“Strano tornare a una presunta normalità dopo aver assaggiato giornate fatte di natura, sfida, scoperte, amicizia e crescita personale. Non dovrebbe essere tutto qui quello che tanto cerchiamo? E’ stato un viaggio e un’esperienza bella e ricca. Avevo già viaggiato in barca ma quello che tu e Lorenzo offrite è tutt’altro. E non sarà semplice pensare di fare altri viaggi in barca senza avere voi come termine di paragone costante. Grazie per averci accolto e fatti sentire parte di questo vostro viaggio, mi sono sentito in famiglia, già dopo pochi giorni. In barca, si sa i legami si rafforzano rapidamente, e così è stato con voi. Siamo tornati solo ieri e vi pensiamo ogni momento e sarà così per un po’. Grazie davvero di quello che fate, perché non ha eguali.

Strange to return to a presumed normality after tasting days made of nature, challenges, discoveries, friendship and personal growth. Shouldn’t that be all we are looking for? It was a beautiful and rich journey and experience. I had already traveled by boat but what you [Valerio] and Lorenzo offer is anything but. And it will not be easy to think of other boat trips without having you as a constant point of comparison. Thank you for welcoming us and making you feel part of your journey, I felt like I was in the family, already after a few days. In the boat, you know the bonds are strengthened quickly, and so it was with you. We only came back yesterday and we think about it every moment and it will be like this for a while. Thank you very much for what you do, because it has no equal. ”

“Non è stata una semplice vacanza ma, come dice bene Valerio, it was a journey. Seguendo la regola No. 1 di Milanto, ho mollato gli ormeggi e tutto è andato alla grande! L’unico problema è che, come Ulisse, faccio fatica nel fare ritorno….
Un mix perfetto di mare, amici veri (a cui si è aggiunto uno nuovo, Valerio) delfini, storia, arte e … anche tanta panzanella.
Momenti di rara felicità che rimarranno impressi in ognuno di noi, ne son certa.
Un senso di appagamento totale, non aggiungei altro…
Mi rendo conto che più che una recensione è una vera serenata, però non vi montate la testa ragazzi!

It was not a simple vacation, but as Valerio says well, it was a journey. Following the Milanto rule No: 1, let go of the moorings and everything will go well! The only problem is that, like Ulysses, I struggle to return ...
A perfect mix of sea, true friends (to which a new one has been added, Valerio), dolphins, history, art and… even a lot of panzanella.
Moments of rare happiness that will remain etched in each of us, I’m sure.
A sense of total fulfilment, I didn’t add anything else… I realise that this is more than a review, it is a real serenade, but don’t let it go to your head guys! ”

“Dopo aver navigato con Milanto e avere avuto la fortuna di godersi insieme a delle persone meravigliose tutte le emozioni e le sensazioni che è in grado di offrirti, credo difficilmente si possa pensare ad un altro tipo di vacanza. Spesso andando a lavoro, lungo il tragitto mi capita di passare davanti ad un albergo che reca all’entrata una frase di un poeta persiano del 1100 Omar Khayyam che è la seguente: “Life is a journey and travel is to live twice”. Devo riconoscere che solo ora che ho avuto l’onore di salire a bordo di Milanto e grazie a Valerio e Lorenzo sono riuscito a capirne pienamente e profondamente il significato… Esperienza unica… impossibile non mollare gli ormeggi!!! Alla prossima cari amici!


After having sailed with Milanto and having been lucky enough to enjoy all the emotions and sensations it is able to offer together with wonderful people, it is difficult to think of another type of holiday. Often going to work, along the way I happen to pass in front of a hotel that carries at the entrance a phrase of a Persian poet of 1100 Omar Khayyam which is the following: ‘Life is a journey and travel is to live twice.’ I must admit that only now that I have had the honour of boarding Milanto and thanks to Valerio and Lorenzo have I been able to fully and deeply understand its meaning... Unique experience… impossible not to let go of the moorings!!! ”

“Thank you for a fantastic vacation, we sailed on your beautiful Swan, we saw many different Caribbean [places] and encountered so many new and different people! Una vacanza che non ci scorderemo mai.”

