🚤 The Day Before the Adventure Begins

We cast off from Genoa with the coastline slowly sliding astern, the familiar outlines of the city giving way to open water. There’s a quiet sense of departure in those first miles—lines running free, sails settling, and the Ligurian Sea opening ahead of us. Portofino is our first milestone, a short but beautiful hop along the coast. From there, the cliffs grow more dramatic as we continue to Portovenere and the edge of the Cinque Terre, where we pause between anchoring spots and small harbors, letting the rhythm of the coast set our pace. Each stop feels like a gradual unfolding of Italy—layer by layer, town by town, sea by sea. As we turn south, the journey stretches wider. Elba welcomes us with clear water and sheltered bays, followed by Giglio, where the Tuscan islands begin to feel more remote. The mainland returns in long, steady passages to Civitavecchia and Nettuno, a transition into the quieter central coast and longer open crossings. Then come the Pontine Islands—Palmarola, Ponza, Ventotene—raw and volcanic, rising straight from deep blue water. From here, the Mediterranean feels more elemental, more open, more alive. Ischia greets us with green hills and warm harbor lights, and suddenly the journey shifts again. Capri appears like a landmark carved from stone, followed by Sorrento’s steep coastline and the unmistakable drama of the Amalfi Coast. Positano, Amalfi—names that feel almost unreal until you are moving through them, cliffs above and clear water below. Finally, we arrive in Procida. Small, colorful, quiet. A soft landing after a long line of miles. It’s here we pause, leave the boat for the summer, and let the journey settle into memory. What begins in Genoa becomes something much larger—days at sea, shifting horizons, and a coastline that never repeats itself the same way twice.

The last few days have been a perfect blend of adventure, discovery, and those unforgettable moments that make sailing truly special. We began in Sanary-sur-Mer, where big little sister KAP Good Hope awaited us. After careful inspection and handover, we set off for our first taste of life aboard in Port de l’Île des Embiez. A couple of nights there gave us time to get to know our new home—testing her space, finding her rhythm, and enjoying mornings with coffee on deck. From there, we cast off towards the beautiful Île de Porquerolles. Dropping anchor in a calm bay, we took our first swim off the boat, surrounded by turquoise waters and the quiet beauty of the island. That first leap into the sea was a milestone—our baptism into life with big sister. Next came the sail eastward to St. Tropez—and what a sail it was! The highlight? Spotting a swordfish leap out of the water twice, right beside the boat. An epic, once-in-a-lifetime sight that left us stunned and grinning at our good fortune. Our arrival in St. Tropez couldn’t have gone smoother. With a perfect docking, we stepped ashore into one of the Med’s most iconic ports. The town was buzzing—massive yachts, parties spilling into the streets, and people everywhere. St. Tropez is alive in every sense, a sharp contrast to the quiet anchorages of the days before. The next morning, we set sail for the Îles de Lérins, just outside of Cannes. We found a beautiful anchorage beside a small castle on Île Sainte-Marguerite, the larger of the Lérins islands. Rain and thunderstorms rolled through the night, rocking us gently at anchor. But by morning the skies had cleared, the sun returned, and we swam ashore to wander the island’s paths. And now, the adventure continues: today we’re on our way to Cap d’Ail/Monaco. Stay tuned—there’s plenty more to come as big little sister KAP Good Hope carries us further along this iconic coast. 🌊⛵✨ #KAPGoodHope #SailingAdventure #MediterraneanSailing #SailLife #YachtLife #BoatLife #TravelBySea #AdventureAwaits #Porquerolles #StTropez #IlesDeLerins #MonacoBound #SeaStories #CoastalEscape #EpicSailing #LifeAtSea #MediterraneanDreams