Amalfi to Isola di Capri
We left the colourful Amalfi, destination the famous Isola di Capri. They say you have to visit Capri at least once and by yacht one would eliminate the hoards of mass tourism. Several years ago the numbers of tourists were getting so bad that the authorities decided to reduce the number of ferries from Naples. My source of information says that scooters were banned from the island and deliveries were made by golf buggy type vehicles, but we did see evidence of both scooters and small cars so may be things have changed.
We anchored on the southern side of the island because of the wind and were in company with large motor yachts and small run abouts. Not the best anchorage because of the wash of tourist boats and ferries but okay. The island is often referred to as the Pearl of Naples and is probably Italy's most famous island. Really it only claim to fame is because of it featuring in movies, songs and as a holiday home for a lot of celebrities. And we soon found out that it is kept fairly exclusive for the more well off tourist.
An example: we thought we would venture ashore and maybe walk up and over to the main marina/town on the northern side. We endured the slop of the boat wash around the dinghy and found our way in and out of floating nets to be told we couldn't tie up the dinghy. To get ashore we would have to pay one of the local boats who were ferrying people from anchored boats to the privately owned pontoons. So back to the yacht and the decision we would go around to Capri town next morning and conditions being okay, anchor off for a visit ashore. So next morning we motored around Isola Faraglioni which is several pillars of rock emerging from the sea and the large arches feature in most photos of Capri. It is said that every destroyer in the Italian navy has a photo of itself steaming thru' the largest arch at 30 knts, so now the tourist boats try to copy them.
We were disappointed to find it was too deep to anchor at Marina Grande, and our budget just wouldn't cover the cost of a berth. Back in 2010 the cost of a berth for a 12mt boat was €145 (add 50% for a catamaran) and 50% if it is a weekend. So we left the Isola di Capri not having set foot on it. Our next stop over is Isola di Ischia.