The hospitality of our neighbours on the pontoon in Sant’Elmo marina in Cagliari boosted our spirits greatly and with waves and shouts of farewell in several languages, we slipped lines and headed north under full sail in light winds as far as Pink Flamingo beach above Villasimius.  It was as spectacular as ever and we anticipated a quiet evening afloat, star gazing and perhaps watching a DVD.  However, this was not to be as the wind shifted and brought in a swell beam on to the yachts at anchor, rolling us uncomfortably and throwing stuff around below decks like a demented poltergeist. 

I have never deployed my spare anchor, a heavy Breton on a combination of chain and rope, probably because it resides at the bottom of the forward sail locker under two spinnakers and a storm sail and a ton of spare ropes!  An excess of enthusiasm and an abundance of energy overcame common sense and we mined deep in the locker, eventually retrieving the anchor and struggling with it to the stern, where it was loaded with considerable difficulty into the dinghy.  It is not easy to skull a dinghy on your knees at the same time paying out heavy chain, whilst trying to make downwind a sufficient distance to give the anchor a chance of biting and bringing the bow up into the swell.  A workout it certainly was but a complete failure too, such that after more than an hour’s sweated labour, we achieved nothing other than a tug-of-war with the anchor, with us eventually winning by hauling it back on board.  I won’t be doing that again in a hurry!

One by one all sloped off, some back towards Cagliari and a few, us included onwards north to destinations uncertain.  An hour or so and we dropped anchor alongside two others in a protected cove – Punta di Is. Cappuccinus, where fishermen in a small colourfully painted wooden boat befriended us, heaped praises on Oboe, chatted to us incomprehensively for a few minutes and left to say similar hellos to the other yachts.  Night fell quickly and we could see the lights of the fishing boat off the headland, trawling to and fro until it was time to return to the bay, where they dropped anchor alongside us and slept. 

Although sleep we did not!  The wind changed again and the swell built to a frenzy of confused water, throwing us nauseously back and forth all night until despair set in and I pulled the anchor and pointed into the swell with great relief, as dawn broke and a big red sun said “hello – had a good night?”

Now at anchor outside Villasimius marina all’s calm, little children capsize optimists and picos all around us with shouts of glee.  Teenagers make merry on the beach to the intense sounds of a DJ mixing his stuff.  A full English breakfast beckons washed down by a strong cup of Nespresso Vivante (thanks Sian!). Sleep overcomes.  We’re yacht lagged! . . . .

Follow our progress here:

http://blog.mailasail.com/oboe, where you can see our daily progress on Google Earth.  Email us at: oboe {CHANGE TO AT} mailasail {DOT} com any time you like.  Phone us on +881 631 669 194 and we’ll pick up via Iridium satellite.

Fair winds to you all.

Nigel

Gill

Piers