2 sailing boats, 11 strangers becoming a crew and the seeds of what brought us to VAGO
In September 2023, I willingly embarked on my first sailing turn at sea and Stefan happily joined a week-long adventure that would leave a profound mark on both of us. After many weeks of search in https://www.sailsquare.com/en , I finally found our sailing turn. Stefan trusted me compeltely and soon we were onboarding the flight to Olbia (Sardinia).
A Crew of Strangers becoming a team
Together with Stefan and a crew of strangers, we set sail on two boats, Moby Dick and MAE (Jeanneau Sun Odissey 40.1), navigating an itinerary that promised an unforgettable experience.
The route took us from Sardinia to Corsica, then to Elba, and finally to Tuscany, featuring a night crossing—an aspect that had particularly drawn me to this journey when I first found it online.
Our crew was composed entirely of Italians, making it an immersive cultural experience as well. Stefan, who initially knew little Italian, found himself gradually engaging in conversations, picking up bits of the language along the way.
The food onboard was another highlight— our crew members, Rossella and Diego, brought the rich and delicious flavors of Sicily and Torino to our meals, making every dish a delight.
Sail through Sardinia´s stunning archipelagos
Over the course of the trip, we covered approximately 310 nautical miles.
One of the most thrilling moments for me was taking charge during the crossing from Sardinia to Bastia, navigating through the Bocche di Bonifacio.
The conditions were great, sun was shining, wind was blowing but I kept sailing as smooth as possible to catch those beautiful waves.
It took me a while to realize how present I was in the moment, how connected I felt to myself, my potential my energy moving with the flow.
Believe it or not, I had some muscle soreness after this passage. I guess my body was truly concentrated and feeling it all 😂
I am grateful for sharing this moment with Stefan. We would not say anything but just look in the eyes and shared these feelings.
Not to forget our first night shift, from Corsica to Elba and the crossing full of ferries passing by.
Shifts went smoothly. My favourite part was enjoying the sunrise drinking a cup of coffee and admiring Monte Cristo Island.
Feeling more than at home
This adventure was the catalyst for our decision to pursue a sailing license in Switzerland, a process that starts with obtaining a lake permit before moving on to the offshore license and the required 1,000 nautical miles of experience. Not to forget the First Aid courses as well as SRL/LRC etc.
Even if we have to go the theoretical way, we all know that the best way to learn is by doing, by sailing, by learning from other captains and crews, by exchanging knowledge and willing to get your hands on it.
And the best
Of course, not everything was purely romantic—sleeping in a tight cabin presented its challenges.
But despite the discomfort, I felt deeply at home. I was exactly where I needed to be, at the right time, fully embracing the journey and connecting with myself in ways I hadn’t anticipated.
Time on the boat seemed to flow differently, moving at a surreal, peaceful pace.
Stefan and I did not imagine how enlightning this trip was.
It was a chance to disconnect from the land-bound world and immerse ourselves in the freedom of the sea, sharing this experience with like-minded people.
A Serendipitous Connection
A fun twist in our journey was meeting Piero, our skipper. He wasn’t even supposed to be with us—he was filling in as a favor for the originally planned skipper.
But as fate would have it, he connected instantly with us and understood our eagerness to learn more and sail more. He later suggested that we should go visit him and experience what sailing on a real boat felt like, which we did. In July 2024, we took him up on his invitation and travelled to Preveza to get to know his sailing life in Greece on the boat that would change our lives.
But you can read more about this chapter here
Back to Sardina,
this whole experience only reinforced my belief that when you follow your intuition and open yourself up to your dreams, incredible opportunities come to you in the most unexpected ways.
The beginning of a life-long sailing adventure for us
This sailing turn in Sardinia was the beginning of an exhilarating journey, one that continues to shape our path and future decisions.
One week, great food, deep feelings and connections.
From here onwards a lot of motivation to keep sailing together, wherever the flow of wind will take us. It sounds a bit dreamy, but when you know.. you know.
And if you are reading this post. you certainly are a salty dreamer too.
And I can’t wait to see where the wind will take us next.