Calabria - Calabria for 200 nm

The Etna  had some eruptions on the left flanc

We left Reggio at 12 after shopping and adding 70l of diesel with a nice wind pushing us through the Messina street.
When we turned East the wind changed and it was engine again.
Looking at the coast one sees a lot of factories closed and abandoned, many houses and buildings never finished and abandoned. It is a sorry sight.
After 25 nm we dropped anchor next to some other boats.
When the sun set we finally saw Etna in eruption not hidden by clouds. Different smoke patterns came out of the left side. During the night the boat started rolling on the swell. Finally at one I got up and dug out the auxiliary anchor (12kg) put the dinghy in the sea, loaded the anchor and chain and dropped it 20 meters down swell, the pulled the boat with the nose in the swell. So we could sleep.

Where we moored on the 3rd of June. Way to go.

Next day we motored onwards to our journey, stopped somewhere afloat to have a swim in ice cold water and some lunch. On we went motor sailing all the way 35 Nm to Marina Roccello Ionica. Very nice port all renovated and a lot of French and Dutch boats. We had a long rectangular pizza at the port restaurant (after I scootered to the town for shopping, only to find that the supermarket was only reachable by car, thus back empty handed).

Pizza 1 m, part Napolitaine part Capriciosa

From Marina di Roccella we set out at 9:30, all the other boats had left apparently long before. There was a good 47 Nm to go to get to the beginning of the high heel curve. We set our sights on a small port that was probably silted in and no access.
After 10 hours of mostly sailing with the wind at 90 deg, we called the marina le castella on the vhf, but no reply. Decided to go in, at the pre port a french boat had attached to a wreck. Not an ideal place. Helene pointed to the narrow port entrance and we carefully moved in. There a guy waved to a mooring, helped us, pointed to the showers, electricity and water and Bob is your uncle. About to visit the village with an old Arragonese fortress, the port owner came by in a small car, wrote a scontrino for 20Eu and we were all set.

The 47Nm sail to le Castella

Fortress Aragonese at Le Castella

Many  houses had started the main work and then abandoned.

From le Castella we left to Crotone, situated at the beginning of the heel, in thick mist and no wind. Around midday the wind pushed us to Crotone. In the bay were 2 oil platforms, pumping Italian oil.
We got good place in the port, did some shopping. In the  morning I sprained my wrist and it is a bit out of action.
Since the wind is not very stable, we decided to take the tour around the bay of the heel, adding 80 nm to the trip. Crossing over directly 57 nm on engine is a drag. So we take a bit longer.

After Crotone we went to the most terrible port of Ciro. The Ciro wine is great their port is a mess. We tied up to a wall and went shopping on roads with holes and bits ad pieces lying everywhere. Shop was far away and messy. Back to the boat, no electricity, no water. At ten probably the worst band of Italy started playing and went on till 2, after that there was another hour of arab music. We also had an invasion of mozzies. So our night was crap.
As soonas we could we left this "port".
Funny though in the supermarket at Ciro the Ciro wine was more expensive than in all the other towns.

From Ciro we set sail (motor) to Cariati Marina a nice trip, flat sea, we stopped underway to have a swim.
Arriving at Cariati no response on the vhf, so we went in the port, while the entrance was just over 2 m depth. No one in sight we moored on a pontoon with tons of empty spaces.
After a while a Swiss flagged Amel arrived and moored and then a German Cata. This was their port. Everything in perfect condition, electricity, water, neat pontoons and room for another 200 boats. After an hour a guy came up and said it was ok where we were and come by the office tomorrow.
Next day after shopping nobody to be found so at around 11 we left.
After this port nothing for 60 Nm. So we anchored after 34 Nm along the shore of Colfari. We now came to the end of Calabria.