Donning the now familiar multiple layers of protective clothing I head for the cockpit. It is four am and as I step outside my eyes scan the surroundings to take over the watch from Bellomino. Behind us in the distance are the last fading lights of Menorca and the town of Mahon.

We had stoped there for a few hours in the late afternoon for a short look around as some on board had not been there before. I am now looking back with a hollow feeling as I had stoped there a few times before with very pleasant memories of a picturesque town in a most unusual setting. Mahon lies at the head of a fiord nestling in the almost circular hollow of the surrounding hills and dates back centuries. Camera in hand I had explored the old city seeing the ancient stone buildings and massive arches of fortified gates.

Had I had my camera with me last night it would reveal a different town indeed. In the intervening short few years the town has been modernized with paved piazzas and streets closed to traffic while the shoppers ramble free of any obstruction. All this is very well but the marble shop-fronts and glitzy lights look like any where else. For me and my jaundiced eye it has lost much of it's character and the magic that enchanted me before. I am glad that I still have my old photographs and memories.

After three cold hours on watch it was still dark at seven am. We are now at fourty degrees North in the winter so will not see the sun for another hour. Due to set at five thirty this afternoon the day is noticeably shorter with just nine and a half hours of day light, quite different to a few short weeks ago when we basked in long hot days.

It's evident once again than we are on an inland sea as the feared swell from the Mistral has not materialized. Very quickly both the wind and waves have subsided and we motor on in calm conditions towards the Straights of Bonifacio. This is the narrow gap between Corsica and Sardinia. Through this portal we will have an uninterrupted path to the Italian mainland coast. This afternoon I hoisted the Italian courtesy flag in anticipation. This is surely the ultimo sforzo.

With the lights of Sardinia ahead at 40 deg 59 min North and 007 deg 54 min East.

Cheers

Tom.