We are almost at the end of this trip but to be able to relax for a week we must necessarily get closer to our starting point and therefore face the long crossing from Southern Corsica to the Island of Elba. The program called for the departure on Tuesday but being one day ahead we preferred to leave on Monday night and therefore have more time available for the rest of the week. My idea was to cross the Porto Vecchio Corsica – Porto Azzurro Elba Island route by night and even without stopping (except for a swim in Santa Giulia) starting from Maddalena and continuing at night. Sara however is a little afraid having faced the sea at night only for a few hours in the morning. So we decide to stop at the quiet gulf of Pinarellu which also on the outward journey allowed us to rest peacefully, enjoy a quiet dinner, play the cello and the electric piano a bit at sunset. The final strategy is to leave in the middle of the night, at 02.00 to arrive in port in Elba at 18.00. Will Sara succeed in this undertaking? How will she face her first night sailing, where the sea is always completely black and the sensations of loneliness and isolation from the mainland will be amplified? And me? Will I be able to manage the night sailing while keeping an eye on Sara, or will I be able to face the whole night alone if she is either tired or anxious? Stay with us in this vision and I hope that these images will convey to you the emotions that have invaded our hearts. Attached are a few words on what night sailing is and some information that might interest you. Night sailing can be one of the most exciting experiences that sailing can offer, however, in order for the journey to proceed smoothly and without hitches, it is important to follow some rules that allow us to travel safely. What points have we taken into consideration for this planning? Before departure, it is necessary to dedicate some time both to planning the operations on the boat and the shifts. You must be prepared to face the night and the duration of the shifts will obviously depend on the number of members of the crew. In any case, even if there are two of you, it is advisable to establish shifts of up to three hours. In the case of larger crews, however, it is preferable to opt for shifts in pairs. Good planning should also include dinner before the shifts begin, even better if you dine in the cockpit, perhaps with a meal already prepared in advance. It is important to avoid alcoholic beverages, which will only increase heat dispersion, as well as encouraging microsleeps. As for the preparation of the boat, it will be essential to store unnecessary material in the hold, and instead keep drinks and something to eat with you. In the cockpit, it is also useful to always have a torch and binoculars with you. Everything that is not necessary must be secured on the deck, or below deck, so as not to obstruct the passage. It will be necessary to check that the hatches, portholes and sea cocks are well closed, and in the case of sailing, it will be preferable to reduce the sail, it will result in a lower speed but certainly greater safety: it will be possible, in fact, to act in time in the event that the state of the sea changes suddenly. Always for sailing it is important to have the batteries fully charged before the night, as well as the water and fuel tanks. Before organizing a night navigation, it is also important to consult the weather bulletins the day before, to be prepared for the sea conditions and the presence of wind. It is good practice to have the emergency numbers at hand and to tune the radio to channel 16. Furthermore, one must not forget the appropriate clothing, in fact, even in the summer months, at sea it can be very cold. It is therefore important that even the crew below deck needed to carry out any maneuvers is dressed to be able to go out in case of need. The lights Before leaving it is necessary to check the functioning of all the regulation lights, during navigation, however, only the navigation lights should be used, in addition to those of the instruments. The navigation lights must be turned on at sunset, and kept on at all times. These lights use an identification mechanism that avoids collisions at sea: we have the starboard light, which is green, the port light is red and the stern light is white. Safety The lifeline is a strap that passes from both sides of the deck and allows you to move around on board while remaining tied to the boat with a safety belt. It is important to attach yourself to the lifeline at night and during the day, depending on the state of the sea, even if you are in the cockpit or at the helm. The length of the harness must not exceed two meters.