“Tornati a casa con mente serena e cuore pieno di gioia per aver trascorso una straordinaria vacanza... anche grazie a te... anche Viola da ieri sera non fa altro che menzionati... sei diventato il suo eroe buono.”

“I took part in the 2018 ARC on Milanto, directly after which I continued on a cruise in the Grenadines with my family again on Milanto. Milanto proved to be a great yacht, perfectly equipped and efficiently maintained. Valerio is very experienced with so many crossings on his watch. He has a calm, professional attitude, and while he is keen to have the crew fully engaged, he is also happy to coach any less experienced sailors onboard, even in the direst circumstances! Not many may know, but he is a great chef too! Karen is also a truly special and lovely presence on board as she does everything to help the crew.  We enjoyed being with both of them, they are fun and easy to get along and during this time they became great friends too. 
After the ARC, we went on as a family on a wonderful cruise which took us to see so many great places, coves and beaches on the windward islands that Valerio proved to know inside out. We always felt very safe, despite the occasional squall. Ultimately, the cruise had to end but left us with wonderful memories which will stay with us for a very long time. We cannot recommend Milanto and skipper Valerio enough for an ARC or a family cruise.”

“To sail the ARC 2019 with Valerio on Milanto, was all that I wished for and all it could have been. Milanto is in excellent condition and sails like a dream in all weather and points of sailing. She is well equipped and extremely comfortable. But the real star is Valerio, a unique and great Skipper/Yachtsman, with his abundance of experience providing you at all times with great sailing and a feeling of safety on board, along with his ‘Italian’ humour, keeping the crew well challenged and pulling together as a team - which on a crossing of only 17 days no easy feat. A delightful and unforgettable experience and I recommend to anyone looking for a trip of a lifetime.”

“My name is Ken and I have had the opportunity to sail together with Valero Bardi and Karen Bax on the lovely Swan 46, Milanto together with an international crew. The professionalism of the skipper Valerio and his first mate Karen is extraordinary. It was a real experience to cross the Atlantic on Milanto in ARC 2018 and to look at other boats in St. Lucia when we arrived after 16 days at sea. We have had minor problems at Milanto but a lot of other boats were completely destroyed. The quality of the skipper and the boat is outstanding.”

“You know how one can say, ‘that guy is a real character?’ That’s what Milanto’s skipper Valerio will be in my book too. An old-school sea dog, but still updated and in pace with our times. Extremely knowledgeable yet low key. Full of stories, yet keen to listen to yours. Since I have been in some really life challenging situations at sea I asked myself, after a few days on Milanto; ‘Can I trust my life to this guy?’ The answer was a clear ‘Yes’. Safety for the crew and the boat is top of his list. I think both Milanto and Valerio are best suited for sailors with fairly solid sailing experience. ”

“Crossing the Atlantic Ocean on board Milanto during the last ARC enabled me to fulfil a childhood dream. Being able to do so on such a classic yacht with such a great bunch of people (8 sailors from 7 countries) was a bonus. Our skipper Vale, and first mate Karen ensured we crossed safely, whilst at the same time allowing each of us to be as fully involved with the sailing of the boat as we felt comfortable with. Lazy days, exciting days, great fishing, excellent food, terrible jokes, repairs as required and above all swapping the hustle and stress of modern life for the peace and tranquility of nature in its purest sense created an experience I’ll never forget. ”

“Siamo stati su Milanto per una fantastica vacanza dal 24 gennaio al 5 febbraio 2018. Il tempo atmosferico non è stato il migliore dal punto di vista di un turista - villeggiante. Però improvvise piogge e colpi di vento ci hanno dato il modo di goderci al massimo la vela durante tutta la vacanza ed apprezzare le capacità meravigliose della barca e dello skipper. La sensazione di volare sul mare, non proprio facile, accompagnata dalla sicurezza che ci trasmetteva il capitano, è stata un esperienza fantastica. La barca, di qualità indiscussa, era in ottime condizioni. Ci ha permesso di divertirci in sicurezza e godere il mare e il vento in qualsiasi condizione atmosferica. Con lo skipper Valerio siamo diventati più che amici, quasi una famiglia. Massima libertà di scelta , comprensione di esigenze di ognuno, unione dell’ equipaggio, consigli intelligenti e validi sempre nel momento giusto, sicurezza e tranquillità in qualsiasi situazione - queste sono le caratteristiche principali del nostro skipper. Abbiamo vissuto insieme una bellissima e divertentissima vacanza. GRAZIE!”

