Better weather bigger smiles
“Hi everybody!
My name is Lisa, I’m a french girl from Paris and this summer I spent 5 days on the sailboat of Manuela and Ian.
The first day they came for my family and I at Toulon on the Azure Coast. It was a beautiful day to navigate we could deplier the mainsail and sail to go to Porquerolles Island for the night. We anchored and we had dinner. It was a beautiful place because away from city and lights we saw lots of stars. We were next to the island we heard strange shouts all night , we suppose it was birds. We had slept well because there was no waves or wind this night.
The following morning it was crazy, we ate our eternal brioche in chocolate chips and we drank coffee and some tea while the sun got up. We put on music and we bathed on a sound of Disney, loud. Water was clear and sun shone, it was a good moment! We resumed the navigation hours later but this time the weather was worse, there were waves so we decided to stop in the bay of Toulon near the port of Saint Mandrier. Next to our anchorage there where large military ships, it was awesome. At the end of the afternoon we descended to earth to shop and drink something.
The next day was the more testing of the week, there was a wind of over 30 knots and we achieved a maximal boat speed of 10 knots! Manuela was struggling to steer the boat, there were waves, they were almost 2 meters! We were completely drenched sometimes and Marius (my brother) was seasick. At the beginning we had to stop us on the Embiez island but weather was too bad and we must find a sheltered place for the night. Finally, after 7 hours to be shaken by the sea we stopped in creeks at 4PM after leaving Toulon at 9AM… But the day wasn’t finish… You can imagine our happiness at the arrival but as it was a bad day the anchor did not hold and the boat derived because the windlass was broken… So we had to change our anchorage and without eating the lunch we resumed sea to find an other place to quiet beings. Fortunately we find quickly an other creeks and this time we were literally alone. My father and Ian inflate the windlass and everything is in order.
The penultimate day we continue the trip to Port Camargue, it was thursday and we must arrive on friday. We passed the port of Marseille (without being able to stop there…) and we dropped anchor at Carro. For the dinner on thursday evening we are down to earth with the « brosse à dent » (« toothbrush) as say Manuela and it was funny on the night.
The last day was amazing, weather was so beautiful, not too many waves, wind was right and sun shone. It was a perfect day and I took the helm for almost the entire trip (Manuela said I did not want to let anyone drive but did not listen, that’s wrong, they were very satisfied that I did, trust me). We arrived at port the Camargue in the afternoon…
I was a beautiful trip and I wish to everyone to do some sailing in a life if you can, especially with one as well well captain as Ian ! 😉
I hope in any case you are not too hooked to the shower as I otherwise you go to suffer… I would have warned you… Only 400 liters of water ship’s boys! On the other hand it was funny to sleep in a boat (when it does not move too much on) because waves rock and it’s cool t fall asleep 😀
Oh! An another thing… Never lack of food on this boat, it’s great.
Thank’s for everything Manuela and Ian!
Lisa the impertinent.”