We planned to get up at 0800 as we had several jobs to do before we left, and that is what we did. We started out by putting a new anchor roller on,which took no time at all. With the anchor back in place we continued with putting up the gennaker and then Ed washed down Arctura, whilst I made a spag bols for our evening meal. All that was left to do was get new flares, fill the water tanks and put up the spray hood. We were finished by 1200 and decided to delay our planned departure of 1300 by an hour and go for lunch. We headed for the swimming club “Rari Nantes”, which has a fine restaurant. At €10 a head we had a tuna pasta starter, grilled skewered sausage with potatoes and salad, bread and water. Additional wine was €5, the hole meal a bargain and extremely tasty.

Back to Arctura, and we finally slipped lines at 1405 and made our way out of Marina St. Elmo. Within 5 minutes we were sailing. Out of the harbour for a mile and then tacked toward Vilasinius about 20 miles toward the east. Pulling over 7 knots we made great headway close hauled, but very comfortable in a 15 knot wind.

We then turned to port and with the wind evermore behind us, made our way through the island of Cavoli and Sardinia and set a course for Elba. Changing our sail pattern often from goose winging to head sail alone, we finally deployed the genaker alone in the light wind from the south and almost directly behind us. We also had fun experimenting with the boom brake, that came with Arctura, but was never deployed. A very useful piece of kit, getting rid of the need for complicated gybe preventers.

The boom brake proved totally efficient in the tests we put it through and certainly did the job. An invaluable piece of safety kit.

We had our spag bols at 2000 and at 2100 settled into our 3 hour watch system.

Thee moon is a 13% waxing crescent, but even this lights up the sea sufficiently, but it’ll set just before midnight. Stars are everywhere and wonderful phosphorescence from algae and jellyfish sparkle in our wake.

7th May 2019 – 0300

Up for my next 3 hour shift. Ed had nothing major to report. We can now clearly see the light from the Arbatax light house some 20 miles away. It has a range of 26 miles, 2 white flashes every 10 seconds. Sky is still clear and the stars look more beautiful than ever and at this hour joined by Jupiter and Saturn. Venus should rise at 0514, so will keep an eye open for her. The wind has picked up again and we are sailing in a southerly and Arctura is pulling 4 kts as we make our way northwards parallel to the coast and about 2 miles from shore.

0415

Wind has backed by about 20 degrees and the gennaker was collapsing. Ed came up from his slumber and we rolled away the gennaker and deployed the small Genoa, but this time on the port side to accommodate for the shift in wind. It has also piped up to 15kts and is forecast to increase further, so we’ll keep this one flying.

0430

Ed gone back to his bunk and we’re now pulling over 4 kts with our small Genoa. Waiting for the sun to rise in a couple of hours.

0545

Half an hour before sunrise and it’s already bright with the red sky in the distance we await the sun and it’s warmth.

Nearly sunrise, but not quite

And finally sunrise 0615

0630

I’m off to my bunk now for a quick kip before breakfast

Well the wind has certainly picked up, 25 kts to be precise. But we’re not in a hurry and decided to deploy the smaller Genoa. Even with this sail pattern we are sailing between 5.5 and 6.5 kts. The waves and wind are from behind us, the south, and probably about 1 to 1.5 metres in height.

Came across an approaching Passenger ferry, heading for Cagliari, as we are the stand on vessel, I gave them a call on channel 16 and informed him of our intentions. He very politely replied and turned to starboard, giving us a wide berth.

Nothing much else to report as we sail north. Edward prepared a great lunch of aniseed sausages, salad and potatoes. Extremely delicious. Edward went down for a nap and now it’s my turn. It’s 1400 and we’ve been at sea for 24 hours and covered 114 nm.

1600

Our predict wind model predicted high winds, but not as high as this. 40 kt winds and 2 to 3 metre waves. Not very pleasant and some of the waves tower above us as we sit or even stand in the cockpit. The usual discussion ensures about whether to divert or not. If we set a course to Olbia, then we would have to gybe and the wind and waves would be more on our beam, which is not good. Our present course seems safe and the wind is predicted to calm down by 2100 tonight.

In the midst of all this we had a huge bite on our fishing line and found it impossible to stop the line reeling out. Eventually it stopped, but only because whatever was on there got away, together with the lure.

2000

There was a moment there when I thought the wind was diminishing, but no, it’s piped up again to 35 plus kts. Another hour to go and we will see if it a baits as promised. Let’s hope so, I don’t think Ed I’ll manage another 22 hours of this. The sun is rapidly setting in the west, let’s see what the evening brings.

0001

My watch started at midnight and due to the rolling and often sharp, jerky movement of Arctura, I didn’t get much sleep. Coming on deck, I could feel the 2 to 3 metre waves pound Arctura from her starboard aft. Pitching her left and then right. Not a very pleasant movement and whilst bearable on deck, amplified ten fold below. Anyway we’re sailing, the wind is still southerly between 24 and 35 kts and we are getting closer to Elba at a rate of 6 kts. Distance to go around 84 nms.

No other vessels in our vicinity, at least not within 12 miles. Spotting a vessel at 12 miles gives us approximately 20 to 30 minutes before she is upon us and we will see a big tanker, well before she she’s us, if at all. So a sharp visual lookout and AIS and radar is essential. Well, that’s why we have a watch system.

0600

By the time I got onto my 6 o’clock watch the wind had calmed somewhat to just under 20 kts. Normally 20kts would be touch and go weather back in the Solent, but after a night of 35 kts plus winds, 20 kts feels like a sea breeze. The sea has also calmed a little and at lest the 2 to 3 metre waves have gone, but replaced with a choppy sea. But hey, this is luxury. We are 12 miles south of the island of Monte Christo. Apparently, an island keeper and his wife are the only inhabitants and visitors only welcomed with a professional guide. 50 odd miles to run to the welcoming ams of Elba.

0730

Amazingly, the wind drop to nothing and on goes the iron maiden, for the first time in 212 miles. Not a bad run under sail alone.

0930

As we motored up towards Isola Di MonteCristo we were greeted by a pod of dolphins. They played wonderfully in Arctura‘s bow wave and as we greeted then with a chorus of hellos, they turned as if to return the greeting. I’m positive they can hear us, as each time we sang hello, they turned to show their eyes and white under-half.

We’ve now set our final course, for the eastern edge of Elba and we will hopefully find a space in Portoferraio.