I find myself reluctant to write about the boat works lately. I felt completely overwhelmed and unable to contemplate the whole picture. In fact, there is no whole picture but a series of consecutive blocks of problems to be solved, with new blocks adding everyday, in a perpetual tetris puzzle. I am prisoner of my own restoration plan, incapable …
Sailing is not an escape but a return to and a confrontation of a reality from which modern civilization is itself an escape. For centuries, man suffered from the reality of an earth that was too dark or too hot or too cold for his comfort, and to escape this he invented complex systems of …
Time has many meanings and occurrences. This August has been particularly dense for me. My birthday has just passed with a fair amount of celebrations stolen to the boat project. Soon to come 2 years anniversary for me and Kate. And of course the third month of boatyard with Tranquility, hopefully the last one. In …
“When the shit hits the fan there’s no superyacht bullshit” Fabio Brunazzi If I was a rich man I would get me one of those Musto HPX Ocean Jacket with those fantastic trousers. I had the chance to wear one during various deliveries on big sailing yachts. Nothing against them, it’s robust stuff, warm and …
The project is taking a big toll on us, we are working hard and we are totally absorbed by the project. The result is very little writing. This time I will use images to describe what’s going on, I hope you like them.
Our boat comes with an electric engine. It is an Electric Yacht system that was installed by one of the previous owners of the boat. It was a total surprise for me as the most common mean of auxiliary propulsion on sailboats, and the one I was used to, is marine diesel engine. This is what …
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” Confucius Today I feel like the boat beat us. After an entire day spent working we have been able to complete the installation of only 1 porthole. We have 7 more to go. It is so frustrating. We should do …
I recently helped a friend launching his boat in Buzzards Bay during a nice but chilly afternoon. I just finished to roll up a coat of primer on Tranquillity’s deck so I abandoned the yard works to join Freddie for the launch of Destinada. Once in the slip and afloat he tried to back up …
The first days have been so hard as the project looked so overwhelming. Oh my God we have to do everything! Anytime I started a job and I posed my sight on a different corner of the boat I saw an umpteenth job to do and then another one and I felt I was going …
In few hours I will finally lay hands on my boat again after 4 months. After purchasing Tranquillity, Kate and I went through a process of preparation that kept us apart and far away from the boat. For her it meant cutting the dock lines that kept her moored in NYC for a very long …
Here is my first experiment with the new GoPro Hero 3 Black edition. The protagonist is Dharma and her crew sailing downwind at 10kts average flying only the yankee in 25kts of wind. Enjoy
End of the season means change of location, migration, farewells and new encounters. I feel lucky I have some time for me. Working as temporary crew allows me not to get trapped in yachts’ schedule. In the Superyacht industry there is little down time. Once something got accomplished there is already something new to come, …
Michele and I share the same dream but follow two very different paths. I chose to refit an old slow monohull. He is building a light and fast trimaran from scratch. In both cases the vessels have the purpose to provide their owners with just enough comfort to sail the seas and live aboard. Michele …
New Year new boat delivery! This time I am going to join the Sailing yacht Ngoni, a 97ft (ex Pink Gin) Baltic Yacht built in 1999 and designed by celebrated Judel/Vrolijk. It could definitely be the most beautiful sailing yacht I ever had the chance to sail. Taste about boats are relative but this sloop …
Lin and Larry Pardey coined the phrase ” Go small Go simple Go now “. When it comes to sailing, I think it is a good philosophy to keep in mind. I never made a bucket list (false, I have at least “live in Buenos Aires for a while”) or had a lifetime dream. The truth …
It looks like we are finally ready for a yacht delivery to Florida, . A series of negative and sad events plus some bad weather coming up delayed our departure. Now all is set for a departure on Sunday morning. Newport has been my home for this summer but the winter is about to kick …
I’ve survived a two days zen retreat last weekend. Being a beginner I had no clue how hard and disciplined a retreat in a Zen monastry can be. My longest sitting has always been 1h30minutes once a week and being in a meditative modality for two entire days it was like climbing a mountain without …
Last night a new guy walked in the crew house. The first impression was of a fit young man with an enthusiastic smile, like many in the Superyacht industry. The prototype of the fun seeker young white male. I immediately assumed he was looking for place to stay and for a job on a yacht. But after a …
“Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency.” Natalie Goldberg, Wild Mind Stress is not a disease you can cure or eliminate, it is a condition we all experience. In sailing, the amount of stress you can experience can drastically build up to a distress situation and the risks and outcomes …
For the fair cost of 10$ I enjoyed the 2011-12 AC World Series Championship on the lawn of Fort Adam’s park in Newport RI. It was the Saturday race, with the speed trial and two fleet race, all in the hands of ORACLE Spithill that dominated the event. Here some pictures taken from the lawn.