12. Capri and Salerno

12. The next day Monday we sailed across the Bay of Naples towards Capri. Capri looked magnificent, a quite beautiful island. 

However we had to dodge the ferries which came from all angles speeding at 20 to 28 knots and they do not give way or alter course to avoid a yacht. We headed for Salerno, a large port and city with the marina in the main harbour. As we arrived a squall and thunderstorm hit. I radioed the marina for directions to the birth and this wonderful Italian said left when he meant right. So he directed us to a blue boat on the left. Looking left we saw a large blue cargo ship with Grimaldi shipping written on the side so we headed in that direction. He got very excited on the VHF radio and kept on saying "no, no, go left". We then saw some yachts on the right on pontoons and sure enough a large blue yacht with an Italian frantically jumping up and down waving his arms. The squall was fierce and he jumped onto our boat from a dingy and proceeded to direct me what to do. In a predicament like this adrenaline makes you understand very quickly someone who is speaking a language you do not understand combined with the gesticulating arms which certainly helped. He got us in safely and all was well. We shook hands and laughed together. I think he was as relieved as I was. 

Salerno was the made the Capital of the Southern Italy by the allies during the war and the King of Italy, Leopold resided here. 

It has a very busy port and you can see one of our neighbours which had just arrived.