Vernazza, Italy

[Will Gilmore]

Part of the five villages, "Cinque Terre" park on the Ligurian coast of the Liguarian Sea. We are visiting Itally and spending several days exploring the villages of Cinque Terre. Vernazza, we reached by hiking the 2 mile coastal trail that connects Vernazza with Monterosso Del Mar, where we are staying.

All five villages traditionally made their living with anchovy fishing and their little boat launch areas are crowded with these beautiful little boats, but not much fishing goes on today.

However, I was quite taken by this one and only sailing version of their anchovy boats.

I really like lateen rigs.
I spoke to three older men hanging out with a similar, outboard version. Like this sweet boat, was all wood. Most are glass with wood trim, including the tall bow stem. The gentlemen were among the very few who spoke no English. However, they were able to explain to me that they keep water in their boats to maintain the swelling of the planks.

(Looking back at Monterossa)

These villages are stunning and there is no one on the water. No worries about other sailors in crowded harbors. But, this is off season and these little boats run tours between the villages during the season.

(the village of Vernazza)

-Will

 

[D Swanson]

My spouse and I took our kids to Italy a few years back and spent a couple nights in Vernazza. Took the train to Monterossa and had a nice hike on our return. I remember that I was in the process of buying my current boat when I was there and would sometimes hover outside the tourist office on the main street to log into their free wi-fi on my phone (checking boat listings). Our last day there, a storm was predicted and we watched as the boats were systematically hauled out using a huge windlass onto the hard (in the piazza). Fond memories.

 

[Will Gilmore]

Here's a great view of the construction details of another wooden boat.

The sailboat is the only one I saw that didn't have the planes on the stern. I thought maybe they were too stand on while pulling on the anchovy nets, but I think they have been added to help the double enders reduce pitching. The sailboat would rely upon the sail and mast to improve Sea kindling.

Here are some more pictures of the lateen. I thought @rgranger would be particularly interested.

-Will

 

[jssailem]

Great memories of our visit to Cinque Terra. The Italian police officer.

A vineyard on the hillside. The walk along the cliffs,


the beach goers, sunshine, the boats and a lemoncello in a waterfront cafe.

Hope you guys are having a great time. A lot of artistic ideas to bring home.

 

[Will Gilmore]

The Italian police officer.

I'm sorry I missed the Italian police officer, JS. The ones I've seen look pretty run of the mill.

-Will

 

[jssailem]

One needs to keep an out for the Italian Beauty.

Our local PD was holding a recruiting day. I sent the Lt the picture and asked if this office might qualify. I got a LOL... Said none of the applicants looked anywhere near that image.

 

[rpell1@msn.com]

My wife and I had a wonderful time in this beautiful place. We managed to visit all five towns. It's way too easy to fall in love with everything Italian. My dream has been to find a way to ship my Cat30 to Italy and sail the coast from Genoa down to the Amalfi coast, over to Sicily ( where my Mom's family is from), back around to Calabria ( where my Dad's family is from) and up to Venice. For now, at age 76, I have to be satisfied with the lower NY harbor and surrounding areas cruising. Maybe in my "next" life.

 

[RoyS]

Beautiful area. We were there a few years ago. My son had rented what appeared to me to be the biggest car in Italy. We drove to Cinque Terre and attempted to find our Hotel. We ended up driving on this narrow road for about a mile that ended at the cliff walk. When the road was at its narrowest point, it just ended. There was an 8-1/2" x 11" sign there that said the parking lot for the hotel was a mile back. Here is a photo of the 75 point uturn we made to amuse the other tourists. You can see the sign on the wall. Too bad it was on this end of the road.

 

[TomY]

Thanks for those photos, Will. We loved it there and also went about the same time, 'offseason'. I'm told by friends it's hell on earth in season with the crowds and the heat.

 

[markwbird]

Great memories of our visit to Cinque Terra. The Italian police officer.
View attachment 203760
A vineyard on the hillside. The walk along the cliffs,
View attachment 203759

the beach goers, sunshine, the boats and a lemoncello in a waterfront cafe.

Hope you guys are having a great time. A lot of artistic ideas to bring home.

Holy Cow. I might have to commit a crime right in front of her.

