Click here for link to relevant PhotpAlbum Corsica. View from town overlooking harbour at Cargese.
On 02 July, we crossed into French waters and entered Bonifacio, the spectacular harbour in Corsica. There were some serious charter boats in the harbour. Skyfall -available for only 289,00€ + expenses per week = 340,000€/week. Denis and Norm checked their pocket money and elected to stay with Tobin Bronze. For a marina fee of 65€, we had a nice berth on the end of pontoon J, only 50 metres from the noisy disco which played head banger music until 02:00hrs. (I am getting old!).
Bonifacio harbour.
Click here for link to an enlarged image in the Photo Album 'Corsica .'
Finding the bright lights and swank of Bonifacio too much for Tobin Bronze, we shoved off next morning, sailed for a while and then ended up motoring to Porto Pollo. After spending the night on a mooring of the quiet beach, we motored for over 6 hours to the harbour at Cargese. The town with its twin churches overlooks the harbour and is a lovely location. It is definitely Italian alpha male territory. We were impressed with an 8m run-about that had 3 Yahama 425 XTO (V8 450HP 5.6l each) outboards on the back.
In Cargese harbour.
Click here for link to an enlarged image in the Photo Album 'Corsica .'
In the morning, Norm and I sweated our way up the hill to the town to stock up from the supermarket. The town is perched on a hill top and has panoramic 360 deg views. After topping up with water, we set sail out of the marina and continued north.
Road down from town.
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After an overnight stop anchored in Cala De Tuara, we rounded the castle at Calvi and anchored off the long beach east of the town. In the early part of the night, the wind was quite gusty but died away towards dawn. This allowed us to hear even more clearly the loud music emitting for the discos along the beach. The music eventually stopped around 04:00hrs.
Beach at Cala de Taura.
Click here for link to an enlarged image in the Photo Album 'Corsica .'
Late Sunday morning, Calvi Marina gave us clearance to move inside into a berth. The facilities in the marina are good even if the ladies in the office gave the impression of being very bored with life. The old part of Calvi is lively and interesting but the newer part around towards the beach is hot and dusty. Unfortunately, for peace seeking sailors, early July is not the best time to be in Calvi. There was a music festival in full swing and the music goes on till late and is very loud.
Calvi fort.
Click here for link to an enlarged image in the Photo Album 'Corsica .'
As the wind overnight in the marina was gusting to over 30 knots and was forecast to continue next day, we decide to stay a couple of nights.
Tuesday 09 July started hot and calm after the strong overnight winds. We topped up water and departed the marina at 11:10hrs. We managed to sail during the afternoon on a course of 285° towards Ile du Levante, over 100 Nm away on the French coast. Towards evening the wind dropped and we then motored overnight towards Ile du Levante. Denis wrote in the log "02:00 SOG 5.2kts COG 285° 2250rpm Cap Camaret Lt in sight. Loom of Ile du Levante. Moist with heavy dew. Light wind. Slight sea. Quite a few ships."
Bu 08:00hrs on Wednesday we were moored up to a buoy in Port Cress, Ile du Levante. Only 3 of the 40 moorings were unoccupied. There are only a couple of restaurant ashore - very much a national park. We treated ourselves to an expensive lunch in one of the restaurants and then elected to have dinner onboard.
Quay in Port Cress, Ile de Levante.
Click here for link to an enlarged image in the Photo Album 'Calvi to La Rochelle. .'
We had originally planned to stay a couple of days on Ile du Levante but the forecast next morning warned of a strong westerly airflow commencing Friday; so we made the decision to go immediately to Ile du Frioul near Marseille. For 10 hours we motored to the west and reached Ile du Frioul by 18:00hrs. This is a big harbour with lots of room for yachts. We moored stern to on the west side using the laid mooring for the bow.
Marina at Isla du Friou, near Marseille.
Click here for link to an enlarged image in the Photo Album 'Calvi to La Rochelle. .'
The westerly wind did blow all day Friday and Saturday at Force 5-6 but the shelter under the high wall on the causeway behind was very good. During Saturday, we observe gusts reaching 30kts across the harbour. There is not much on rocky Ile du Frioul with lots of day trippers coming across from Marseille. We had a couple of relaxing days enjoying the sunshine.
Sunday 14 July. We departed Ile du Frioul at 06:10hrs in cooler conditions and not much wind. In the first hour we saw 3 big cruise ships heading into Marseille. Initially, we motor sailed to the west before furling the sails after lunch and then it was motor on for the rest of the day. At 18:30 we entered the west entrance of Sete harbour and found a berth on pontoon G in the Vieux Basin, Sete. As it was Bastille Day, we were entertained with an impressive fireworks display along the sea front.
Modern marina at Sete.
Click here for link to an enlarged image in the Photo Album 'Calvi to La Rochelle. .'
Sete has a network of canals and is known as the Venice of Languedoc and is the eastern entrance of the Canal du Midi. We even took a ride on the "Noddy train" to take in the sights.
Modern marina at Sete.
Click here for link to an enlarged image in the Photo Album 'Calvi to La Rochelle. .'
On Tuesday morning we motored in clear sunny conditions for 4 hours and entered the Herault River and the Alemand Boatyard to arrange road transport to La Rochelle. Next morning, Denis and Norm went off by taxi at 07:00 to the train station at Gare d'Agde. Their plane back to Brisbane was scheduled to leave Milan on Friday afternoon.
As my road transporter was not booked until the following Wednesday, I went back to the marina at Cap d'Agde as there is nowhere to moor or anchor in the Herault River. Cap d'Agde is very much a purpose built modern development for French holiday makers. Not the most exciting place to visit.
On Tuesday, I motored back to the Alemande Boatyard where we removed the mast and laid the solar panel frame across the cockpit. At 08:45 next morning, the Altead boat transported rolled in the yard and TB was lifted on the trailer. The transporter left under police escort at around eleven. The escort is necessary as to get out of the village, they have to initially go the wrong way up a one way street.
Good-bye to the Med.
Click here for link to an enlarged image in the Photo Album 'Calvi to La Rochelle. .'
We had sailed 1140 Nm from Malta.
I left at 11:30 to go by train to La Rochelle on the efficient French railway system.