Monday, 4th July Independence Day in US, Very quiet day in AgripoliIt's been very very hot with light and variable winds. We have done a lot of motoring, in between odd bouts of very slow sailing. Spent a couple of days anchored off Capri - the so called "jewel of the Mediterranean", where for decades anyone who was anyone came to build their luxury villas and Be Seen. Mostly American film stars, with a few British and Italian thrown in for good measure. And Axel...

Vesuvius and its victims. Thursday 30th JuneApart from the little brain cell episode, it has been a remarkable 3 days. We found a scruffy little yacht club in Torre Annunziata (close to Pompeii) where a jovial chap did us a cheap deal for 3 nights @ €20 per night. And we could top up with both power and water. But Torre is the other side of Italy, a real town with some ok bits and tenements, rubbish everywhere except in the bins and utter chaos. And also ...

Things that go bump in the night and hurt - Tuesday, 28th JuneWell, mishaps happen. When in rough weather, one takes care and accidents rarely happen. They happen in calm or when stationary and complacent. Wendy took a tumble. Having had dinner in the cockpit, it was now dark with no lights on. Taking a few things down below, missed a step and fell back splat, hitting the back of my head on the corner of the saloon table. (Must have hit the front somehow too a...

Island hopping to the Bay of Naples Sunday, 26th JuneDid it in one longish haul, at least to the head of the bay to the volcanic Flegree islands, peering in at Ventotene island (one of the Pontines) en-route, but did not stop.Ischia first, then Procida - islands at the head of the Bay of Naples. Anchored in Ischia, just under the Castello, built in 474BC on a rock, then joined to the island itself by a causeway built in the 1430's I believe by one of the Aragon l...

Ponza of the Pontine Islands Thursday, 23rd JuneWe can't keep away from them - we always gravitate to islands. Ponza is one of the Pontine Islands and is really the rim of a volcanic crater. It rises out of a very clear turquoise sea and is noted for its unusual rock formations, including great pillars, arches and grottoes. Trying to find a piece of pumice small enough to keep on the boat! We have spent a wonderful few days here, staying this long because it h...