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.