Ending the Mediterranian adventure...
After many thoughts and plans on how to continue our lives, we finally decided to end the Med adventure and return to Denmark.
The big question was, however, how to stop. Some ideas were centered about keeping Sakura in the Med and try selling her there. However, this type of boat is highly apprciated by sailing enthusiasts in the Nordic countries, but in the Med area, they are not known. And potential buyers here will prefer having space and comfort rather than exeptional sailing performance.
We finally decided to bring back Sakura on a truck to Denmark. To make it possible, she had to be sailed to mainland Europe, somewhere. The choice fell on France in order to minimize the land transport distance.
I found a boat yard in Port Camargue (a huge marina) that were responding to my approach and made a deal with them about preparting Sakura for transport. And I found through my network a Danish transporting company, that was well reputed for this special kind of transporting tasks.
New crew for the cross-over to France
Alla does not like cruising far from land, so she took the opportunity to go to Latvia to visit family and friends while I was kindly joined be John again - this time accompanied by his brother Kim, who is an experienced sailor.
They joined by direct flights CPH to Olbia, and Alla also had a direct flight to Riga - Olbia airport is really well connected.
The plan was to go north, up the west coast of Corsica, to cross-over from Calvi to Menton or Nice. To save time, we decided on a port next to Nice airport.
Kim had to go home a little earlier, so John and I were playing tourists, visiting Menton and Monaco by train.
An impression of Monte Carlo in the video ...
You cannot visit Monte Carlo without thinking of cars - so here a few from the collection of Prins Albert.
The final stretch...
For the final voyage from Nice to Port Camargue, my beloved granson, Elias, had volonteered. Elias is 21 years old an my youngest grandchild. Not an experienced sailor - but good company :-)
It took us six days, taking advantage of the weather windows available. One stop-over in Saint Tropez and another in an industrial city, to take cover for a thunderstorm. Thanks to the very dependable weather forecasts now-a-days, we could sit safely in the cockpit tent and drink beers and play cards, while the storm was raging.
Goodbye....
Here is Sakura, stripped for her sails and other accessories in Port Camargue - close to Montpellier, from where Elias and I are flying home.
On September 2nd the mast will be removed and stored on the boat.
September 10th she is loaded to the truck, heading for Denmark (Næstved), where she will go on land storage for the winther.