6, 7 & 8 October 2025 - Manfredonia

Our dash from Bari was well timed, as the wind has been howling fairly constantly over the last few days. The area is protected by the spine of hills (see photo) that runs out along the "spur" of Italy, ond the wind here is certainly less than at the exposed end of the spur where we will be heading next. With no reasonable prospect of moving on, we have embarked on various necessary tasks.  One of these was for me to get a haircut, but we were foiled on Monday, as it seems that all of the barbers take Monday off, having worked on Saturday.  Even on Tuesday, I had to visit several before I found one open.  It was a real "old school" experience, and the result seems all the better for it.

Although we spent time in Manfredonia a couple of years ago, it only now feels as if we have explored the place properly and like it all the more for that. We have discovered various new facilities and rediscovered some of the ones we found before. While the laundry was washing, we went to a green grocer for fruit and vegetables, to find that, unusually, they would only take cash.  Our supply of Euros was temporarily empty, but the guy said that we could pay him tomorrow.  Not a bit of trust of complete strangers that would seem normal in the UK.  Fortunately, we were able to get some cash and return to repay him within a few minutes.



The bakery sells outstanding focaccia amongst other delights

We chatted at length with the folks from the boat that preceded us into the marina.  The owner is from Hong Kong, who has just bought a new boat, and due to difficulties selling the old one in the far east, has brought it back to Italy. The crew is mixed, with 2 Hong Kong natives and 2 from Italy, although they live in Hong Kong.  They are all headed to Trieste to take part in the Barcolana, the biggest sailing race in the world, with well over 2000 entries. It is the culmination of ten day festival of sailing in Trieste.  It seems that the "competitors" range from those taking it very seriously, and completing the 13 mile course in less than 2 hours, to those whose approach is more leisurely, and take nearly 8 hours.

They told us of the sailing scene in Hong Kong, and specifically a "race", that they organise.  You sail around a course and then have one hour to produce a dish of pasta and beans, that is then judged. The winner being the one whose dish tastes the best, according to a panel of judges including Italians! It sounds crazy but fun.

We have noted with pleasure the delight that is shown by the local Italians when we speak to them in Italian, they must be used to English speakers just assuming that everybody else can understand English. An example of this was when we visited the marina office to perform the check out process today (we plan to be gone before the office opens tomorrow). The lady there does speak English, but is not totally confident, so was pleased that we could explain what we wanted in our halting Italian.  Once we had paid, to show her appreciation, she presented us with a bag containing a bottle of wine and a bottle of olive oil.  Much appreciated and reward for all those hours of trying to learn Italian.


 Distance today -           0 miles

Distance this year - 1615 miles 

Steve (and Tricia) 



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