S2.9 - Whales, Jelly Fish and Celebrations!
May 24 – Game 1 vs Dallas, and a Volcanic Retreat
Game 1 versus the Dallas Stars, and it was a heart-stopper—double overtime, but we won! With a victory in the bag, we left our anchorage at 8 AM to claim a prime spot before the weekend warriors descended.
We anchored at Spiaggia Dell’ Asino on Isola di Vulcano, a black-sand beach on a volcanic island. It was blissfully quiet, with only a few day boats and two overnight neighbors. After days of intense sailing, bird rescues, and dolphin sightings, it was the perfect spot to unwind and reflect on our adventure.
May 25 – Whale Tales and Anniversary Vibes
The day kicked off early—thanks to a swell at 5 AM that practically launched Ryan out of bed—and watching Game 2 of Oilers vs Dallas… we lost 1-3. Ugh. To top it off, our anchor chain had wrapped itself around a rock, which explains why we didn’t budge overnight. With some expert maneuvering (and possibly some light cursing), we freed ourselves and set off.
Anchor Pro App showing we stayed put last night.
We sailed about 8 nautical miles to anchor at Punta Del Perciato on Isola di Lipari. This is some of the scenery we captured on our way.
As soon as we dropped anchor, we were greeted by a whale breaching three times right next to the boat! No swimming for me today, thank you very much.
I wasn’t prepared to see a whale so close to where we were anchored, so I didn’t have time to grab my phone to snap a photo.
The swell was still uncomfortable, so we relocated to Spiaggia Valle Muria, where we took Ugh out for a cave tour.
Less than a mile from our last spot, I finally worked up the nerve for a swim—the water’s getting warmer!
To top off the day, we celebrated our one-year anniversary on Lucky Enough with our favorite French wine, Sancerre.
Celebrating One Year Today Since our Maiden Voyage out of Les-Sables-D’Olonne, France
Drone footage was captured, cheers were made, and life was pretty darn good.
Ryan mastering landing the drone!
May 26-27 – Marina Life
Our early departure (again due to the swell) got us moving, but it was still too early to check into Eolmare S.R.L. Marina, so we anchored at Spiaggia di Pietra Liscia for a couple of hours before settling into the marina. After a few busy days, we took it easy—just relaxing and getting an early night to gear up for tomorrow’s massage and some town exploration - peaceful ...
…and not-so-peaceful when it’s game-day!
Ah! Marina Life.
May 28-29 – Calm Seas and Close Calls with Jellyfish
Another early morning, another Oilers loss (5-3, Game 3). Very Stressful.
After some quick cleaning, meal prepping, and fueling up, we set off to Isola di Panarea, looking forward to a calm day on anchor. We found a gorgeous spot at Cala Junco, where day boats and tour boats kept coming and going. But by the end of the day, it was just us. A peaceful dinghy ride and a tour of the island later, we were grateful we didn’t stop at the busier anchorage nearby.
Swimming was on the agenda, but not without dodging some jellyfish.
I chickened out of jumping off the front of the boat… maybe tomorrow.
… but I did manage to pull off a short fashion show!
We officially stowed away our Greece map and pulled out the Western Mediterranean chart which we display on our chart table in the salon.
May 30 – Volcanic Sights and Dolphins on Our Tail
Sleep wasn’t happening, so we got up at 3 AM to watch Game 4. By the end of the second period (Oilers up 4-2!), we pulled anchor and set off and watched the last 2 min of 3rd period on route. Ya! A win which we desperately needed.
It was a stunning morning, with the current in our favor and even some dolphin company. We captured some fantastic photos and video of Stromboli—one of the world’s most active volcanoes—just before sunrise.
So glad we were able to see Stromboli so close since we were 75 miles out last year and had just caught a glimpse. (See S1.22)
You can see the steam coming off the water at the base of the volcano.
The sail across the Tyrrhenian Sea was a dream: calm seas, gentle winds, and dolphins to entertain us. We anchored in Baia Del Buon Dormire, which quickly became one of our favorite anchorages.
Baia Del Buon Dormire
Baia Del Buon Dormire
It was peaceful, secluded, and breathtakingly beautiful. We celebrated with wine on the patio, no bugs in sight, and even got some stellar drone footage.
After all that, we both slept like rocks making this Bay true to its name since Buon Dormire is Italian for Have a Good Sleep!
May 31 – French Toast and Following Seas
After a much-needed sleep-in, we fueled up with French toast and set sail around 8:30. Winds were in our favor, so we hoisted the Code D, but we had to wait for stronger gusts. Half of the trip was a bit rolly and uncomfortable, but things smoothed out as we turned downwind. By the time we arrived at Ormeggio Autuori SRL Marina, we’d hit some rain and choppy 2-meter seas, but thankfully, they were following seas. It was chilly, but nothing we couldn’t handle.
A chilly and wet ride.
We docked safely, looking forward to more adventures, massages, and maybe—just maybe—the Oilers can pull this off??!!
A gloomy, cool welcome to Ormeggio Autuori SRL Marina - Porto di Salerno, Italy.
The Glow of Porto di Salerno