Journal of the seventyseventh day on board

18th July, 1999

4.00 am
We are leeway of the Scramontana bank. because of my painful toe I was seeing stars and woke up. Yesterday I underplayed the incident and today I regret not using the ice.

11.00 am
I have to go to the doctor.
The office of the harbour master at Lampedusa is sending me a patrol boat so I can get to a medical centre. The Alicudi remains on the bank so as not to miss the first good day at sea for so long. Beside the crew there are Angelo Moietta and Caterina, my wife on board. They can manage pretty well if a shark is sighted.

3.00 pm
My toe is broken. Thats what I found out through the sophisticated radiological equipment and the doctor. Its not serious but they want to put mu toe in plaster but trying to then wear fins would be a problem for me. At the end we decide to compromise and choose to apply to my toe a protective device. It's a rigid splint fixed securely by a bandage. If I have to dive I will take it off and fix it on again after.

5.00 pm
Gliding over the water the patrol boat reaches the bank. Being used to sailing 7 knots, travelling at 30 makes me feel quite euphoric. I forget my accident and rejoice at the lukwarm wind in my face.
On board Angelo Moietta, Caterina and Stefano have been chumming without a break. They haven't stopped since last night.

"My broken toe and the do-it-yourself kit"