Laurin was sailing well, Patrick was happy, I was happy, kids were happy down below enjoying no boat school and then we heard the dreaded words over the radio. GALE WARNING. As the wind was building we quickly took the main down, continuing perfectly well under headsail and mizzen, and then spent the next half hour consulting various weather forecasts until we eventually found the Italian shipping forecast online and worked out that the gale warning was not for our area. Within an hour the wind speed dropped and we were wallowing in the slop enough to make us start the engine.
As we approached Anzio we radioed the port on channel 16 as requested to be asked our position. After repeating that we were in the entrance a couple of times we were met with a response of " you are in a dangerous position, turn to your right 90 Degrees". We continued to follow his instructions until we were safely in the harbour and then radioed the marina people on channel 74 who came out to help us berth next to a huge American Cat. We very quickly piled off the boat to go for a walk. Anzio was a bustling harbour and we were right in the centre of it.
The kids were delighted to find bungee trampolines which we agreed to subsidise as they very clearly needed to let off some steam.
As we finally returned to our boat after fending off several street vendors trying to sell us various wares, we were met by a friendly Italian gentleman asking where we came from. We told him we were British and he said the owner of the restaurant was from Yorkshire and we should come and meet her. He was quite insistent so we dutifully followed, meeting Maureen, a lovely lady from Doncaster who had been in Rome for 20 or 30 years before moving to Anzio. She was really interested in our travels and asked lots of questions about Laurin so we invited her aboard for a look round, warning her in advance of the carnage down below. We got chatting and she very kindly invited us to dinner at her restaurant as her guests.
La Sirenetta was a delightful restaurant and we had amazing food and service. Eventually the Italian guy who had encouraged us in to meet Maureen insisted she ate too, brought her food and encouraged her to eat with us. We had a lovely evening with the excellent company of a very kind lady. Pasta was followed by fried fish, and chips for the kids, and then amazing deserts, a real treat!
Back to the boat where we are in a very public location, the first time we have ever put hatch boards in for privacy but we don't mind this once in a while if it means we can be right in the centre of the hustle and bustle of a busy harbour. A lovely day!
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