September 16 , 2001 Gaeta, Italy September 3 , 2001 Stromboli: The Lighthouse Of The Mediterranean August 26 , 2001 Cefalu: Another Medieval Jewel August 23 , 2001 Sicily: Land of Lovely Desserts August 15 , 2001 En Route to North Africa August 10 , 2001 Ormeggiatori August 8, 2001 Supermarkets and Amphora August 6 , 2001 Sailing South in Sardinia August 2 , 2001 La Vie en Corsica July 30, 2001 Jonathan Joins Us July 27, 2001 One Sea, Seven Colors July 24, 2001 Say What? July 23, 2001 "Va Bene" July 21, 2001 Venturing Into Italy July 20, 2001 And The Mistral Blew July 18, 2001 The Spell Of Menorca July 12, 2001 Culture And Concerts July 7, 2001 Cha Chas July 6, 2001 Red Dust July 4, 2001 Rare Birds July 3, 2001 Clear Empty Water June 27 , 2001 Quick Friends June 22 , 2001 Reconnecting June 13, 2001 Eastern Hemisphere June 6, 2001 A Weekend in Cartegena May 30 , 2001 A Time Or A Place May 29 , 2001 Several Lovely Sails May 21 , 2001 Free At Last May 25, 2001 On The Hard May 18, 2001 A Boat Again May 14, 2001 Time Warp to Morocco May 03, 2001 Still On Stilts in Malaga

 August 6, 2001 

We're moving south. From Corsica we had several lovely sails and some hot times motoring through the rocky outcroppings of the islands just north of mainland Sardinia, the Parco Nazionale Arcipelago di La Maddalena. One night we had the anchorage to ourselves, sharing it with only the wild boars scavenging on the beach, and the next we were "alone" with 30 other boats - the first time they did not go home.

This northeast section of the Sardinian coast is a boater's paradise with wonderful bays, beaches, coves, islands and good sailing when there isn't too much or too little wind. It is not surprising the Italians and French flock here in August, nor that Prince Aga Khan chose this area, in the 1960s, to develop as the playground of the rich and famous: the Costa Smeralda. Planned communities, reasonably well done, they are still artificial, very crowded and very expensive.

We had the experience (at quite a price) of seeing 'the beautiful people' and ''the wannabe beautiful people' strutting their stuff on the docks, day and night, when we got stuck in Porto Rotondo's marina for two nights, waiting while another mistral blew through. Jonathan has decided that when powerboats are purchased, they come with a blond bombshell stretched out on the bow sunbathing. I have decided there isn't a flatchested woman in Europe. And did you know that rhinestone belts around your hips and glitter on your jeans is THE thing.

Tonight we are anchored in a protected bay along with a number of mega-yachts for whom the marinas had no space, and have had fun watching these behemoths surge and slew around on their anchors, as well as drag. They are downwind from us, so no danger to us. The size of these ships is mind boggling (as well as the unfathomable cost) and it is amazing to see them all parking together as if in a motor-home campsite. It is also unbelievable to listen to the crew communicate with each other via VHF radio. They are constantly radioing about dinghying back and forth to pick up the 'guests' from the beaches, hotels, bars etc. and they use initials instead of names for these guests, because they know we, the not so rich and famous, are listening to their conversations.

We are still in company with our German friend on his HR42 and since he is single-handing right now, Jonathan will sail with him tomorrow (if the wind abates) to Olbia.