Tremiti to Pescara - Home!

The 60 nm passage from the Tremiti Isles to Pescara was slow and tedious. For some reason this home run just seemed that it should be short and pleasant. As the nearest point of real interest sailing from Pescara, I didn't envy the Italians who sail here from Pescara to the Tremiti for the weekend.

Eventually the familiar coastline south of Pescara appeared, and we closed on the marina.

Curiously, the channel entering the marina has an uncharted row of red-orange buoys in the centreline. There are no corresponding green buoys. Is this a separation line for vessels leaving and entering? or a set of badly chosen port-hand markers? We dawdle outside the entrance until a local passes us and show the way. They are port hand markers necessary because the entrance has silted. Its a shame they couldn't buy some proper navigation marks!

The wind had freshened, and there is a strong crosswind in the marina as we enter. Many yachts and powerboats had chosen the day for a family outing, and they all are returning at the same time, unable to deal with the crosswind. The marina staff are running from berth to berth to help with the mooring. It is bedlam.

I assume, after our adventures, that I should be able to bring us into the berth without too much drama. However, the channels between moored yachts are narrow, and the crosswind down the channel is strong.

On my first attempt to moor, I reverse up the channel too cautiously, and am blown sideways as slow to turn into the narrow berth. I abort and try again.

This time I judge the speed and angles correctly and we slide comfortably between our two neighbours. Unfortunately, there is only one slimeline - on the downwind side. A helpful passer-by lifts the slimeline, in a frequently useful manner, but lifts it very close to the hull. I have to give a burst of ahead to stop us from hitting the concrete pontoon. The burst leaves us correctly positioned, but the slimeline has disappeared under the boat as the wind carries usslightly downwind. With stern lines attached, I try to give some forward thrust to attach the bow line. The engine stalls. The heavy slimeline has wrapped the prop.

It seems like an inauspicious arrival, as I don divers mask to investigate the problem. It is indeed a rope wrap, but after a few attempts I clear it without damage.

We have, at last arrived at our home port.

Vieste to Tremiti Islands

Our day of departure from Vieste brought a 15-20 kt northerly breeze. I climbed the hill to the castle to watch a Jeanneau 44 strugle through the chop at the entrance to the harbour. As today we must sail with Gabriella, our two year old daughter, and my elderly mother aboard, the breeze is unwelcome.

We depart without incident however, and the choppy seas that we motor through are made less frightening by the sunny conditions, and the warmth of the water as spray flies over the deck. In the event Gabriella enjoys the rollercoaster road, encouraged by playful words from my mother.

The winds continue until mid afternoon as we close on the Tremite.

The pilot books warn of poor holding, so we elect to pick up a mooring buoy in the main channnel. The boatman stings us for 40 euros, but it is better to be secure and sheltered with the family aboard, and to be able to watch the frenzied activity around us with equanimity.

The main car ferries from the mainland arrive and depart regularly, and pass at speed through the crowded anchorage. They manouvre to dismbark stern-to in a channel little wider than their length. This is achieved by noisily dropping the bow ancher, whist still underway, and reversing at high revs to swing the stern towards the slip. There is little room for error, but despite all of the commotion, the crews are expert at the manouvre.

As night falls, the islands around us form an idylic haven far from the mainland.

Trani to Vieste