We departed Isola Maddalena and had a night at a beautiful anchorage, waiting for the swell to abate, before heading across the Bonifacio Strait to Corsica. The old walled city of Bonifacio clings to high, eroded cliffs and is an incredible sight. We then rounded a small headland that leads into the narrow Cala of the port. After mooring we climbed the steep cobbled street to the city.
From the top we had a breathtaking view along the coastline with the port below and behind us. The old town is a maze of streets, tiny doorways open into vertiginous staircases, bar tables line the cobbled alleyways, succulent wild flowers grow along the clifftop and there are restaurants galore. We stayed a few days and were only driven away by the thumping beat of the B52 nightclub at the end of our pontoon!
We headed south, back to Italy and enjoyed some calm peaceful nights at anchor in Isola Rossa and Passage del Pelosa that sits at the top of Sardinia on the North Western tip amongst the stunning islands of the Asinara national park.
We departed the islands creeping westwards very slowly through the narrow and shallow Passage Fornelli and were back in open sea heading south towards Alghero. The cliffs on the approach are amazing, dotted with caves and with a lighthouse perched precariously on high. The harbour is huge and well sheltered, and we noticed a big fishing fleet closeby – promising some delicious seafood.
We have spent the last four nights here in Alghero. We were planning to leave after just one night as there were favourable winds for the crossing to Menorca. However, the winds came with very unfavourable swell caused by strong westerlies through the strait of Gibraltar so we changed our plans, not wishing to spend thirty six hours bashing our way into big seas. We’re so glad that we had the chance to explore this beautiful city. It is set in a bay of turquoise clear water with long white sand beaches to the north and south. As we walk from our pontoon, past all the fishing boats, to the southern part of the harbour, the old city walls rise around a headland and enclose the ancient Catalan city. Inside are cobbled streets, narrow alleyways, old churches and bell towers, cannons and gun emplacements and a hotch-potch of shops. There are so many restaurants it difficult to choose but we have eaten the most delicious seafood over the past few days.
The westerlies have abated and the weather is now looking much better for the crossing to Menorca. We plan to leave early tomorrow morning. We will be so sad to leave Sardinia. We have spent so much time here at the beginning and end of two sailing seasons, we feel it is almost a second home. The coastline, stunning clear waters, quiet anchorages, rugged cliff walks, and ancient history inland coupled with lovely friendly people and fabulous food….we will definitely be back. But in the meantime we must keep heading westwards towards our next adventures.
We’re green envy: joie de vivre. Kris and Gary. Xx