Logg 5

05 08 14
When we wake up in the morning it is still blowing NW 10/s so we decide to go south. But during the breakfast it increases to 14-15 m/s, so we stay where we are.

Next day the wind is weak and we start sailing. But soon the wind is changing and the last 2 hours we go by motor into the marina Santa Maria. But the harbour is full so we have to go another 3 Nm to Arbatrax - a dull, industrial town.

05-08 16
We leave Arbatrax and go to a little island just outside A. But where to go? It is far between the marinas. After 4 calls from A-K to Santa Maria,. where we tried yesterday, we can get a place there.
It takes us only 10 minutes. To lie in a marina is a marvellous experience. It is full of life. Most people back their boats to quay, which gives the bridge much of a folklore life that we are not used to. Children play, food is made and eaten, boats are washed, there is a lot of musik and singing - it is very pleasant.

05-08 18
What shall we do now? Go south and round Sardinia or not. We listen to both the French and Italian forecasts. They give us different messages - not unusual. It is 70 Nm to the nearest marina southwards so we go north again.
At about 6 o´clock pm and 55 Nm we drop the anchor in Cala Coda Cavalla - a wonderful bay with fine sand bottom.

05-08-19
Now the Mistral comes again. It is the hard NE wind that comes through the Rhone Valley into the Mediterranean. Just in the strait between Corsika and Sardinia it gets a Venturi effect that increases the force of wind.
It will probably blow for 4-5 days so we are in no hurry to go into the Strait of Bonifacio. Instead we sail to Olbia- a little town on the NE of Sardinia.
Here we go shopping and look around. We lie at the old quay of the town - free of cost - but without el and water, but that is alright.
The weather is not so good - it´s rainy and cloudy - so we have to put on warmer clothes.

05-08 21
Now we have seen enough of Olbia and intend to go out and lie in a little bay outside and wait for the Mistral blowing past.

All well aboard!
Anna-Karin and Håkan