The Adventure Begins!

We have enlisted at the last minute a cabin boy in Acrobat. He has just finished college and will help with our technologiical projects. His only knowledge of sailing is what his father, not a sailor, has taught him from all the stories and books, from Stevenson to Patrick O’Brian, he had read in his life. He comes to learn.

The Cabin Boy’s letter

Honestly, Dad, I still don’t get why should I write you by letter what we have just talked through Whatsapp. You will receive this letter in the mail when we are already at sea, but …

This morning I arrived at Girona easily, a little tired of such a long travel by train), Diego came to pick me and we drove up to L’Escala (it’s a village next to Roses, the place you and mom have both told me hundred times you traveled to on your honeymoon). Near here I’ve been told that there are some very important Roman ruins. We had no time to visit anything, but I mention it ‘cause I find it curious that we are taking the reverse route the Romans did, because we are precisely sailing to Italy.

They have led me immediately to the port to meet “in person” the ship on which I’ll spend a few days (and weeks … and months). Diego had already explained to me several times the history of Acrobat: it is a Sigma 38 model, which was built in 1989. You know how proud he is of its design and how well done it is. He almost convinced you to enter the Sigma 38 Association even though you don’t even own a rowing boat.

Watching it closely, the boat seems very nice and very complicated, with so many ropes and so many sails, but they assure they will teach me everything. During the winter, Diego has been working really hard to put the boat in good condition. He had help form his father, Fernando, who will also sail with us in these early stages, his cousin Gamo (who I haven’t meet yet) and Lucio, the italian, of whom everyone says that cooks very well … I wish I can meet him soon. I couldn’t help through all this preparation ‘cause I still had to study for the finals.

Apparently they have installed many new systems: engine, fuel tank, a radio beacon EPRIB, AIS. Remember I joined the Acrobat crew not only ‘cause you liked boats and you insisted over and over, but also ‘cause I love innovation and testing new technologies that could make our lifes easier (and hopefully less polluting).

They have also changed the anchor, chain and windlass. I only know what the anchor is for, I’ll find out about the rest when someone ask me to do something with ….whatever. They changed the outboard engine, navigation lights, radar reflector, self-inflating lifejackets… Not to forget rockets and flares, solar panels, barbecue … I hope I can compensate them with my work aboard for the months I couldn’t be here. Today we set sail in the Acrobat the captain, Diego, his father, Fernando, and me.

Diego has told us that good weather is expected for the sailing to Italia. although the powerful Mistral may blow when we’re navigating the mythical Strait of Bonifacio. It’s funny how wind names remind me of bedtime stories, … the ones you told us when we were kids.

If the weather gets complicated, we’ll seek refuge on the north coast of Sardinia to wait and safely cross the strait later. I can picture mom saying “Safety first”.

I’ll write you more about our journey once we get to Napoles. Then I’ll explain the next stages as soon as I find out what are they talking about.

Something about men of the mountains and volcanoes …. I wont get bored, that’s clear.

Many hugs

Juan Sebastián Pym