The Maddalena's

With our hosting duties over and our guests returned to the safety of terra firma at Palau, we headed off into the Maddalena's, a group of islands designated as a national park and wildlife reserve. This archipelago of islands lie at the north-eastern corner of Sardina, just a few miles off the coast, and are renown for their crystal clear turquoise and blue coloured waters, weathered naturalistic rock formations and sandy coves.

A water-ski run in Liscia di Vacca

A majestic J-boat off the Costa Smerelda

A small cruiser for Porto Cervo in the Costa' Smerelda

We met up with our great Aussie mates John and Meagan on Sea Fox, and enjoyed swanning around in some beautiful anchorages, making lots of veranda music. Here's our version of an Aussie classic, played catamaran style, thanks to Meagan's (M2) intrepid video making.

our version of Reckless

Some of the delightful coastal architecture in Sardinia

Between Cape Ferro and Ile delle Bisce on the top of Sardinia, there is a narrow passageway. We were heading down this fairway, perhaps 0.5 nm wide, when a fleet of Open 60 style one-design racing boats, all internationally flagged, came charging down the middle. Pavlov was caught up in an intense tacking duel, with these massive and incredibly fast boats tacking like kick-boxers all around us. It was an exciting moment.

International one-class racing in the Maddalena's

A tacking duel happening all around us.

At anchor in Porto Palma on Il. Caprera

We'd travelled all the way from the southern tip of Sicily (Porto Palo) to the northern tip of Sardinia with John and Meagan from Seafox. We've not often sailed in convey, but this has been a great experience. We never seemed to get in each other's way, yet just turned up together in multiple anchorages, shared great meals, great music and great company. Thanks for the journey, you old sea dogs, the pavlova's miss you!

Our last shared anchorage with Seafox, in Isole Buddelli

After our sad farewells, we headed off to explore the more lonely regions of northern Sardinia. Catch you next time.