The Tiny Island of Capraia.
So, on the 1st August, intending on going ashore to visit Macinaggio, we woke to an un-forecasted SE4 and 1/2M swells blowing straight into our safe harbour, typical. With only 2 metres under us and not far to the shore, we decided not to leave Seaclusion, and the possibility of a large insurance claim, so instead set sail the 22NM’s back to Capraia. We had a wonderful sail all the way to the top of the island and only had to put the engine on for the last mile, to drop anchor just outside the only town on the island.
Capraia
As mentioned before this was the most northern accessible island of the Tuscan archipelago, with a population of 400 people but then it is only has an area of 7 square miles, mostly volcanic! The island’s small harbour, Porto di Capraia, is connected to its single village by the one and only asphalted road on the island, dominated by the Fortress of St George.
Having learnt our lesson from our earlier visit, we jumped in the dinghy early to go ashore, before all the other other yachts arrived to cross anchors and moor too close. We moored up inside the port, which had a surprising number of boats, large ones at that, for such a tiny place! In fact we thought there might be more boats than the population.
We then jumped on the bus to go up to the village…which was so quiet and charming, with just a few locals going about their business.
The walk back down afforded some wonderful views of the harbour, the fort and Seaclusion moored below us, before the madding crowd arrived.
We stayed for a peaceful night, eating on board, before returning back to Macinaggio for a proper look around, at least this time we did actually make it off the boat!.
Macinaggio
Already known to the Greeks, Romans, Saracens and Genoese, the bay of Macinaggio, a natural shelter, was naturally destined to be a port. From trade, fishing and military, its activity has evolved with the times, until it reached the stage of modernity and seized the opportunity of the development of yachting. Now, it is just that, a large marina, with a few old buildings with a beach bar that served the best and we do mean the best steak haché on Corsica!
Tummies full, we returned to Seaclusion for a peaceful night on anchor, well at least until dawn which brought the south east winds and swell again, so we set sail to round Cap Corse, heading to St Florent, at the bottom of the north west side of the finger!
3rd August 2024
