Wednesday 2 October 2019

This year we have been aware that we have not been able to visit so many cultural sites as in previous years. There have been notable exceptions, but we have mostly been in places where the main focus of activity was beach-based tourism.  We have also spent many more days at anchor, and we are reluctance to disappear miles into the distance with the boat just bobbing about. As a result, we have been determined to see as much of Cagliari as possible while we are here for an extended period.  The marina we are in is the furthest out of town, about half an hour’s walk to the centre of town, so we dusted off the bikes and rode towards the city centre.  We passed the Luna Rossa base, and there was much more security in view than yesterday, with Carabinieri at the gate and in the street outside.  We also got our first view of the boat, as it was being positioned by a crane in preparation for the events of planned for later in the day.

We were keen to visit the old town, perched high on a hill above the harbour. The bikes had to be pushed up the steep narrow streets that seemed to go straight up the hill.  Higher up we found some viewing points and the route had to divert to accommodate the old city walls and the gates that allow access through them. We were aware of a strong police presence here as well, and it became apparent that the Prime Minister of Italy was in town.  Near the old city hall there were a few demonstrators, but they were heavily outnumbered by the local police and more Carabinieri.  The building is right next to one of the city’s two cathedrals.  We decided that we would probably not be allowed to lock the bikes up while we went inside, so we took turns, one staying outside with the bikes while the other went in to look around.  The cathedral was ornate, but mostly carved stone and wood rather than the gilt that we have seen in some other places. Later we wound our way back down the hill via a different route, with more views of the city being revealed as we turned some of the corners.

The cathedral

After lunch we walked back along the promenade to the Luna Rossa base.  Crowds of invited guests filled the temporary stands that had been set up in the compound, and there were plenty of people like us, trying to get a view from the shoreline.  There was also a large flotilla of boats hanging around opposite the base, vying for the best position.  They were being marshalled by boats from all of the rescue services, the Fire Brigade, the local police, the Carabinieri, the Polizia Financia, the Coast Guard, and all accompanied by a tug using its fire hoses.  The site is right outside a navy base with its own jetty and there were a couple of navy yachts tied up there as well, with officers on deck also keen for a good view. We were too far away to hear any of the speeches, but it was being broadcast on the internet, and at key moments all of the assembled boats blew their horns and sirens.

The boat was suspended from a crane and we became aware that it was actually being moved.  Slowly it was swung out over the water, and then lowered gently in. At about this point we realised that we would not see much more. There was no possibility that they would actually sail it.  It was too late in the day, the boat was decked out with flags but no sails, and the wind, already strong was forecast to rise more as the day went on, and stay that way tomorrow. 

We returned back to Equinox, and I had time to replace two more of the hatch seals before it went dark. 

We sat on deck as usual, eating dinner and watching Jupiter and the new moon rise, the lighthouse in the distance, sweeping its light around and the series of planes that all seem to come in to land at this time of day.  The wind has caused the temperature to drop, and we both had to resort to wearing a jumper while we ate.

Distance covered today	0	nautical miles
Trip distance covered	400	nautical miles
Distance covered 2019	1453	nautical miles

Steve (and Tricia)