Settling in

We’ve now been all together on the boat for 2 weeks, and it’s been a pretty busy time.  But despite (or in spite of?) the amount we’ve done I find it difficult to know what to share with you now - how we’ve adjusted to life on board (well - it’s still so new it feels like we’re on holiday); the sailing (so far so good - including a 40 hour trip across the Ionian Sea to Sicily); the boat (all good - even got the water maker going so aren’t buying any plastic bottles of water); where we’ve been (we’re in Greece and Sicily - it’s all amazing); homeschooling (sort of happening but understandably some reticence from both adults and children); or the free-diving (who am I kidding - it’s still snorkelling).

Eliza and Josephine at home in their cabin

Our first few days were in and around Corfu and Paxos in the Ionian: places new to us even if the style of cruising wasn’t.  We allowed ourselves a week’s holiday- beer at lunch, wine in the evening, no schooling, and eating out more than is sustainable. The girls have got quickly into the swing of living aboard: clothes, games, and precious belongings packed away in all manner of cubbyholes and secret lockers; activity books marshalled, labelled and put to first use, and a confidence moving around the boat that belies our short time on board.  And above all, the water is warm enough, calm enough, and clear enough for endless swimming - snorkelling, jumping in and messing about with the paddleboard.

Dawn as we approach east coast of Sicily

After a week’s gentle cruising in Greece, we had a weather window to get across to Sicily.  It’s possible to day hop from Greece around to Sicily but that means several days of 8-10 hours travelling, so our preference is to do fewer, longer trips and then cruise locally so the whole adventure doesn’t just feel like one big journey.  This was by far our longest trip as a family - and the first overnighter for the children.  Luckily, the weather gods smiled on us and our first 18 hours were quick and smooth - so quick in fact that our carefully planned ETA moved forwards 12 hours to 2am - not ideal.  All the girls were keen on doing night watches - Eliza and Josephine staying up to 10 to watch the sunset and appearance of the first stars, Scarlett keen on middle of the night and the sunrise.  The crossing included our first discussion on stars, on global trade (promoted by a passing container ship and triggering a full review of where all our clothes were made!) and our first attempt at fishing using as bait a little squid that somehow beached itself on our deck overnight.

We’re now in the Aeolian Islands north of Sicily and weather permitting we’ll be here for a week.  The water is stunningly clear and warm, the weather is looking settled, and all is well on board. Even our first medical incident of the trip - a nasty encounter with a purple jellyfish for Scarlett last night hasn’t dampened the mood, although the enthusiasm for school this morning is somewhat stronger given an understandable reticence to swim.

As we enter into July European holiday season is on us, with more crowded bays and steeper prices (in that respect Italy is an unwelcome shock after Greece).  But we’re in paradise, we’re all happy and contented, and we’ve no complaints.

Perfect cruising