S2.13 - Our Hearts Swell with Wedding Bells and Italian Islands
June 22-30 - Blu
We kicked things off with a quick hop over to Nantes, France, and then drove straight to the Privilege factory in Les Sables D’Olonne. The mission? Meet the new Operations Manager and other new key players after the big acquisition and get an up-close look at “Blu”—the freshly splashed, last of the old hull model. This sleek beauty was even more impressive in person.
We are in awe at how exponentially larger our 650 “Lucky Stars” will be than our 510 “Lucky Enough”.
Stepping onto Blu made it all feel like our Lucky Stars dream was finally becoming a reality. The only difference is our 650 will be cast with the new mold which is a bit longer than the 6 series’ you see here. We weighed what we loved (and maybe not-so-loved) about this setup, debating last-minute essential and cosmetic choices for our soon-to-be sister yacht.
Along the way, we even contemplated if we should we get a jet ski on the roof like this one?
Imagine the look on people’s faces as we pull up with a jet ski parked right on top. Practical? Questionable. Fun? Absolutely.
July 1–12
Then, it was time to jet over to the heart of Canada: Saskatoon! Cue the celebrations, the whirlwind of family hugs, and the steady stream of homemade meals, thanks to both Mom and Della. They nailed it with every dish, fueling us for an epic rehearsal dinner – authentic Mexican style taco night, courtesy of Della and Léo. They set the perfect stage for the main event: Amy and Mike's wedding. Between some serious beer pong matches and beautiful vows, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
Seeing two people you love promise forever is always unforgettable. It was the kind of wedding that leaves you a little teary, very full, and very, very happy.
Congratulations Mike & Amy!
After some well-earned recovery time, it was back to Rome to prep Lucky Enough for a new crew adventure. Enter Ilia and Braven: two energetic guys ready to dive in, literally and figuratively. Braven, our scuba instructor from South Africa, had the patience of a saint, even after a travel mishap meant he had to hop a last-minute train from Nice just to make it in time. Ilia, on the other hand, arrived as a bit of a “hot mess express,” but both guys were great sports. We were also thrilled to reconnect with our old friend Andreas (see S1.22), who keeps his “Annabella” docked here. He and his Dutch colleague, Hans, joined us for dinner and shared tales of their latest sailing escapades since we first met in Porto di Tropea. We ended the night with drinks on Lucky Enough, laughter, and a few questionable toasts.
July 13-15
With fresh crew and farewell hugs, we finally set off from Turistico Marina, Rome. Lucky Enough had been there since the 21st of June and we were itching to hit the “cruising button” again.
We covered 69.4 nautical miles and anchored at the stunning Isola Del Giglio, where we spent the next couple of days soaking in the sunshine.
Isola Del Giglio
Between paddleboarding, swimming, and lounging on our “patio” under the canopy, we were living the dream.
July 16-21
Sunrise on the bow with a coffee in hand? That’s the life. I caught the perfect sunrise video before our 37 NM journey to Isola D’Elba.
We anchored first at Spiaggia di Acquarilli, enjoying the Italian sunshine for a few days. As we moved between anchorages—Ghiaieto, Spiaggia di Fonza—we explored the clear waters with some diving. Ryan was busy getting re-certified for open water, while I got comfortable just diving in the open ocean. A HUGE step for me. Highlight of the dives? An octopus gliding by! Of course, my GoPro was nowhere to be found at that exact moment. Darn it.
Back on the boat, we introduced Ilia and Braven to the card game Casino, where Braven swiftly dominated.
By the end, we were all happily sun-kissed, slightly competitive, and ready for whatever Italy (or the ocean) would throw at us next.