Life On Sail

  September 2025 overview: We are now entering the "low season" so ports should be cheaper.  We did more mooring. We are slowly catching up with the right pace.  However, our friend came over to visit for 5 days and we did go inland for couple of days, which means extra spending.  But overall we spent the lowest of all months so far since our departure.  Total spending reached €2776 for the month. September 2025 in details: This month's highlights: -  Finally got my new Camera. It's not in this budget, I got it from a separate account + it's my bday gift.  -We bought parts to fix the 2 toilets. And other things were broken on the boat. So still a lot of maintenance and repairs to be done.  -Our friend came to visit for 5 days and we visited inland, renting a car.  -Last but not least, the spinnaker tore off! So that will be a big repair to plan for.   July 2025 vs Budget With 7 months into our sabbatical, we’ve spent a bit more than 86% ...

  The whole trip was windless. 16.8NM in 4h45 at 3.5 knots average. We filled up the gas tank at arrival. The village was desertic.

  We sailed 20NM in 4 hours at 4.7 knots average. It was a rough see with strong 21 knots wind. We peaked at 7 knots cruising speed. And the arrival at the port was a bit difficult as we needed to berth a different way.

  We were supposed to go to Vieste Port to seek shelter but we stopped at Vignanotica and it was for the best as this place is beautiful!! We sailed 7h40 mn with 21 knots wind gusts, Average speed is 5,2 knots and we did 38.5 NM. We hoisted the jib due to the unplanned wind. Such a beautiful beach with grottos!!

  Boring sailing day, 4,32 knots average speed, which is great. We arrived in 6h40 and did 28 NM. We'll navigate a lot these next days, need to get out of Italy, we stayed here way too long :) Good surprise, we were the only ones mooring in front of the port, and the night was filled with fireworks. Felt like it was just for our eyes.

We are back on our own today, seizing the freedom of our last car rental day with an early start to make the most of a packed schedule. Our journey takes us to three captivating destinations, each over an hour from Bari, showcasing the diverse beauty and culture of Puglia. First, we head to **Alberobello**, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its whimsical *trulli*—unique, whitewashed stone huts with conical roofs that dot the landscape like something out of a fairytale. These iconic structures, built without mortar using ancient dry-stone techniques, are a hallmark of the Itria Valley. Strolling through the Rione Monti and Rione Aia Piccola districts, we marvel at the trulli’s intricate limestone designs, some adorned with mysterious symbols said to ward off evil. Many of these homes now house charming shops, cafes, or museums, offering a glimpse into their historical use as dwellings or storage. We pause to savor a coffee in a trullo café, soaking in the village’s timeless char...

We woke up early to drive an hour from Bari to visit Matera, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with a history stretching back over 7,000 years. Known as the "City of Sassi," Matera is famous for its ancient cave dwellings, or "Sassi di Matera," carved into the limestone cliffs of the Gravina di Matera canyon. This troglodyte city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993, captivates visitors with its unique blend of prehistoric architecture, winding stone alleyways, and breathtaking views. Matera’s cinematic allure has made it a favored backdrop for major films, including Mel Gibson’s *The Passion of the Christ* (2004) and the James Bond film *No Time to Die* (2021), where its timeless, rugged landscapes added dramatic depth to key scenes. Beyond its Hollywood fame, Matera’s charm lies in its living history—many of the ancient caves have been transformed into modern homes, boutique hotels, restaurants, and museums, seamlessly blending the ...

  We did 20 NM at 3,4 knots but forgot to turn off the app. It took 6h. We didn't have wind by the end of the navigation. So luckily we woke up early to take advantage of the thermal wind. We caught two Bonitos with the new lure! it really works! We caught them 40mn apart. However I had a hard time eating them, don't know why... Too fresh ? The blood of the bonitos? Anyways, we are leaving the boat couple of days in Bari, as we will rent a car to visit Matera and Alberobello inland. Here is our visit in Bari. We took our friend to the Pizzeria de Michele.

  It was just 5 NM in 1h 15 at 3 knots. Not much wind but as it was short it's not too bad. We stopped in front of the grottos to visit them before heading towards a mooring site next to the port. How short stay at Polignaro a Mare, Nico didnt even visit but stayed in the boat just in case. 

  40 NM in 9h50 and 4 knots average. Happy with the 360 camera I have just bought at Brindisi! Can finally shoot wide angle videos of the boat, with our friend from Hong Kong onboard for 5 days. It was a long navigation... she wasnt used to that... as we only did short navigations when island hopping with her and the kids in Sardinia. The visit of Monopoli here below

  10h navigation for 47.5 NM at 4,6 knots average speed. The Brindisi port is free! Well one part of it, so you just get a berth in front of the city and that's it. No hassle. It's going to be a good spot to unwind and fix a bit the boat. Also waiting to pick up our friend. Here is our visit!

  The highlight of the day was definitely seeing this family of dolphins hunting and playing with us so closely. They weren't afraid of the engine and they were definitely big! Best birthday gift! Plus we arrived right on time for lunch in the city. Our short stay in Otranto, we went for a hike for change! and it was beautiful check it out:

  No wind today, speed of 3.3 knots, for just 15 NM in 4h40. Boring. We visited Castro

  Turned out it wouldn't be our 2nd longest navigation because we arrived couple of hours before the planned timing thanks to an incredible wind the whole way. No tacking, more reefing. We did 62 NM in 11h40 at a speed of 5.3 knots.  

  We sailed for 6h30 so reach only 27 NM at a speed of 4.1 knots. Tomorrow will be a long long one. Today's highlight, Nico caught a makerel!! Finally! It's our 100th navigation!

  We did 47 NM today in 10h40 long navigation! We went further than planned. We're so thrilled to have seen dolphins by our side for so long. Finally!!!

  9h30 of sailing a 4,7 knots average for total of 47 NM! We 're happy. There was again a lot of wind but not the comfortable one. We saw dolphins. We went further than what we planned so it ll save some time for tomorrow's stopoverless navigation. I want to walk again!!