 

[Will Gilmore]

This is the view from our AirBnB in Monterosso Del Mar. The statue carved into the cliff was impressive and I understand was built circa 1902. It is Neptune.

I'm sorry I didn't think of it until now, but I should have gone over there and introduced myself with an offering of chianti or champaign to be friendly.

-Will

 

[rgranger]

Here's a great view of the construction details of another wooden boat.
View attachment 203736
The sailboat is the only one I saw that didn't have the planes on the stern. I thought maybe they were too stand on while pulling on the anchovy nets, but I think they have been added to help the double enders reduce pitching. The sailboat would rely upon the sail and mast to improve Sea kindling.

Here are some more pictures of the lateen. I thought @rgranger would be particularly interested.
View attachment 203737
View attachment 203738
View attachment 203739

-Will

Very sexy

 

[Mark Maulden]

We stayed in Vernazza several days as a home base. Glad we did when we did before all the construction.

 

[Will Gilmore]

We stayed in Vernazza several days as a home base.

That's the way to do it. We were in Monterosso Del Mar for four nights. The trail between Riomaggiore, the southern most town, and Manarola, the next town north, was closed due to a landslide. The train is fantastic and easy. We took the train from Pisa. We left for Florence to rent a car, after hopping on and off to do all the town's in Cinque Terre.

My wife and I didn't get to Corniglia, the hike took our arthritic knees and camera happy eyes almost four hours between Monterossa and Vernazza. We planned to continue down the trail to Corniglia, but ran out of time. Our traveling friends took the train into Corniglia the day before. Each village has a unique charm and the train takes minutes, so it doesn't matter which village you choose as a base.

This, I believe, is Riomaggiore. From left to right are, my son's girlfriend, Taylor, my wife, Linda, and my daughter, Tiegan. The boats are all on chalks at the top of a long and winding boat ramp to a tiny harbor. I didn't see any boats getting launched, but it looks like they put dollies under them and either have several people push/pull them down and up the ramp, or they use a vehicle. I didn't see a single boat trailer.

-Will

 

[Will Gilmore]

We took the train from Pisa. We left for Florence

We didn't stop to see either Pisa or Florence. We rented two cars and drove a loop through Tuscany visiting several walled village and small cities including San Gimignano, Monteriggione, Siena, and Cortona. We also went down to the most interesting town I've ever seen, Pitigliano. Half the town is cut into the cliffs of tufa rock and is home to the first ghetto district.

(obviously, I was late for something, when I stopped to take this picture).

In Cortona, we browsed through an antiques market that converted several squares in the town. I thought you guys might be interested in seeing these antique barrel planes.

I want to make a couple. By the way, Olive wood is everywhere. What a beautiful wood.

We are back in Florence now, for a few days. Then home to get back to work. We have a market to do almost as soon as we are back.

Oh! I forgot to add, that funky looking wooden device at the bottom edge of the box is an antique wine corker. It consists of a tapered hole drilled through it lengthwise, a notch for inserting the cork in the middle and a plunger to push the cork through the tapered hole into the bottle top.

-Will

 

[jssailem]

an antique wine corker

Man, that would come in handy if I was going to cork a bottle of Dandelion Wine....

 

[rgranger]

Oh! I forgot to add, that funky looking wooden device at the bottom edge of the box is an antique wine corker.

 

[dLj]

So let's sail there! It's got to be lovely to arrive on your own sailboat to visit!

dj

 

[Will Gilmore]

So let's sail there! It's got to be lovely to arrive on your own sailboat to visit!

dj

You know it will be.

We travel, the airlines get more expensive and more restricted in what we can carry and bring back. I keep telling my wife, "if we came on a boat, you could buy that and get it home." She is way past eye rolling, every time I mention sailing to our destination.

She says she wants to sail, she's just sick of me talking about it at every opportunity.

-Will

 

[rgranger]

You know it will be.

We travel, the airlines get more expensive and more restricted in what we can carry and bring back. I keep telling my wife, "if we came on a boat, you could buy that and get it home." She is way past eye rolling, every time I mention sailing to our destination.

She says she wants to sail, she's just sick of me talking about it at every opportunity.

-Will

Lol
My wife says I’m like that about the wind