9th & 10th September

We set off early heading east. With the security of Menorca still clearly visible a dark storm cloud whipped up winds and seas far stronger than predicted. By afternoon things had settled down but the mainly northerly breezes were directing us towards the southern tip of Sardinia. As night fell we began our watches with me lying on the bed in the saloon. The sun dropped and disappeared suddenly leaving a tantalising brief afterglow. Looking up I could see the red, green and white of our steaming lights. The sails were dark shadows against the sky above. The stars were like spatters of white paint, some bright, others indistinct or smeared. It was easy to imagine they were set in a celestial sphere hanging above us. Dull white foam left a wake behind. No other vessel was seen during the night and we ploughed our solitary furrow in the unseen sea. The moon stayed hidden until 4:30 a.m. when it appeared as a thin crescent.

Dawn was directly ahead. It crept in, first signalling the event with a faint orange glow. As this brightened the sea around us became visible. Then the tip of the sun appeared rising majestically up and through the thin layer of cloud that stretched across the horizon ahead. We still had a fair way to go and laboured on sometimes sailing, sometime motorsailing, and finally motoring. We had passed into Italian waters and the Spanish courtesy flag came down to be replaced by the Italian one. We finally berthed just over 36 hours after leaving Menorca. A couple of bottles of Cava were opened to celebrate then it was showers and off to the town to eat. We should sleep well tonight.