S1.18 - Sailing the Mediterranean - A Journey of Discovery and Farewell
Aug 17 - Whales and Waves
As we set sail from Moya Marina in Olbia, the calm waters belied the excitement that awaited us on our 24-hour journey to Ponza.
Departing Olbia
Amidst the tranquility, a thrilling sight greeted us, a small bird chooses a safe place to land and then shelter from the wind behind our Stay Sail.
A Resting Place
For a Tiny Bird
A few hours later, we spotted a spray of whales dancing in the distance. Though our hearts skipped a beat at the thought of orcas (brining us back to our blog post S1.8), we believe the majestic creatures could possibly have been fin whales, adding an unforgettable moment to our voyage.
Aug 18 - Starlit Shifts
Under the blanket of stars, we embarked on shifts, each watch filled with awe at the celestial spectacle above. Ryan captured the beauty of the Milky Way and the familiar shape of the Big Dipper.
The Big Dipper
Sunrise in the Tyrrenian Sea
Finally anchoring at Faraglioni di Mezzogiorno (a truly majestic location), we indulged in the serenity of paddle boarding.
My first time venturing on my paddle board to those rocks without the security of a line tied to our boat.
..and then savored piña coladas against the backdrop of nature's grandeur.
Shade from our canopy allows us to enjoy our patio in the heat of the day.
One has to ask themselves: “Does life get any better than this?”
Aug 19 - Ponza Madness
Navigating through the never-ending bustling waters, we have our first sighting of a hydrofoil ferry.
We managed to squeeze into Spiaggia di Giancos for a quick anchor stop to go in for some supplies. Ryan stayed on the Lucky Enough to monitor traffic and the anchor. Byron drove Michelle and I to town in Ugh but unlike this charming Fiat tender tied up at the dingy dock, we were not welcome and were shooed away from the local day boat / charter operators.
Cutest Fiat Tender
Michelle and I managed to quickly jump onto the dock and into the narrow streets of this crowded town. It actually felt a bit claustrophobic. We quickly grabbed the necessities and walked through this tunnel to find a bakery which turned out to be a little hidden gem amidst the chaos.
Tunnel to Bakery
Back on the boat, we headed to the fuel dock and then out to a nearby anchorage, where we reveled in snorkeling and cherished moments of solitude amidst the bustling bay of nearby traffic.
Anchorage in Ponza
Aug 20 - A Final Journey Together
As our journey with Michelle and Byron was drawing to a close marking the end of our training era, yet the beginning of new chapter of independence, we decided to head to the mainland early to make it easier for them to get packed up and give us a day to get everything cleaned up before we head to Germany for a mini-vacation and they move on to their next opportunity.
After sharing close quarters for the past five months, we've gleaned invaluable lessons from each other. Today brought a mix of emotions as we recognized that it was near time for Ryan and I to venture solo. We stopped for a quick ocean dip within a couple of hours of our planned destination to cool off which helped with the overall atmosphere.
Just prior to arriving Bacoli
We arrived at Porto di Baia (near Naples) where we had 3 deck hands jump onto the boat to help tie us down at our mooring slip. Wow! Amazing service.
One friendly docked neighbor even offered us a bottle of champaign to toast our arrival. Like I said, very friendly people.
Porto di Baia Marina
Aug 21-22: Trials, Tribulations Topped off with a Squall
Amidst preparations for our departures, unforeseen challenges tested our resolve, and on another very hot and sticky day, each obstacle underscored the resilience of our crew:
From Elusive Navionics Cards - Ryan received call that our Navionics card came in, so he quickly went out to fetch it, since the last few attempts at getting one proved unfruitful. Disappointingly, once again, it was the wrong card (Garmin not B&G). He ended up with another very frustrating morning dealing with the Italian culture. The new plan was to order the card online and have it delivered to Germany so we can pick it up while we are there in a few days …
To the Complexities of Oil Changes - On another wild goose chase, Byron searched for hours to find someone to hire to do an oil change for the generator since the scheduled engine service folks (C&A) would not agree to do it. He was finally able to find someone to give him a dirty old plastic container so he and Ryan could do it themselves. Thankfully C&A finally agreed to at least take the used oil from the generator with them for recycling, so that ended well. …
To a pretty strong squall hitting the marina, springing us all into action to avoid our stern being violently plowed into the dock.
That final evening, moments of camaraderie and simple pleasures—popcorn, wine, and shared memories—served as reminders of the bonds forged amidst adversity.
Lucky Enough Nestled in Porto di Baia Marina
Michelle and Byron, your coaching over the past 5 months has been invaluable. Thank you so much!
Fair Winds and Following Seas
Aug 23 - Farewell to Friends and Celebrating 90 Consecutive Nights
With the departure of our dear friends, Ryan and I get ready to embark on a new chapter of our sailing odyssey celebrating our 90th consecutive night onboard Lucky Enough with crab legs and fine wine. We have an early morning flight to Frankfurt tomorrow.