garibaldi. The next leisurely day sailing and swimming brought us to the famous Dead Mans Passage between Isola Buddeli and Isola Santa Maria.





Next day we tacked with fine weather and winds through the Strait of Bonifacio passing Isola Lavezzi. As there was no free mooring place in Bonifacio, we had to squeeze into a tiny spot in Cala Catena which was not easy with gusty winds.







As the wind became strong again we left Bonifacio next moring and sailed through Maddalena archipelago to Cala Granu.





With strong northerly winds we sailed in record speed back to Olbia, where we moored with 8 bft winds in Marina Olbia again. In the evening the staff barbecued a whole bull celebrating Ferragosto intensively.

We sailed 135sm in 35 hours. You may download our track in gpx-format or view it directly on Google Maps.

Costa Smeralda and Maddalena with friends

My dear friends Martina and Wilhelm Brenner and Wolfgang Apfelbaum arrived in Olbia Marina on August 2nd.








After bunkering fresh local food and wine we sailed round Isola Tavolara and spent the night at anchor in Cala Coda Cavallo.

Nice southeasterly winds took us north to my favourite anchoring spot Cala Granu, where we cooked a nice dinner.

 

Next day we tacked with fine weather and winds through Golfo di Arzachena and found a mooring place at Marina di Ponte southeast of Isola Maddalena, where we visited town, had Dinner at I Curciareddhi and enjoyed various culinary experiences.




 

 

 

After rounding Isolas Spargi, Maddalena and Caprera in favorable winds we sailed south and anchored in Porto Liccia with extensive swimming and cooking.


Finally we returned to Olbia on August 7th for a good dinner at Bacchus Ristorante and the next crew change.

We sailed 141sm in 38 hours. You may download our track in gpx-format or view it directly on Google Maps.

Porto Torres via Cagliari to Olbia

My wife Ilse and I arrived in Porto Torres on July 7th, ready to start for Olbia via the south coast with Cagliari. But force 8 winds and heavy rain held us in harbor until July 14th, when we started with reef 2 under strong westerly winds to Cala d'Oliva in Asinara.
Early next day we sailed south in nice westerly winds as far as Bosa, where we moored in the river Temo at Nautica Pinna and had a good meal at Da Giancarlo e Rita at Hotel Mannu with a crispy porchetto.

We continued south to ancient Tharros, where we took a bouy in front of the archaeological site, which we visited next morning and the beautiful Chiesa paleocristiana di San Giovanni di Sinis.

On July 18th we sailed south to Carloforte, where we moored at Marina Sifredi and had a fabulous dinner at Hosteria di Tonnara. After a stroll through the nice city we sailed east tacking against strong winds 55sm to Porto Teulada. Next morning we continued tacking and finally reached Cagliari, where we moored for 3 days in Marina Portus Karalis and visited the beautiful city and her museums and buildings. Worthy of mention was our dinners at Da Serafino  and at Luigi Pomata.


July 23rd we sailed further east to Villasimius, where we anchored west of the harbor. Next day we sailed with nice southerly winds to Porto Corallo and continued  for another sailing day north of Arbatax, where we anchored at Isola Oligastra. Against high waves and northerly winds we carried forward via rainy Cala Gonone to La Caletta, where we moored in the harbor and had a nice dinner at Giovanna Canu.

Next morning weather finally was fine and we went for a leisurely day sailing and swimming and spent the night at Porto Ottiolu. We continued exploring the nice beaches near San Teodoro and anchored for the nicht in Porto Brandinghi. Weather became gastly again next morning and forcast was stormy force 8, so we continued  to Olbia Harbour, where we moored for the next two nights in Circolo Nautico di Olbia. On July 31st we sailed a bit along Costa Smerlda via Porto Cugnana and Porto Liccia and moored finally in Marina di Olbia to await our next crew.

We sailed 510sm in 122 hours. You may download our track in gpx-format or view it directly on Google Maps.

Alghero to Porto Torres

It was time for new antifouling paint. In Alghero or Fertillia it was not possible to find a shipyard fit for this work, so we had to go to PortoTorres.

My friends Shirani Ediriweera and Kurt Drexler accompanied me on this trip.

First the motor didn't start, but after installing a new motor battery we finally left Alghero motorsailing north with some wind from NW on May 31st . At sunset we sailed through the Fornelli Passage and anchored in cristal clear turquoise waters near Spiaggia la Pelosa and took a evening swim.

We stayed one more day and then continued with a nice westerly wind to Castelsardo, where we moored in the Marina and visited the anchient castle.


Next moring we motored to Porto Torres, where Filippo Squeo and his team waited for us and craned the boat on land to perform antifouling and maintenance works. Also the bearing of the propeller shaft had to be renewed. I left my boat on land in the custodial care of Filippo.


We sailed 81sm in 19 hours. You may download our track in gpx-format or view directly on Google Maps.