Sharlafied at Sea

The project is called Spirits of Adventure, and you can find out why… here.

Bluesiana at rest in Brindisi

Sharlafied ( that’s me) will be sailing around Italy, to Spain, Gibraltar, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, then across the Atlantic to the Caribbean.

Instead of telling you about it, I let my friends and family interview me. Here are their questions.

Here are questions from Susie.

What inspired you to make this journey?

Ever since we got our first boat in 1992, we had an idea to sail away. When we purchased Bluesiana in 2004, we knew we had a boat that could sail the ocean. I really wanted to return to the New World where I was born.

How long have you been thinking about/planning for the trip?

We seriously started thinking about doing it in 2000 when our daughter was 7 years old.

How will the local spirits of the various stops on your journey be incorporated into the experience?

I always wanted the trip to have a mission, and by dubbing the trip Spirts of Adventure I was able to incorporate my Instagram and website, Sharlafied, all about cocktails and spirts. This way I can report on the spirits made along the route as well as the spirit of the people I meet.

Our business cards with the title of the mission

How have your previous travels, both on your boat and otherwise (like your Love Trains) helped to prepare you for this experience?

Sailing every year since 1992, having my sailing licence, and knowing I can live on a boat for a long time convinced me that I could do the trip. There are similarities between this trip and my Love Train journeys…. First, it is an alternative mode of transportation, second, it covers many stops, and third, just like on my love train journeys, I will hand out little notes of universal love to random people I meet.

What do think will be the biggest challenges on the trip?

The first hurdle is getting insurance coverage for the transatlantic leg of our trip, so far it has been all headwinds! The next will be the long legs from Gibraltar to the Canary Islands, 600 nautical miles (nm), the leg from the Canaries to Cape Verde 800 nm and of course the tansatlantic leg, 2100 nm, in 2/3 weeks.

How does it feel to now be on your way after all the planning, preparations and anticipation?

It was a huge relief! We left on October 15, after the original date set for September 4th.

What are you most looking forward to on the trip?

Everything! Discovering new ports, meeting people, learning new boating skills, challenging myself.

Bluesiana on a previous trip in Greece

Here are questions from Ziza

What has kept you motivated to take this trip through the years, through any setbacks, and through the delays?

Maurizio and Giacomo (L) who joined us for the first 5 days.

I have had to learn the art of patience which never comes easy to me. I am impatient and want everything now. But it paid off!

What are you hoping to prove to yourself by taking this trip?

To face my fears. I will be scared at times for sure, but that makes me feel alive.

What do you think will go through your mind when you first see land after the crossing, entering the Caribbean and realizing that you’ve done it?

It is hard to even imagine that now. There are so many things that need to fall into place first. It will definitely be an adrenaline rush!

New life, new look

What’s an aspect of preparing for this trip that would surprise people?

How the boat can look like a complete mess just one week before we take off, then suddenly we are off. We did a lot of organizing after the trip had begun. Davide has been a godsend, he is Mister Organization!

Do you think you’re courageous, crazy, or a little bit of both?

Neither. I don’t consider myself particularly courageous. I used to be, but now I am kind of a scaredy cat. I don’t consider myself crazy either. This is a plan that has been in my head for 25 years. Maybe I would call myself audacious.

So much of travel has been modernized and sanitized (at least in the West). We want our comforts even when we travel. Do you think there’s something humanity has lost in not traveling by sea as regularly anymore?

Sure! But having said that, I still spend a lot of time on my phone. I think as time goes on it will be less and less. Face to face connections are what give life meaning. Traveling by sea is something otherworldly. 120 miles take you a day and a helf of sailing. Those speeds become your new normal. Our overnight shifts are 4 hours and it really flies by. It’s weird.

What do you think you’ll miss the most while being on the boat?

So far I have missed nothing. Ok, friends and family I miss you of course, but I am exactly where I want to be right now.

What part of daily life on the boat do you love? What is your bar stocked with?

I love when we arrive in a new port. Our bar is stocked with lots of wine, Capovilla distillates, some homemade grappa, different gins… at the moment. We are missing a few elements.

Do you have go-to boat drink?

At the moment its Gin and Tonic, or Gin Fizz, just because of what we have on hand. I want some good vermouth! Do I have to wait to get to Spain?

