Sailing again

It has been one month since the kids and I are back in Sardinia on the boat. Four relaxed weeks in Porto Rotondo filled with more boat repairs, maintenance chores, learning activities, dinners and aperitivi with friends in the Marina while watching the little town wake up more and more for the season. Over the Easter weekend the place was buzzing with families strolling the port and bringing life to the cafes, bars and plazas. It culminated in a loud all day party Easter Monday with food, live band and DJ at our favorite bar. In the end even our son was dancing!

The last five days or so the boat has actually been ready to sail, but the weather has not been steady long enough for us to head South. We were also waiting for company from Canada: Jennifer and Campbell, two experienced cruisers who sailed from Victoria to the South Pacific and back with their kids, arrived in the evening of April 26th. They joined us aboard in La Calletta, a marina seven sailing hours (we had great wind and saw two dolphins!) South of Porto Rotondo. At least we had one day sailing and docking practice to get back into the swing of things before having guests.

Taking advantage of another day of decent weather we decided to leave bright and early the next morning to make the 40 sea miles  to Santa Maria di Navarrese. This friendly town grew organically around an olive grove with supposedly one of the oldest olive trees in Europe – estimated to be about 2000 years old. A great spot for waiting for good passage weather.

Yes, we can hardly believe it after all this waiting, but we are all prepared to do the 34-hour-crossing to Sicily. You can maybe imagine how excited we are! It feels so good to be on the water and moving again and then Sicily….THE Italian island bursting with life and cultural sights.

Sardinia is more known for its natural beauty, which we got another glimpse of on our train ride south to Cagliari: high plateaus, meandering creeks, green meadows dotted with old cork oak trees and white sheep.  At this time of the year everything is very green with lots of wild flowers blooming.

Yesterday we got to see more of the island’s inland beauty on a three-hour-hike from the mountain village Baunai (which we reached by public bus) back to our Marina in Navarrese.  On the way down the view was breathtaking: It reached far across the patchwork of fields to rocky hills in the distance and the large crescent of the bay with its turquoise and blue water rimmed by a line of white beach. With the Mistral blowing the air is crystal clear as if a giant’s hand has polished it diligently during the night.

The kids are looking forward to our first night sail. Sol wants to stay up all night. The rest of us will do rotating shifts of two-hour watches in pairs of two throughout the night. Tomorrow is the day, the alarm is set for 5.30. Wish us fair winds and following sees. We will keep you posted how it went!

 

10 comments to “Sailing again”
10 comments to “Sailing again”
  1. CONGRATULATIONS – You deserve a chance to sail that beautiful new boat. Hope the over-nighter went well!! Hugs from our family to yours. Chris

  2. Maybe Jim and Nita will drop in to read your posts. Anxiously read your postings. So exiting and looking forward to hearing more of your travels.

  3. Fantastic! I feel like we’re with you when you describe your adventures. I can’t believe how much the kids seemed to have grown! Especially Sol. He looks like a young man. We will miss seeing you around the neighbourhood. We sold our house and are off June 25th in hopes of finding a new heart and set of lungs for me. It is breaking my heart thinking of leaving here – this spring has been so beautiful. But your blog has filled me with passion for wanting to travel when I get better! Happy travels to you all!

  4. Thank you for your beautiful letter. I am so happy that you once again can set sail together! Enjoy your passage to Sicily, you brave travelers, and know that we are wishing for just the right amount of breeze and a peaceful night. Much love, Suzanne

  5. wishing you both following “sees” and following “seas”. Can hardly wait to hear Bill’s version of all this adventure!

    ciao

  6. Have been following your adventures, and had to finally pipe up to say CONGRATULATIONS on all you’ve done, seen, learned … and now ENJOY as you greet the sea once again! There’s the Irish wish “May the winds be always at your back”, but I gather for sailing that is not ideal …. 🙂 So wishing you the best winds the universe has to offer!

  7. The landscape looks beautiful. I have so been missing the outdoors this year, and can’t wait to have a chance to share it with you guys next month. Hope the passage to Sicily went trouble free – and enjoy your next beautiful port of call.

  8. That’s great you are back on the water and enjoy Sardinia…and soon Sicily!!! Have a wonderful time this summer. Looking foward to seeing you all when you get back into town!
    Bises
    Sara

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