Ustica for Easter

Amy and her friend & flatmate Andrew (“Drew”) arrived from London Thursday night and we sampled the chianti big time to celebrate. Fortunately they also brought stable fine weather so we got our first real taste of this when we headed out about 30 miles to the Island of Ustica.
This is a small island, just a little larger than Rakino in the Hauraki Gulf. It was first inhabited around 2000 BC and 6,000 mutinous Carthaginian soldiers were abandoned there to die of hunger leading to the Island becoming known by the Greeks as the Osteodes (island of bones). In the 18th century it was colonised by Bourbons but they were massacred by pirates with only two escaping to tell the tale. We had a much less dramatic time and arrived on Friday. The harbour is very small at about 150 m square and with most of that taken up by moorings, fishing boats and a hydrofoil but with some help from someone ashore we anchored off a jetty and tied stern to as dark set in. Shortly afterwards a port official turned up and was not happy. He said we were “blocking the harbour” and the hydrofoil would not be able to get out. I couldn’t see his point but we agreed to leave the following morning before 0630 to allow the hydrofoil to leave by 0645.
For the next two nights we anchored with a spare all rope anchor in about 80 feet at a beautiful bay on the Southern side of the island. The wind was mostly 3-6 knots, the sea smooth and the water beautifully clear – you can see down to about 50 ft (this is a far cry from Palermo harbour where the water is filthy and everything imaginable is floating around the marina). The “bay” did not really afford much protection but in the conditions was fine. The seawater is still cold at about 15.5 dC but Amy ventured in for several swims and so did Di briefly take a plunge. I’m awaiting warmer temps ! We also got the chance to put the RIB to use for the first time and Amy enjoyed exploring around the island using it.
As I write this we’re cruising at 6.5 knots in perfect conditions back to Palermo for the night. We’ll go out for dinner tonight and spend tomorrow sight seeing around Palermo before Amy & Drew depart on Tuesday night. After their departure we’ll stay in the general area, hopefully going to the Aolian Islands before John arrives in Palermo on 23 April.