Manoeuvres in the dark

Robinetta began to rock in the swell as we got the bedding out, and the first half hour after “bed time” was spent tracking down all the bits and pieces on the boat that rattle when they move. Once we had everything quiet we did manage to get to sleep, but by 3 a.m. the movement was so extreme that the boom rolled out of its crutches. That brought us both on deck to sort it out, and neither of us could get back to sleep afterwards.

We discussed what to do, and decided the best would be to haul up the anchor, and go round to the other side of Saint Nicholas, where the island would be between us and the wind. Julian got the electronic charts up on his tablet as it was too dark to see much, then went to the foredeck and hauled up the anchor. I had to motor up towards it to help him.

Once the anchor was up I helmed us round the Isle de Bananec, following the chart and cardinal flashes. With looking at the lit chart on the tablet my night vision was not at its best, so Julian went onto the foredeck and called where to steer to avoid moored yachts. Once we found a vacant mooring we decided to take it, but I need two goes round to put Robinetta’s bow where Julian could reach the buoy.

Even these moorings, with an island between us and the wind, were not totally quiet, but they were a whole lot better than the ones on the other side of the isthmus that joined St Nicholas to Bananec, and I fell asleep almost as soon as we were secure on the buoy.

We were woken next morning, at 09:00, by the harbour master collecting his 10 euro dues for the buoy. Worth it for the four hours of uninterrupted sleep.