Friday 17^th April – On passage: Escape from Cagliari

38:07.172N 9:33.564E

We had decided previously that we didn’t have fine enough weather yet for going up the Sardinian coast and over to the Italian mainland if we wanted to get on our way soon, so we have done like the swallows and have flown south in search of warmer weather.

Last night, with an OK-ish forecast for the morning, given how unsettled the weather has been recently, we had some farewell drinks and, with the forecast still looking OK this morning, we decided to go.  Rosi and Otwin on Enya also decided that they would make the trip so we are pleased to have company for the passage.

At around 11am, our friends in the marina gathered to say farewell and each boat let go its lines and headed out into the bay bound for Tunisia.

As we set off across the Bay of Cagliari the wind was too light for sailing and so we motored for a couple of hours.  Just after lunch the wind kicked in and we have remained under sail the rest of the day; with a F3-4 close hauled and then on the beam we have been gliding along beautifully with our newly cleaned bottom on Pyxis.

Although a little cloudy to start, the sky has cleared this evening and we have had a fabulous sunset and star filled night.  The swell increased as we entered the Sardinian Channel but has remained comfortable so we are enjoying our first long-haul passage of the year and so far, no rain.