Monday 30 September 2019

The last day of September and we have a forecast of 30C this afternoon and minimum of 20C overnight. First thing in the morning, up to an hour after sunrise, is a lovely temperature.

Just across the road from the marina office, the road leads down to a lagoon, on the outer side of which, is a beach. As I ran along the water’s edge, the sea was flat calm. The eight boats anchored in the bay were perfectly fine, but it looked to be very exposed to wind from any direction. However, we’ve noted it as a possible future stopping place.

We slipped lines about 0930, as we knew the wind would build during the day and we would be motoring straight into it. About a mile out of the marina, as we approached the headland, the wind kicked in and for two or three hours it was very choppy and uncomfortable. The speed halves when you are ploughing through waves. It’s frustrating having to motor, because we know the boat would cut through the waves much more easily under sail, being more comfortable and faster. Strangely, the back stay, which has concerned us for some days, wasn’t bouncing around as much as it has done, but we were on tender hooks that we would get to Cagliari without it falling down.

As we got two-thirds into our journey, the waves flattened off, resulting in better speed.

The huge harbour was thankfully free of ship movement as we entered, at lunchtime. We had a very friendly welcome from the marinero. We could relax. We had completed the crossing with nothing adverse happening.

Quote from DH Lawerence, which is almost appt today:
"And suddenly, there is Cagliari: a naked town rising steep, steep, golden-looking, piled naked to the sky from plain at the head of the formless hollow bay. it is strange and rather wonderful, not a bit like Italy. The city piles up lofty and almost miniature, and makes me think of Jerusalem: without trees, without cover, rising rather bare and proud, remote as if back in history, like a town in a monkish, illuminated missal. One wonders however it got there. And it seems like Spain, or Malta; not Italy."
This is if you view the old town and ignore the modern buildings in front and the oil terminal!

Riggers came in the early evening to get an idea of the problems we have. They will return tomorrow morning to go up the mast and check the rig.

Apologies that this picture is similar to yesterdays, but today's sunset was better!

There was an amazing colour to the sky after sunset, creating a lovely picture through the boat’s masts. It’s still warm enough to dine on deck, always a treat, even when it’s every day!

Distance covered today	23	nautical miles
Trip distance covered	400	nautical miles
Distance covered 2019	1453	nautical miles

Tricia (and Steve)