What superstitions do you follow on the boat?

Our crew at the moment L to R: Giulio, Maurizio, Davide and me

We always do cheers to each other, no crossing glasses, looking each other in the eye, tapping on the table and also doing cheers on a part of the boat.

How do you resolve conflict on the boat when there isn’t any easy escape?

So far so good. There are three men and me, Sometimes I feel like Cinderella (before the ball) and sometimes like a princess.

What personality traits (if any) are necessary for someone taking a trip like this?

You can’t be easily offended, there is ribbing all around. You cannot stay mad. You have to get over whatever bugs you. If you need time alone, just head to your cabin. I bounce back easily and being the only female has its advantages. I can speak my mind.

Now some questions from Charlotte and Tobias

Describe the best moment and the feeling you at that moment?

So far the best moment was the day we set off ln October 15th. We only did 20 miles, to Piran, but it was wonderful. Also when we spotted a huge pod of dolphins!

What makes you most happy on the trip and what scares you the most?

I always like getting into a port I have never been to before. I am looking forward to getting to visiting some new ports in Sicily, Spain,Gibraltar and the Canary Islands. Going through the strait of Messina and Gibraltar might be a bit scary. The seriously scary moments will come later!

How does the boat feel against the sea?

Under way

Its a great feeling when we turn of the engines and hear Bluesiana cutting through the sea, with only the power of the wind.

What surprised you and what have disappointed you?

Still to be determined!

At what moment do you feel most alive?

When we have all the sails out and are clipping along at a good speed. It is exhilarating.

And from Nancy

What does adventure mean to you?

For me adventure is discovery, doing or seeing something for the first time. It is my life force.

What triggered you to go ahead with this project/adventure?

As mentioned, 25 years ago it was a project, never a dream. And I am so happy I am finally doing it!

Have you ever thought of the danger behind it?

Of course there are are dangers and when we head off from Cape Verde it will be 3 weeks of nothing but sea. It’s daunting, it’s exciting, and yes, scary. But that’s what life is about. I have hurt myself in such banal circumstances, while sailing I am constantly on high alert. Every step needs to be calculated.

How do you feel about taking risks and facing challenges?

It’s what makes me feel alive. So many people my age talk about the past, we are talking about the present and the future. I know there will be more advantures after this one.

What do you hope to learn from this adventure?

That I still have that grit I’ve always had when I was younger, and life is to be grabbed and lived to the fullest, No regrets.

And from Shannon:

How long will this trip take you?

We left on Oct 15, hope to be in Cape Verde for the end of December or before , and the best time to sail back is May 2026, so the entire trip will take about 9 months. I haven’t decided if I will sail back across the Atlantic or not, but I plan to stay “gone” until around June.

What’s the best food/drink you had on the journey?

Mantis shrimp, fresh as can be

I like eating on the boat, especially when we invite new friends aboard. I am a pretty good cook, something that few people know, as Maurizio, my husband, controls the kitchen at home. My tuna and lemon pasta is a big hit, I can make a mean risotto, and I have a few ethnic surprises up my sleeve. I have only made cocktails once but I can’t wait to break out the rum!

How often are you showering?

Ha! That’s a good one. Every chance I get, when we stop in a marina , I revel in a nice hot shower. We have showers on the boat too, but we have to be mindful about saving water, so no daily showers on the boat.

And from me:

Describe a typical day on the boat.

Davide “Mister Organization” putting our medicines in order

Two versions- when we are on a long overnight sail, I make dinner (menu depends on the waves) and usually head down to relax and sleep. My turn is usually from 4 am to 8 am beause I like to see the dawn. The time goes by pretty quickly, watching the route, we have been doing a mix of sail and motor so far. The next morning, breakfast, then repairs, installations, or updating online. I have a pillow with our sailing friends’ signatures that I will be embroidering. A day without sailing is repairs, cleaning, washing, reorganizing stuff. Today we catalogued all our medicines and first aid. so we can grab them if needed. We are studying the Starlink connection, and we have yet to install our watermaker. There is always something to do.

I can’t wait for our next port and our next adventure! Be sure to follow my instagram Sharlafied for updates on the trip and feel free to ask questions!