38 53.3 N 008 49.6 E Malfantano Sunday 3 Oct

It's been a week. We stayed in Portoscuso for one night only and went all of 3 miles across the Strait of San Piedro to Carloforte on the Isola di San Pietro. Carloforte is the only town on this small island off the southwest of Sardinia and is attractive with pastel coloured houses rising from the water's edge. It is a maze of little streets and steps. Shops are difficult to find until you realise they are the front rooms of people's houses and you have to go through the beaded curtains covering the door to see what's inside. There are dozens of butchers and bakers, each selling only small amounts of produce - how they all make a living is beyond me.

We were fortunate to be there on Wednesday - Market day - a terrific open air market selling beautiful fruit and vegetables, the local cheese (the Sardinian Pecorino is wonderful) and everything else from pots and pans to carpets. Met up with Silent Wings (Malo 37) and had dinner together chez nous. They are on their way back north (didn't like Marina del Sole where they (and we!) were going to overwinter). We are still heading south and will make up our own minds...

This is a popular tourist resort (although definitely an end of season feel to it) and the large ferries come and go non-stop. We have identified one (arrives about once every 2 hours) who comes steaming in at a rate of knots, does a stylish handbrake turn in the middle of the harbour and backs into his berth with great gusto. Meanwhile sending all the yachts and smaller boats in the harbour rolling and yawing and straining at warps - I thought our cleats would pull out! For those who know, very reminiscent of Ile de Groix in Brittany.

A few days here to sit out yet another little blow and then summer returned. We headed off through the straits, past Isola di Sant' Antioco, round Cape Teulada to the Bay of Malfantano. Tucked right up, there are about 3 branches or inlets, and there is shelter from winds from most directions. Spent two nights in a big bay and last night in "East Cove" where it blew a F5 all night. But we have had several days of warm, sunny weather, swimming in beautifully clear water, barbecues in the evening and walks over the hills in the day.

But now off to Cagliari itself, to suss out our winter home and see if we're happy with the situation. It's now blowing a F6, so no stopping en route - 30 odd miles with a couple of reefs in no doubt. Cagliari should be interesting - and hopefully finally an unsecured wifi connection.

No we're not….. We set off straight into choppy seas and 35knots. Turned round and came back in and it blew F6/F7 the rest of the day and night. Not what was on the GRIBS! So left next day (Monday) and arrived in Cagliari - big bay with commercial port, big town, looks interesting…..