A rough crossing we had of it. The seas were still lumpy from the recent windy weather and after the initial exhilaration of being underway I managed two log entries before I had to lie prone on deck. This was despite my sporting the sea sickness wristbands that had been effective before. John stoically carried on. We dodged a couple of ferries and, true to form the wind came up as we came closer to Ischia. Unsportingly I hoped John would not want to sail. He didn’t.

Once we were in the shelter of the islands the seas calmed down and I felt normal again, albeit rather nervous about docking. We arrived in the harbour, radioed in and were promptly met by three young men in a boat. ‘Follow me!’ So we did, John reversing smoothly between two large motor boats to a place against the harbour wall. Shades of Greece and a new one for us here. The new ropes worked well, John sorted the lazy line and we were soon docked, just by the pedestrian crossing and a short walk to the office and the toilets.

We headed off to the office and there was Fausto, clearly glad to see us. He probably thought we’d died. We’d worried about him when there’d been no sign of him on the dock. It was handshakes and kisses all round. He announced that they still had all our details we could just go off and enjoy ourselves. ‘Maybe you need the latest copy of the insurance?’ ‘Ah yes, just the new insurance’. The chap on the computer was meanwhile quietly photocopying all our documents.

Then it was off to the high street and a couple of cold beers.