The big news this morning was that our long lost package has been found. It is on board the other Amel 55 in the harbor, Fortuna, which is owned by an Australian by the name of Paul. Paul received an email from the boatyard in January that he had a package and to please pick it up. He sent a friend to do just that, who placed the package on the boat. Paul just returned from Australia a couple of days ago and emailed me this morning. I told him about the package and he said: I have it! How it is possible that the yard hands a package to someone whose name is not on it (my name is on the shipping papers) will remain a mystery forever! But they were unapologetic, saying that they were angry that someone who's not entitled to the package picks it up and doesn't bring it back!

The last three days in Catania passed by quickly. The weather was at least as bad as forecast. We had spray come over the extremely high (maybe 7 meters?) wall of the Catania harbor and quite a bit of wind and swell even in the harbor. But no problem: Kincsem was well pulled away from the pontoon so no issue except one: the masses of red Sahara sand all over the boat. It took three separate hose downs with a high pressure hose to get rid of all that sand! We even sprayed the masts but we couldn't reach more than about 10 meters high so there remains a redish coating on both masts and rigging above that height. Crossing my fingers for some rain!

Rieke, Benno and Christoph took advantage of the days in port and saw Siracusa and Taormina by car - which I've done previously twice. For me, it was some light boat yoga. And with great pleasure did I receive the dinghy cover and - alas - it fits very well! Yesterday, we all explored Catania - for the second time, in my case. It's a beautiful city with loads of great old building, many churches and great avenues and plazas. But there's graffiti everywhere, with the exception of a few showcase buildings, many of the buildings are run down and black from soot, so one has to look hard to enjoy the place. But Catania grows on you and there's as good a ship chandler as I've seen anywhere in the Med. The selection of stainless screws, tubes, chains and other shapes is overwhelming. We spent some time there ....

Catania street scenes

one of million churches

oranges anyone?

humungous Cattedrale di Sant' Agata

This morning we left and sailed briefly, upwind of course. But the wind shut down after an hour and since then we've been under engine. The swells were still high so with even 12 knots from behind, the slapping of sails was unnerving so the engine has been going all day. Reggio di Calabria is the destination for this evening. Straight of Messina is next.