The voyage of the La Madonna delle Sette Dolori

A shipment of merchandise loaded in Naples for delivery in Genoa. The vessel cleared Naples on 4 June 1719 carrying bulk "colombina" (powdered lime-ash), sawdust, two sacks of cured hams and "capicolli", one sack of hemp, a chest of books, and eight passenger trunks. The ship sailed up the Tyrrhenian Sea for four days with no issues, but at approximately 22:00 on 8 June, the vessel was struck by a sudden violent north-east wind off the coast of Monte Argentario. The squalls resulted in stormy cross-seas that caused difficulties in navigation, so the crew ran before the wind, and—between 22:00 and 02:00—jettisoned the galley stove, a spare lateen yard, eight oars (five for the skiff, three for the boat), eight passenger chests, two sacks of meats, one sack of hemp, two mattresses, a large cauldron, two copper pans, three water casks, and five wine barrels (three full, two half-full) to lighten the load. The gale intensified, driving the vessel to seek refuge a the Isola del Giglio where, around 02:00 on 9 June, it dropped anchor. But within an hour the surge threatened to drag the vessel onto the rocks, so the anchor cables were cut and the entire ground-tackle abandoned to save the ship. The vessel continued to run west-north-west through the darkness until dawn, where it passed 4–5 miles off the Isola di Montecristo under moderated seas. The captain started a fresh course past Isola d’Elba and towards the Ligurian coast. No further weather impeded the passage, and late on 12 June the vessel entered the port of Genoa with its hull, rig, and remaining cargo intact. The voyage closed with total losses confined to the sacrificed anchor, cables, gear, provisions, and passenger effects, which the captain immediately placed under claim as general average.