“We had a great passage over the Atlantic with Milanto. We encountered some strong headwinds early on but Milanto and its skipper, Valerio Bardi, handled the new reality perfectly and we finished 2nd in our class as we pulled in to Rodney Bay on a sunny Saturday afternoon after 20 days at sea.On top of the wonderful passage, Valerio shared his knowledge on how to sail an ARC, which improved our knowledge of ocean sailing.”

“My name is Beppe and I come from Italy. I was aboard Milanto during the last ARC 2017. Valerio is the NUMBER ONE both as OWNER/SKIPPER and as a friend. He is always at your disposal to teach you something about sailing the ocean or to start a joke. Mrs. KAREN BAX is the perfect ‘BOAT MANAGER’, ready day and night to offer you a special ‘cup of….’ and to take care of your comfort on board. So if you want to live a unique experience on a unique sailing boat spending some happy hours in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean or looking at the nighttime sky for shooting stars and improving your way to sail downwind using ‘THE BEAST’ (a nice spinnaker), then get up and stand up, call Valerio to reserve your place on MILANTO. I’ll do it again, every time that I’ll be able to do it. Last thing: during our ARC 2017 we won THE SWAN CUP as the best Swan boat in the Atlantic crossing.”

“ARC 2014 It was pleasure for me, finding this extraordinary positive expierience with Valerio and Milanto! I think we were a great team, all together!
Valerio is a great skipper and first of all - he took very good care of us!”

“The ship is over the top of what I expected – how to improve a perfect Swan : you put a skilled and sealoving owner and skipper on board as well as Lorenzo and let them sail for many years. I appreciated very much your calmness and professionalism.”

“With 3 friends we chartered Milanto and skipper Valerio Bardi for the ARC 2013. Having undertaken our own due diligence before booking we were not disappointed. Valerio proved to be an extremely proficient skipper, sailing coach and during the course of our trip also became a friend of us all.
Milanto is a well founded Swan 46 which is well equipped and lovingly maintained by Valerio. His passion for sailing and for Milanto, was very evident throughout our 18 day passage. Valerio was keen for us to be fully engaged in the process but equally prepared to let each of us stretch ourselves as much or as little as we wanted. For me it provided a perfect platform from which to undertake the Atlantic Crossing for the first time. I can only commend Valerio and Milanto to other sailors wishing to stretch themselves within the boundaries they are comfortable with and in an environment that always felt safe and professional whilst also being great fun.”

“Thanks for everything over the last couple of weeks, its an experience
which will stay with me (for all the right reasons!) for a long time.”

“Wish you all the best and again a true thank you for our great adventure.”

“Great experience, to be repeated very soon!”

“Thanks for having us guys! You were aces!”

“It really was a positive experience! Originally, I was going to do the trip on one if the boats owned by my sailing school in Hamble but decided to upgrade my experience and go with Milanto instead. Thank goodness I did! They were about 550 miles behind us and it’s an old boat with no watermaker, AIS, or Italian Chefs that are also skilled sailors :-). I truly hope I get to sail with Milanto again.”

“Our week on the Milanto was everything we could have hoped for. Valerio’s boat is beautiful, meticulously maintained, and just the right size for our family of four. Valerio is a beautiful person and we so enjoyed his company. He’s easy to get along with, very accommodating of the children, and so much fun! He’s a wonderful cook and a good sailing teacher too. Do recommend him enthusiastically to other families, - he’s wonderful!”

“A great week and unforgettable memories .
Thanks to Valerio for those beautiful moments”

“A vacation on Milanto has much more to it than a sailing adventure. Valerio & Ros will make sure that memories will stick well after you are back ashore. Any child (of any age from 7 to 77) will be in his element within an hour of stepping aboard.”