Finally Milanto is back in Viareggio, Tuscany,Italy. Save the Nerd team is met by wellwishers.
The famous sailing school at Caprera -not a dry eye!
All the young students came out to greet Milanto and lowered their sails as a sign of respect ! Luckily the blue ensign was up in time. Valerio and Lorenzo were stunned by the welcome and at 7pm there will be a small celebration and a conference for Save the Nerd. This is THE sailing school to send your kids to.
Check out the stunning website:
http://centrovelicocaprera.it/en/
https://www.youtube.com/user/CentroVelicoCaprera
Centro Velico Caprera (CVC) is one of the oldest Italian sailing schools and also one of the largest of the Mediterranean sea. Since its foundation in 1967 it has been attended by over 100,000 students. The legal head office is located at La Maddalena and the base of operations is situated on the island of Caprera, on the Maddalena archipelago. CVC is a non-profit organisation and a member of the ISSA (International Sailing School Association).
9th June Sardegna -Porto Pozzo
Today's pit-stop for a cappuccino with a very old friend -Alberto- who runs the new marina there. Now super hot. A quick dip to check the propeller - well that was the excuse. Soon the intrepid Save the Nerd team are off to Caprera to meet their sponsors. More on that later...........
Dawn on the sea between Corsica and Sardegna
June 2nd Leaving Gibraltar
Looking towards Africa
The Trafalgar Cemetery
Sailing towards Gibraltar is no laughing matter -the wind really does need to be in the right direction so you have to admire another sailor who, getting the wind and tide on his side took the day at Trafalgar. Nelson knew his stuff. Once through the Tarifa headland you're inside and myths like the Odyssey and Hercules and intrepid sailors like the Phoenicians come to mind. Gibraltar is a giant natural limestone fortress with a stytem of tunnels and gun batteries.If you walk to the top, out of the horrible town below you can see a magnificent view across the water towards Marocco. This narrow strip of water divides two continents and two cultures.
An unexpected sight was the cemetery dedicated to the fallen from the Battle of Trafalgar 1805 - a mini version of Highgate Cemetery. Grave stones dedicated to men as young as 20; although on a historic note most fallen were buried at sea and the graves here were yellow fever casualties.
Save the nerd sbarca a Gibilterra: benvenuti laddove un mondo finisce e ne inizia un altro
Tappa sulla terraferma per l'equipaggio di Save the nerd. "Gibilterra, una vedetta su due mondi divisi dallo stretto, luogo di incontro. O di fuga verso l'ignoto" to see the rest http://www.lanazione.it/pistoia/curiosita/2014/06/02/1073574-save_nerd_sbarca_gibilterra_benvenuti_laddove_mondo_finisce_inizia_altro.shtml
Thursday, May 29th
With the weather this vile what is there to say? It's cold and drizzling so we are all locked downstairs and really keen to get there ASAP! At least the wind means we are moving well towards our goal of Gibraltar ETA May 31st at dawn..............
Position at 10.45 UTC 36 19 N 11 53 W apporx 300 Kn.miles to go
The Rock looking East -
Blue arrow marking Milanto's position at 10:45 so by tomorrow will be in the shipping lanes
10-15 knots of wind at her present position