We chose to check out from Italy at Porto Empedocle so we wouldn’t have to go around to Trepani. Another day of motoring into headwinds with only a few hours of sailing was ahead. Conditions were better than the day before and we arrived in Porto Empedocle at 1700 where Giuseppe helped us into a berth.

Bit of a tough day. We had 59 miles to make and knew it was going to be motoring into it. Choppy wind over current conditions with late afternoon thunderstorms made for an uncomfortable ride and gusty conditions.

Our day was peachy by comparison to the German boat that ran over fishing nets some ways before Ragusa, in the middle of a thunderstorm. We could not understand why they were slowly tacking into 25 knots and rain until they got to the harbour entrance. We were well impressed by these “real sailors”!

Finally, after five days of “fixing your boat in exotic places”, we did a bit of touristing this afternoon.

We knew there were thunderstorms coming but still procrastinated getting back to the boat so got a bit damp as the rain started just before we made it back.

A whole day of absolutely zero wind conditions. Glassed out sea and apparent wind == VMG. Used the conditions to wash the boat, inside and out, do laundry and make water.