What a special starry night, so so clear BUT I had no time to enjoy the spectacle.
An incredible number of cargos and tankers etc ...passing by in all directions heading out of the Messine or up, or across, which meant that we were zig zagging in their paths for hours on end.
Merci for the AIS system.... we had a receiver installed recently and it is was just so efficient indicating the direction, position, size etc of these enormous vessels.....for our first experience, I certainly appreciated the precious assistance it gave me during my watch in these busy waters.
The freshening winds from the south (25 with gusts up to 35 knots) gave us a rocky exciting ride. We arrived tired and wind blown at CROTONE and anchored in the calm waters off the town beach in 3.5 metres of sand....WE NOW HAVE OUR SEA LEGS BACK AGAIN!
Strong NW winds announced soon, with gale force southerlies by the end of the week.....typical Mediterranean.
Normally we will be heading over to GALLIPOLI (not Turkey) on Wednesday......on verra??
SUPERB SUNSET BEHIND MT ETNA......
WE HAVE SEEN SO MANY DOLPHINS ALREADY SINCE OUR DEPARTURE.....MUST BE A GOOD SIGN!!