Another 300 km, another few hours on the water, another ideal sea – but this time with a worried view of the pontoon, which is actually losing air again. What’s going on?
It’s Sunday. Marko has contacted the manufacturer of the pontoons, an Italian company… but of course everything is closed in Catania today. First we have to find out why the pontoon is losing air; there is no visible leak – a leaky valve, a micro-crack? I also ask Massimo, the god-like harbour master in Catania (everyone knows him, he knows everyone, he is the undisputed boss here), but even he waves his hand dismissively. There’s no way to determine the cause; we would have to take the boat out. But even he doesn’t know anyone who could investigate and fix it immediately.
The valves are tight. I already found that out with Marko’s remote assistance. So now I’m off to the city – into the alleys and past countless restaurants with their delicacies. A gourmet paradise! I stock up on fresh fruit, buy a few gourmet treats … It’s good to eat well, especially when no one knows what will happen next.
On Monday, nothing really new is discovered, except that the manufacturer is too far away, but has a branch in Malta – perfect, that’s on my route. So I enjoy another day in the alleys and markets of Catania before setting off for Syracuse.