61. Procida, Fueling up in Ischia and onto Ventotene and Ponza

61. Procida, Fueling up in Ischia 

and onto Ventotene and Ponza

Procida with the Castle at the headland

Procida to me looks like the icing on the cake!

Procida at night while at anchor in the bay

From Procida we have to visit the Port of Ischea as this is the only port to get fuel before we cross to Sardinia and I don't want to travel 200 Nms with a half empty tank.

The challenge was to get into a very busy port with a narrow entrance and with boats and large ferries making their way into the port as well. 

We got to the entrance only to find a car ferry steaming into the port and they do not stop for anyone!

We aborted and let the ferry go before us as well as a few other boats. We saw the fuel jetty and joined the queue of boats. Unusually as the jetty is small you have to attach to the jetty stern to having laid an anchor at the bow which is tricky in a tight crowded space to ensure you don't get your anchor wrapped onto someone else's anchor and chain but also we were next to the large car ferry. 

We did it! Then to make our way out we had to run the gauntlet of the narrow busy entrance and sure enough we saw a passenger ferry hurtling towards the entrance just as we were already in the channel. We accelerated fast and fortunately the ferry was a catamaran ferry so was able to slow down and let us through. We were glad to get out of there. 

The first leg of our 200 Nautical Miles to Sardinia was to stop off at a small island called Ventotene approximately 23 Nm on route. The anchorage was not great and with a rolling sea and deep anchorage but we did not go into the Port.

A small island Santa Stefano just before Ventotene. This island was used as a prison by Mussolini to accommodate the Italian opposition to his Fascist regime. 

The prison was used up to 1965 and it originally had 99 cells of 4 x 4 meters to each house 4 inmates. It was originally built by the Bourbons in 1787. There is now an EU refurbishment project to turn the Island into a high-level European think-tank academy and open-air museum. Perhaps they will hold a G20 summit there! 

It was a lovely day so a swim and an aperitif.

A beautiful old schooner but look closely at the bow.

A cosy place to catch up on your phone

That is until you are spotted by the skipper

The schooner on anchor at night looks quite mysterious

There was a swell with lots of rolling of the boat so there was little sleep and we left at sunrise onto Ponza one of our favourite islands. 

At Ponza we had a beautiful anchorage with a calm sea. We had a swim and with the calm sea that night we slept well. We left early the next day to head for Sardinia with the remainder of the 200 Nm to come. 

Goodbye to beautiful Ponza

The height of the cliffs dwarfs the yachts at anchor below

It is interesting how they have built down into the cliff. I can see a window with balcony on the right but do not know what the central large opening is. Zoom in and have a look.

The large Super Yacht with all the toys at the stern. Slides for kids, jet skis , motorised stand up boards etc. 

A stunning yacht, all in white, reflected in the calm water

Now for Sardinia.