Stagnali was beautiful but with 0.8 metres below the keel and open to the North West we were always concerned about a big blow from that direction and having to get out in a hurry. Isolated thunderstorms are possible over the next couple of days so we took the prudent course and took an opportunity to take the crew for a proper birthday meal.

Yesterday we visited the house of Guiseppe Garibaldi, a 2 km walk from where we landed our dinghy on the island of Caprera. Garibaldi is fêted as a hero of the unification of modern Italy but when we later Googled him, he seemed to have had a chequered career with at least one death sentence for rebellion passed on him. The house was situated in a stunning location and we found that he initially bought half the Island of Caprera and was subsequently gifted the rest by an Englishman (name unknown to us). He was a man of many parts - as well as being a General, he was also a sea captain, a schoolmaster, a trader, a blacksmith, a turner and a horticulturist.

Alison with Garibaldi, although he doesn’t seem too impressed

Stagnali was great for swimming and dips were taken before breakfast and during the rest of the days. Here on the town quay in La Maddelena, we are close to traffic and tourist noise, so quite a change. We are expecting a rowdy night tonight as England meet Italy in the World Cup preliminaries in Brazil and kick-off time is midnight local time here!

Alison (65 today) on the back of Red Skies in La Maddelena

A general view of Cala Gavetta marina