Corsica

Saturday, 7/25/98 8:28 AM

Hello hope this finds everyone well. If we were to do any better, we couldn't stand it! Well, maybe a little wind would help. As I write this we are doing 5.3 knots (with only one engine) cruising along the west coast of Corsica. We have 500 liters of water and 400 liters of diesel, enough to motor 1000 miles. Christofer Columbus was born here! The coast is rough and craggy, and most of the people seem to be the same. The water is clear, blue and warm. Whenever we get hot we stop for a swim. Our day normally starts with getting up whenever, mostly about 8 or 9, taking a swim, breakfast on the patio, weighing anchor, steaming down the coast 20 or 30 miles to another beautiful cove, taking another swim, maybe a short nap, then maybe some snacks, a drink or two and dinner on the patio. We don't spend a lot of time in the cabin. It is very hot here every day. Last night a nice gentleman in the next boat swam over and asked if we would like some fresh caught fish. So we had a fish barbecue on the patio. Our boat has an outside table and seats in the cockpit, just like a patio. when we are in a bay we swing around gently on the anchor and get to take in all the sights. Much better when the sun goes down. The days, and some evenings, are blazing hot. The boat is all I thought it would be and this part of the cruise is really great. We are headed for Ajjicco this evening, Hopefully we can make a telephone call and send E-mail from there. Corsica is considered part of France so our French telephone jack should work. We do not have an Italian jack, but hope to get one. Ruth's aunt and uncle are having a great time, and we have enjoyed having them. This boat is so big that it begs for at least 4 people. With just Ruth and I, the other hull with beds for 5 and two bathrooms is totally empty.

In Calvi, our first port in Corsica, we actually had fresh bread and rolls delivered to our boat at anchor in the bay. After Ajjicco, we will cruise down south, and cross over to the eastern coast of the island of Sardegnia. It is Italian and should be totally different. From there (Olbia Sardegna), we will make the long crossing to Civitavecchia, Italy just north of Rome. We plan to putsy down the Italian coast to near Naples, where we hope to pickup John Morgan for a week Aug 5, then Bob and Judy . -Aug 12 to 23. There is a lot to see and do around Naples so we hope to put the boat into a secure marina and go overland for a week or so.-Excuse me for a minute, the wind just got up to 14 knots, I need to go topside to help put the sails up. - Done! We are now doing 6.5 knots with no engine, but we are gonna have to tack a couple of times to make our destination. The autopilot is steering, Madeline is writing post cards, Ruth is hanging out laundry, and Pat is reading.

Next day 7/27

I did not get to send this out, so I'll update. Called John Morgan and made a contact. He will join us near Naples on Aug 7/8. We enjoyed Ajjicco, It is a nice city. Birthplace of Napoleon, and they are not about to let you forget it! We went thru his house ,family house/museum. The hypermarket was close to the boat so we restocked with goodies. Also stopped in the open air market, for great olives, cheese, tomatoes, etc. Madeline bought a huge bag of muscles and we had mussels, wine and french bread on the patio for dinner. At this moment we are motoring one engine only at 6 knots headed for Bonafaccio the very bottom of Corsica, where Madeline and Pat catch a bus then ferry back to Nice France where they left their car. I think we have covered some 200 miles day sailing only since they joined us less than a week ago.

Since the beginning of this trip we have been into only two marinas, the first one to seek shelter from the strong wind and big seas, and the second time to pick up guests. More and more we find that anchoring in a cove is easiest and most pleasant. We have had some beautiful sunsets. We are still improving our anchoring technique, it only took us two times last night to get it right! After almost getting a divorce again! we got the anchor down and set, then watched another professional looking couple take 4 trys before they got it right. The anchor, chain, and electric windless is heavy and mean if not done properly.

As I mentioned earlier we will soon be leaving the French telephone system and may take awhile to get an Italian telephone adapter. The French have told me that nothing works well in Italy, but they say the same of Spain and other places, so we will see.

Next-next day - We are in Bonafficco, and headed out in the morning for Sardegna. We stayed here for two days since it is a spectacular place. The old city and citadel sits up high on a bluff overlooking the sea and the small cove. It is very very old, occupied since about the time of the Romans. The cove is cut into the land with straight up walls, 100's of feet high, as you sail in you look straight up at the citadel. If they wanted to throw rocks on you they could. The cove, rather a cut in the high mountains, is only 200 yards across and cut maybe a half mile long. If you can't back up your boat you have a problem.

Pat and Madeline were off in the bus this morning back to Ajjicco, and a ferry back to Nice. We are sitting here in the marina adjacent to million dollar yacht from all over the world.

We had quite a good sail down the coast to here, with the spinnikker flying in 17 to 20 knots of wind. The spinnikker on Chesapeake is not nearly so harry and fast as our F-31 was. The F-31 would pass most everything, but now we move along more slowly and have more comfort. I'll try now to send this E-mail out and hope to get some incoming E-mail.

Marvin and Ruth Stark at Bonafficco, Corsica

N - 41 degrees 42 min. E - 9 degrees 10 min.