Sunday 1 September 2019

As it was Sunday and we were in port, the day started with croissants from the local panettiere. We spent the rest of the morning with more preparations, another trip to the supermarket in the rain, and filling the boat with fuel and water.  Eventually, by early afternoon we were ready, and set off back to Porte Conte, re-visiting where we had first arrived in Sardinia. We knew now that we were supposed to use the mooring buoy rather than anchor, and we were glad to see that the 2 buoys there were both free. We picked up our preferred one, and settled down for the rest of the afternoon.

After we had been there a while, we were visited by the Guardia di Finanza (Italian Financial Police). They seem to be a bit like HM Revenue and Customs but also have wide powers against financial crime. There were 3 guys in a large rib, with 3 300 horsepower outboard motors on the back.  Even if we had not been moored, and had wanted to, there is no way we could have outrun them. Fortunately we have nothing to hide, so we produced the papers they asked for, and after a fair amount of checking, they gave everything back and were on their way, satisfied that everything was in order.

Shortly after this, another boat that we had been looking out for appeared, and tacked elegantly up the bay to pass close by us. This was our friend from the sailing club that we had bumped into at the airport. Our meeting there was brief, but we had made a tentative agreement to meet at Porto Conte on Sunday, and here they were.  They moored to the other buoy, and then came across in their tender for drinks. We spent a very pleasant couple of hours, inaugurating the Channel Sailing Club’s Mediterranean Section’s first meeting. It was great to catch up. I have been corresponding regularly (if not frequently) with Andy, who is making a similar journey to us, but missed the Baltic leg, and has spent longer enjoying the places en route. He has now made a circumnavigation of Sardinia, and is a great source of information about the stopping places in the islands

Distance covered today	8.00	nautical miles
Trip distance covered	29.00	nautical miles
Distance covered 2019	1188.00	nautical miles

Steve (and Tricia)