Wednesday 3 July 2019

We woke very early as there was still much to do in preparation for leaving the boat, but we worked our way steadily through the list.  On the dot of 08:30 a guy came and said that they were ready, and he would guide us round to the lifting dock.  All very straightforward.  By 09:00, the boat was out of the water and having the bottom cleaned.  Once this was done, they moved the boat to a location in the car park, and assembled the frame to support her when the travel hoist put her down.  The frame was substantial and should be well capable of holding Equinox.

It was a very hot day, but there was still work for me to do on board to complete the preparations for leaving.  All of the batteries have to be disconnected and I had to fit the deck cover.  This was a bit of a challenge as we had never seen it fully installed before, the riggers had removed it in Aguadulce before we arrived. The first piece that covers the foredeck was relatively easy, I had seen that out before and it is the smaller of the elements.  The larger piece covers the whole of the deck from the mast backwards, and so is an enormous and unwieldy piece of canvas.  It is also necessary to line it up correctly with the various deck fittings.  All of this, with a bit of a breeze blowing, the deck being 3 – 4 metres in the air and after living on board for 3 months, the vague sensation that it was moving.  I stopped several times to reassure myself that it was not.  Eventually, and by now perspiring freely, I had addressed all 30 to 40 of the tether points and the job was done.

The public transport network was not going to work for us, so with the help of the marina staff, we arranged for a taxi to take us back to Alghero. The road would around the coast, and was probably 5 or 6 miles longer that the direct route we had taken by sea yesterday.

Folks at our accommodation recommended a traditional Sardinian restaurant, and having taken an chance on getting a table without a booking, we were lucky and they managed to fit us in.  The food was great, and quite different from my idea of Italian food.  We understand that the Sardinians see themselves as a little different and separate from the rest of Italy.

Distance covered today	0	nautical miles
Trip distance covered	1159	nautical miles
Distance covered 2019	1159	nautical miles
Steve (and Tricia )