Life On Sail

 We decided to moor several days in the Bay of Calvi.  We also went for a car rental in order to visit the infamous Corsican villages and landscape.  First village we visited was L'Ile Rousse, we went by train. It was quick half day tour.    The next 2 other days, we had a car.  We visited several villages such as Speloncato, Sant Antonino or Belgodère. They are all beautiful.  We couldn't visit Pigna, the road was closed!! What a pity as it is the 2nd and last "Plus beaux villages de France" in Corsica.  At least we got to see Sant Antonino. Vlog below:  Second day, we went Central Corsica, in the old capital of Corsica when it was independent.  The city of Corte is beautiful, we spent the afternoon there.  In the morning, we went to the Gorge de la Restonica taking advantage of the cooler temperatures.  However, the roads were closed, we wanted to hike to the Melo lake. But due to the road closure, you cannot go to the trail'...

A Family Reunion in Marseille and a Sail to Frioul Our next adventure began in Marseille, where we picked up our son at the bustling Marseille-Saint-Charles train station. His arrival brought a fresh wave of excitement to the crew, and we couldn’t wait to show him the vibrant city before continuing our journey. With a few hours to spare, we strolled through the iconic Vieux Port, Marseille’s historic heart, where fishing boats bobbed alongside sleek yachts. We marveled at the imposing Fort Saint-Jean, its ancient stone walls guarding the harbor’s entrance, and soaked in the lively atmosphere of street performers and seafood vendors. It was the perfect way to kick off our family reunion. From the Vieux Port, we set sail for the Frioul Archipelago, a cluster of rugged islands just a short distance offshore. The journey took about two hours, though we could have made it faster. Nico, eager to share his love of sailing with his son, let him take the wheel for much of the trip, guiding him ...

 We left Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer early, before sunrise, knowing it would be a long journey.  With no wind and a greater distance to cover, we relied on the engine most of the time. The sea was so calm that we could see our reflection as we glided across its glassy surface. We spotted three dolphins. The trip was long but peaceful. Nico worked on some boat repairs and did a bit of cleaning. I played with my 360 camera and read. Moitessier’s sailing story is captivating, and I’m really enjoying it. I practiced some maneuvers today, including furling the sails. I made hot chocolate while we were cruising—a first! We also moored successfully for the first time. There was absolutely no one at this creek. It's not the most beautiful one, on the side were towering industrial structures.  But we felt alone in the world.  Nico set an alarm on the ipad for the mooring, in case we we would drift during the night.  He woke up during the night several times... Nothing happe...