Viareggio interlude.

60 odd nautical miles to Viareggio and finally we get to fly the Code 0. It’s a great looking sail and I’m sure once used to it we’ll get some good speeds from it.

I only knew of Viareggio because the code O was made there by Angelo Costa of Sail Design. The place is the premium hub for super yacht building, being the home of famous brands like Azimut Benetti, building on a long history of ship building from the 1800’s. Its other fame comes as the beach resort of choice for Tuscany. The Milanese come here in droves to soak up the sun on the wide golden beaches with beach umbrellas 20 to 30 deep going for miules along Versilia. There would be thousands of umbrellas run by concessionaires, usually family businesses, who set up for the summer. This trade however contravenes EU law, so there are moves afoot to close the trade down to allow free access to the beaches, which as you would expect is opposed bitterly by local businesses who pay boats to patrol the beaches with loud speakers screeching their messages.

We said farewell to the Fergies as they continued their European travels. I had then a couple of weeks to cool my heels there as Sandy headed home to Oz to pick up Cian and take him to Weed, California to get set up at his new home the College of the Siskiyous. Our friends, Scott and Tina off Always, rolled into town and stayed for a bit which was as usual, fun. I also was lucky to have my sister Siun stay a few days one week and Joe her husband and son Tomas the next. We boys took Cooinda for a trip up to Porto Venere which was a lot of fun.

Whilst it had its fair share of Michelin rated restaurants asnd excellent chandleries they also have some spectacularly crafted sculptures lining the foreshore and wharf area.