good morning!
this is herbert, aboard the MILANTO on her cruise from LasPalmas to St.Lucia. after two days of seasickness I am back to life again - and I can tell you, you cant imagine how happy I am about that. here we are - in the middle of nowhere, no better place to be. to be a little more accurate: 25.10.07N,23.16.09, bearing 257 at approximatly 8kts.
Due to my not well being, I missed the first blog, so please excuse any repititions, as well please excuse my poor english (I am not improving much on that with so many Italians on board). Furthermore I have to fight this keyboard, where the numbers are stuck and the keys are mixed in the britain order.
well, there is a lot to tell. short after the start Valerio got us to see dolphines, turtles and flying fish. This was much more than to be expected - so what more has he got in mind for us for all the days to come? I am curious and looking forward to it. Josef, our master of competitionfishing is chainging the bait every hour - the three of us have a bet runnig, who's lure will bring the biggest fish. in sunny weather with a nice wind of 18kts we are enjoying the calm sea. whoever want's to learn about a love between a ship and a man should come here and watch Valerio and his "Lady" MILANTO. She calms down whenever he touches her, he motivates her to encrease speed by doing some small turns at the winch, and smooth she dives into the waves due to a small change of direction. he is taking care of her and she cares about him. The old lady may have some tweaks, but Valerio also is not a teen anymore. They grew up together obviously. it's almost a hidden vocabulary they share. she gives a small clank with the beam or shows her knickers by flapping the genua and he is up and on board to her attention. and while he sleeps (mainly at the small cot in the navigationcorner), she is cruising on her own and protecting captain and crew, under this wonderful starfilled sky. I love to watch him, when he intends any manoever. than he is standing on the stairs, fitting his hairband, looking up into the sails - in silence - and holding a nonverbal communication with his "Lady". shall we shake out the reef my dear? What do you think about rolling out the Genua myLADY, would this be fine for you? may I help you out with a second sail in front,sweetheart? And whatever the answer is, it will be just between the two of them. then he climbs on deck, moves there like a cat, almost as if the movement of the ship supports his forthcoming. he raises his foot - and up comes the deck to support his step; he stretches out his hand - and a small shuggle of the boat puts the vant in his hand. lines get rigged, tightened and reefed, sails moved, set, gibbed and back he is again at the stairs, looking up again, with the nonespoken question: are you fine now my best? as an answer we only get a small spray from the next wave, but I am sure, Valerio can hear her say: I am grateful for your understanding and forward looking my captain - and on she goes, never tired. If you need something to laugh about, you should watch me - moving around on deck. compared to me, a turtle looks like a ballettdancer on toetips.
my greatest thanks go to Carla and Josef, who took care of me in the hours of dying. "herbert, you have to eat this rice!" Carla said and confronted me with a big bowl of cooked rice. I couldn't even look at it first. but ricecorn by ricecorn, spoon by spoon I tried to fullfill her demand. once I finished the bowl and recovered some sleep I returned to the living. Carla is at the moment our chef de cuisine, but I am looking forward to help out once I am in form again. Carla, as a professional skipper, gives Valerio all the helping hand he needs. even Josef is on deck to shake out the reef or to shuffle with the lines - up to now I am just luggage to be worried about. So Valerio put me here to write the blog - hopefull that I will not damage anything.
FISH, FISH, FISH, what an upraor on deck! camera out, jumping up the stairs - and a very disappointed Josef gives me a "fuck-lost". So it's probably going to be lasagne this evening and not sushi.
so far so good!
all the best till soon
ahoi
herbert
Lots of wind this week
Luckily the sun has been shining but it has gusted up to 35 knots which has been a challenge -especially when eating spaghetti outside..... it seems to empty the wines glasses faster too!
enjoy a few photos -favourite spot so far for our intrepid friends -Isola Piana -well duh!
Of course when it was really blustery there wasn't an iphone in sight -so nothing to show for our trouble -except a pit stop in Portisco to get help from the sail repair shop!!
Preparing the table for supper at Porto Taverna
The view overlooking Isola Tavolara
Lavezzi
Isola Piana/Lavezzi Magic
Driving into Bonifacio , Corsica.....and turning round smartish -not a welcoming place.
A drink in Porto Vecchio, Corsica
Bright lights ...... small city! P.Vecchio
PLeaving Portisco
A weekend in Versilia, Tuscany
So the airline looses your luggage and you arrive late on board Milanto. Sounds like a recipe for disaster? Did it matter? Not at all !
The coastline is full of wonderful places to eat, drink and go shopping......
Start by having lunch at Bagno Pinocchio. The food was amazing. Loved the salt cod.
Then have someone drive you to Forte dei Marmi. Here you can find a list of the best shopping . You can find all the latest from mini bikinis to the Fall 2014/15 winter coats. What's not to love?
Maybe stop off for an aperitivo. Check out the 67 Sky Lounge Bar at the Principe Forte dei Marmi Hotel or Costes on the coast road though there are many cute little bars in the centre too.
Then end the day with a delicious supper in the artist's town of Pietrasanta [not the Marina -the town is inland]. This delightful spot was linked to the Medici family. There are many museums,churches and galleries to vist. We love this place.The fish is fantastic (but maybe book in advance) .
As one of our guests wrote to Valerio afterwards: S will adore you forever for bringing her to Forte dei Marmi !
By the way we did manage to go sailing too!! The area around Portovenere is well worth a visit.Semi close by is near the Carrara marble quarry made famous by Michelangelo
Last 24 hours of the Antigua to Viareggio transatlantic trip
Milanto is nearly at Elba on her way to Viareggio for the big party.
"Save The Nerd" is reaching Viareggio: come and welcome the crew!
11 June at 17:30 in UTC+02
Porto Nuovo, Viale Europa, 1, 55049 Viareggio
You were invited by Selvaggia Mannelli
You can update Milanto's position via the live map on marinetraffic.com/en
June 4th Arriving in Ibiza
If you look carefully you can see Formentera and Ibiza
Scouting the horizon
Getting close to Ibiza, this evening we'll be ancoring in the bay next to Ibiza marina -a real shame they no longer allow us to ancor there like one used to, nowadays its over €200 for the 'privilege! Our new good friends who joined us in Gibraltar are leaving but a new Master of Nerdom is coming on board.Another Filippo, another nerd to be saved!
Tom Ledwidge took some very cool photos of a great day with the spinnaker flying:
