The voyage of the Nostra Signora dell’Assonta e San Nicola

A shipment of biscuit, salted meat, wine, cheese, textiles, and other merchandise loaded in Naples and bound for Livorno and Genoa. The voyage began under fair conditions, departing Naples on 16 November 1718, but by evening, near Monte Circello, the vessel was struck by a violent squall with strong west and south-west winds, forcing the crew to lower all lateen sails and proceed cautiously under the storm foresail. As the vessel headed toward Gaeta for safety, the wind veered sharply to the north-east and east, generating a stormy seas from multiple directions. With navigation rendered dangerous, the captain turned the ship toward Fiumara di Roma and, after two days of laborious sailing and constant bailing, managed to reach Civitavecchia. There, the crew discovered that the hull had been breached during the storm, and they used the bilge pump to remove water from the hold at a rate of roughly one bucket per two taken in. A partial repair was attempted while the ship was docked, but it continued to take on water for the rest of the journey. On 20 November the ship resumed its course northward, sailing with a gentle east wind and calm sea. But near the Piombino channel it encountered a strong north wind that forced it to turn back and anchor near the headland of Piombino in darkness. The next morning the wind had calmed and the vessel proceeded northward, but the winds soon intensified again, prompting the captain to seek shelter in Portoferraio on Elba, where the vessel remained through 24 November. After hearing Mass, the ship departed once more with favorable wind and sea. However, around the predawn of 25 November, sailing past Faro di Vada and approaching Livorno, the vessel was struck by a violent north-east/north squall that shredded the main lateen sail of the foremast into pieces. The crew had to strike the reefed foresails on the foremast, navigating in darkness around the shoals of Meloria reef. Due to the damaged rigging and risk of worsening the hull leak, the crew deemed it unsafe to enter Livorno and instead diverted to Portovenere, entering the port there on 26 November to lodge a formal testimony of damages.