Friday morning we had a terrific sail across from Favignana Island to Marsala (famous for its sweet wine) on the west coast of Sicily - upwind with flat water and 12 to 15 knots of wind - perfect conditions for ALMA and we made great time and were in the harbour just after midday. Just as well as the wind was up to 20 knots by the time we'd finished securing all our lines and up to 30 knots within an hour followed by torrential rain and thunder (with even stronger gusts) - I haven't seen as heavy rain since Singapore's monsoon rain.

Hope to explore the west coast of Sicily next week and then next weekend make the final stage of our journey along the south coast of Sicily (would like to visit the ancient Greek temples at Agrigento and Selinunte) and across to Malta (which lies about 70 miles south of the southern point of Sicily).

Hope you're all well.
Best wishes
Iain and Helen