Journal of the twentyfifth day on board

27th May, 1999

Time: 8,25 "It's been years since we've seen a shark in these parts" says Salvatore "if there were 'verdesche', we would have seen them from the deck".

We've been pasturing for hours without any result. Don Salvatore's witty remark finds fertile ground and hits the nail on the head.

Time: 19,50 We are recrossing the Straits heading south in the direction of Capo Spartivento. The Calabrese and Sicilian coasts sparkle with lights. A great sight without a breath of air and a current of "only" 3 knots.

In the Strait the current can reach 7 knots and force the smaller boats to push to the maximum just to stay still. Nature's test of strength and a small humiliation for the ship's captain.