Well, we are finally on our way. Left Portoferrai on Weds and sailed around Elba to Golfo Della Lacona. It was a nice start, sailed most of the way, great scenery. The Golfo had a long beach plastered with umbrellas, and there were many plastic paddle boats with Italians having fun.

We set out from there on Thurs at 6am and had a fantastic day, sailed about 50miles mostly around 6kn, wind around 12 kn, seas less the 1m. We've ended up at Isola Di Giannutri, which almost feels like home. There seems to be almost no permanent settlement, just summer houses. No beach, so no umbrellas, and a million seagull things with their teenage chicks all over the island and the water.

Italy is weird. This is a national park, we are anchored in a bird rookery, ok, admittedly there seem to be too many birds, but the large Italian anchored just past us with his big plastic speed boat keeps taking his dogs ashore to let them run around. The sky fills with alarmed birds each time......