20th Sept 2022 – 3rd October 2022
After leaving the comfort of the Frejus Marina our 1st destination was island of Ile Ste- Marquerite an Anchorage called Belvedere Du Dragon, we decided we would try again our first tender beach arrival and walk to the Fort Royal De I’lle Sainte-Marguerite Fortress which had prison cells and Roman Relics at the Museum of Iron Mask.
In the morning from the boat we picked our spot to ride to, which tree to padlock the dinghy to and what route to walk. On arrival our spot we found had sharp rocks under the shallow water, I quickly learnt I needed shoes i could wear in water because i needed to get off the tender and put my feet on these sharp rocks.
Being the determined sole i am i jumped right in, pulled the boat and Garry to the tree, as the end goal was a lovely walk in the sun. The visit to the museum was worth the damage to my feet but new shoes went on the ever growing list of things to buy.
As my last night’s sleep was ok we decided to stay another night. That afternoon i suggested a little tender ride to the next Island Ile Saint Honorat to see the monks. Garry took one look at the newly found swell concept which he had never known about and said it to rough for 1 nm crossing, our outboard engine won’t cope.
Well it took a while but i convinced Garry it would be fine, with the promise not to fall in ……. adding extra weight like life jackets, grapnel anchor, fire extinguisher and spare fuel as it added weight we started our journey across. As it turns out it was fine but i quickly understood Garry argument for not going, the ride was wet, bumpy and Garry had to point the tender at an angle to the waves so we did not tip over.
After another lovely walk around a different island with a look at how the Monks lived, we headed back to our boat full of luxuries. The tender ride was better on the way back as it was not into the waves.
Later that night the music started coming from a night club possibly miles away, noise travels far on water. The party carried on all night and the boat started rocking too as the swell had picked up. Morning came so did my sea sickness with little sleep for me it was a long journey with large waves and uncomfortable sea state.
We arrived at Ville Franche Sur Mer the anchorage called Anse De I’Espalmador, a very large bay with lots of boats at anchor. In the morning after a great nights sleep we walked around old key with hundreds of others as a Tui cruise ship had rolled in that morning. Its amazing how that many people can spoil an area, services get slow, rubbish in area builds up.
We decided to stay another night so we could explore that afternoon the next cove over called Saint Jean Cap Ferrat , lovely walk, a couple of beers and it was off back to the boat.
The swell had picked up making it very hard to get on from the back of boat, the rear of boat was moving up and down very fast in front of our eyes. Every time we got close to the back of boat the tender would go under and be pushed down into the sea. Whilst we sat in tender wondering how the hell we were going to get on, this is when I realise the curse of the 2nd night, swell appears it and I can’t get no sleep tune starts to play.
24th September we trudged to the next place, it starts to raining as we pass Monaco so we missed seeing that delight. Our anchorage came and went because we would not fit.
We finally had to stop at Rada Di Poggio in Italy Sanremo, as it was getting dark we dropped our anchor knowing this was going to be a long night. It was our 1st night in Italy, which was going to be spent rocking side to side all night. We used the big screen had movie night and no sleep was had by either, but we did learnt how to say “please may we have 2 beers” in Italian.
25th we moved the boat as soon as we could see to Porto Di Andora, the anchorage Baia Dei Saraceni another rolly anchorage but more sleep than last one.
With the clock ticking weather getting worst the march went on, Garry trying to do 30 nautical miles a day in order to get to Tunisia and the over night sail was playing on my mind.
26th Sept planned to stop at Seno Di Paraggi but anchorage was full so carried on to Santa Margherita Liqure anchored in front of the beach, great nights sleep.
28th decided to stay another night so had a long walk around and our anchor app recorded everywhere we went. In the bay here all of their buildings were painted to look like they have unique brick patterns. The look was amazing they looked really expensive structures till you got up close and saw they were all painted.
Morning of the 29th September with 2nd night anchorage saga I had no sleep so moved La Spezia at anchorage Le Grazie it was raining, waves were big and horrendous so stopped after 8 nm at Golfo Di Levante anchorage Sestri Le Vante in front of a little fishing village as it turns out rolly too also no sleep but better than motoring in the sea state to La Spezia.
30th I have lost a day really not surprised with the trend of no sleep going on.
31st At La Spezia anchorage Le Grazie was a mill pond which was surprising due to weather we had on way here was really bad rain, no visability. Garry’s glasses got wet so he just ran off to clean them and we were trying to miss a sand bank on way into cove at the time….
On the 1st Oct We went a shore, its sat am no one was about. Walked up a large hill to see a Villa, Romana Del Varignano which was closed but could see into our bay and the bay next door.
Took pictures of both bays which the other bay was apparently a top secret military base and you’re not allowed to enter, we found later whilst eating really bad pizza at Rio Gourmet.
2nd Oct 2022 Weather looked like rain was on the way and the wind was in wrong direction, making no anchorage along the next straight viable to stop in. A marina it was going to have to be, Turistico La Madonnia was the 1st and Garry had sent email but we had not received a reply. It was a sunday so we set off anyway thinking they would reply sometime before we get there.
The sea state was weird the VHF kept repeating bad weather warning for Corsa Island which was only to our starboard side across the water. Soon the marina came into view, we still had not received a response but Garry took one look at the breaking waves around entrance on the side and chickened out.
So on we went to the next marina another 14 nm more, this one was on Navily to book without email. Port De Pisa sent us a message to ring for instructions before entering port as large waves are breaking on front entrance. Holy shit we had no choice but to motor on and attempt the entrance in.
A 3 metre wave pushed us into the entrance of the marina, staff member in tender in front of us frantically saying slow down and 35 peeps from the harbour wall watched as we surf into the marina, what an entrance.
We book two nights straight away after that ordeal to recover as Garry had also discovered he had 50 Tetley tea bags left and I had realised the the leaning tower of pizza was a 30 minute bus ride away.
A good two nights sleep was achieved but who knew what was coming next.
