Porquerolles was a nice town: good shower facilities (once you figured out the coin-op system), nice restaurants, a grocery store, scenic location, everything. We’d be back later.
First, we had to talk about the long term plan. Andreas did not like the sound of the transmission when it was in reverse, and he suspected that something was wrong in there. Our original plan had us making a 100-mile leap across the Mediterranean from the French coast to the island of Corsica. But typically a good bit of that would be under engine power if the winds weren’t cooperating, and we’d definitely need the engine if we got caught in a storm. We certainly would need it when navigating in close quarters in harbors. All said, Andreas decided (“Du, Andy”) it was too risky to do that leg, and decided it was better for us to stay near the French coastline. Andy and Nora were disappointed, as they had expected to see Corsica on this trip, but it’s a tough life, right? I didn’t care, I hadn’t seen ANY of these places before and it was all great.
After a slow morning we finally pulled in our ropes and set forth out of the Porquerolles harbor. Immediately we spotted a huge three-masted sailing ship heading towards us. It was named the Signora del Vento and flew the Italian flag; all of the sails were furled but it was still an impressive sight.
Before we left the island completely behind, we ducked into a cove, dropped anchor and went swimming! It was a beautiful little sheltered spot on the northeast coast of the island.
As we sailed away, we passed the ruins of a fort. We’d be back in a few days and I’d get some pictures of it then.
Out onto the open water with the gennaker!
Massive rock formations, massive yachts, another day on the Cote d’Azur.
After a particularly long day of sailing, we pulled into Port Frejus (the harbor part of the nearby town of Frejus), got sorely needed showers, got a typical fantastic French dinner (with surly waiter) at a waterfront restaurant, and turned in for the night.
