11th Sept - Meanwhile back in Sicily and 2nd Story of "Tre"We had a classic "channel crossing" Comino Island (Malta) to SE tip Sicily - 59nm of sunny skies and flat seas, gentle winds, at first just forward of the beam, then just behind - enough to do a steady 5.5-6 knots under sail. Next day a hop up to Siracusa - it has been such a treat to be here and revisit the market. Gastronomy is not one of Malta's charms. The produce back here is fresh and lush and abun...

Paradise Bay, Malta. Saturday 4th September 2011After over a week of drippingly hot weather, bathwater seas and diving for treasures, this is probably our last day in Malta / Gozo. Temps a sweltering 30-35 deg C and water 28-30!A long time without writing and a long time without connections. We arrived back to Gozo on 23rd August and it was still boiling. Rapid prep and shopping for arrival of first round of guests on this leg. R's daughter Sophie and friend ...

Mgarr, Gozo Monday 25th JulyWell here we are in funny little Gozo. I say funny because the things we have seen so far are just that! Notable bits are horses and seaplanes and un-pronounceable words (see below). And it is like stepping back 30 years. But its history goes back millennia and we have that aspect yet to explore.But I digress. Arrivederci Sicilia first. We crossed from Porto Palo on the Southeastern tip of the island. It took us just under 10 hours t...

Something of Sicily -Tuesday, 19th JulyOne for the Sailors and one for AllSailors: Well they were pussycats. Mind you we had no wind at first, left at 5.30am and motorsailed most of the way (35nm) to reach the top of the Strait bang on midday. Even though flat calm the wind did suddenly blow 20kn around Scylla and the water went from dancing riplets to oily calm and from 2 plus SOG kn to 2 minus SOG kn within the space of minutes, indicating whirlpools beneath...

Aeolian Islands - Monday 11th JulyWe have loved these islands - they are all different. We left Stromboli and stopped for lunch at Panarea en-route to Lipari. Just a rocky tip of a crater really rising vertically out of the sea. Whilst there we happened to be looking in the direction of Sicily when we saw a huge mushroom plume rise high in the air. Taking compass sight, we were sure it was Etna (over 50nm away) and the plume did seem a bit big. Saw later on BBC...