Greece is the word
I couldn’t believe a year had slipped by since ‘A Med Time Story’ and ‘Sailing Safari’, on Bella Rose, our 2017 Oyster 545. It took minutes to decide the outline of our summer sailing 2019 adventure, reinforcing how easy-going both Captain Barry and I are when it comes to exploring together. A true sail and trail team! “How about we head from Malta to Sicily to the Ionian Islands to Montenegro to Croatia and then leave Bella Rose in Venice for the winter?” Barry didn’t need to hold his breath for my answer.
Finally, the day arrived. On a Saturday at 5.30pm, we bid farewell to Valetta’s Grand Harbour, where Bella Rose had spent the winter. We motored into a blinding sun and 40-degree heat. Fifteen miles from shore the expansive rich blue sea and tranquillity greeted us in every direction – no buildings, no land in sight. The idyllic start to a journey.
Soon after dinner of a store-bought pizza and freshly prepared salad, I offered to do the first watch. Despite a sliver of moon and the distant stars, the sky was mostly ink-black. Heading 32 degrees to the first point of Sicily, I almost made three
