The forecast looked as though we could move on 2 days earlier than expected, we set off from Port Vecchio for an anchorage 5 miles North to stay for the night to shorten our journey for the following morning as we planned to go to Port Taverna (approx 48 miles away). The anchorage turned out to be quite a windy night as the wind picked up as usual.
At 8.30 we set off with the wind and sea behind us, we picked up a good speed for a comfortable sail. After about 2 hours the wind dropped so we had to put the engine on and motor sail to keep our 5 knots up. Then about 15 miles from Port Taverna the wind direction changed to Northerly which was right on our nose, this also meant the sea swell picked up (None of this was forecast)! We had to make a decision either to turn back (to a marina called Solensara 3 hours back), or carry on as there was no where else to stop that had any shelter. We decided to push on and after a very rough 4 hours later we arrived in Port Taverna, we were so relieved and tired as the trip took us11 hours in all.
The weather today is calm and the forecast looks to be calm and settled for a few days ? We soon need to cross to the Island of Elba so it has to be perfect weather.