Sunday 21^st September – Arrival Carloforte, Isola di San Pietro, Sardinia

39:08.438N 8:18.879E

Today the wind disappeared and so did the swell, making life more comfortable afloat, but it did mean that we had to motor sail the rest of the way here to Sardinia.  We now have full batteries, full water tanks and an empty fuel tank!

On watch it has been a very quiet passage with hardly any other shipping else in sight – except Cape who are travelling across with us. 

We arrived at the entrance to the San Pietro Channel after dark and had to pilot through the shallows to the harbour at Carloforte on instruments, keeping a watch with the searchlight – it was one of those very dark nights, few shore lights and the moon had not yet risen. 

It was as well that we were watching carefully as the post marking the edge of a particularly shallow area just outside the harbour was not in the same place as it was on our chart, and a cardinal seemed to be missing or unlit. 

We discovered this just after we reached our waypoint to turn right towards the harbour.  We had slowed right down to look for the post which was supposed to be away to our right, right on the transit line but wasn’t there!

We then realised that the light ahead of us that looked to be on the far side of the shoal was possibly much closer.  As I turned the searchlight towards it we suddenly realised we would have hit the dark post underneath it if we had carried straight-on another boat length or two. 

Anyway, I called Cape to warn them and we went into the harbour to look around for somewhere to berth for the night.  Looking around wasn’t easy, it was even dark on the town side.  We couldn’t find anywhere at the town quay, nor a reception pontoon at the marinas, and didn’t fancy trying to berth in the dark without some help ashore.  The pilot book says that although anchoring is prohibited in the harbour, if you arrive after dark you can anchor but will be asked to move in the morning, so we put the anchor down. 

However, when Cape arrived they suggested that they go alongside a concrete large ships dock on the other side of the harbour which was quite well lit where they could see two large bollards for mooring and that we raft alongside them (they are larger than us).  So, we up-anchored and went and secured alongside.

Finally, we had a quick beer before collapsing into bed.  We expect to be moved on in the morning.

On passage:  Sunset, Sunrise

© Pyxis 2008