Sailing with the “Romelo” regatta classic car
Sailing on the Mediterranean in February away from mass tourism and off-season that requires courage and experience – especially when you take a 14 m regatta sailboat from the 80s to take the Sanremo to Italy crossing Palma de Mallorca dares.
From Barcelona to Nice and taxi to Sanremo
From Barcelona, the three of them fly early in the morning to Nice and continue by taxi to Sanremo. There, the classic car sailing yacht “Astilleros Wind 46” in Portosole port awaits the transfer to Palma de Mallorca. From this by the shipyard Astilleros Nauta S.A. There are only five copies left in the Barcelona model. The model “Astilleros Wind 46” was designed in 1979 by the Argentine yacht designer German Frers. Over 500 different successful yacht constructions for European, American, Japanese, Australian and New Zealand customers still bear his signature. German Frers models can be found on all important international regattas. He works with nautor’s swan (Finland), Hallberg-Rassy (Sweden), Wally Yachts (Monaco) and supplies designs for Volvo Ocean Race.
Sailboat – Romela
This “Astilleros Wind 46” – baptized in the name “Romelo” – is also penned by his pen and was admitted in 1983. The engine was recently replaced, everything else is original. The yacht has three cabins and two bathrooms. Perfect for us. Our captain Carles Matinell (www.lidernautic.com) is experienced on all oceans and has been chartering international customers for years. The two others are still sailing beginners and will help him with this crossing. So get on the adventure and gain experience!
The other crew
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Our sailor makes the sailboat clear to take off -
Our second captain on board
We get the sailing yacht ready to go, bring our supplies on board and check the equipment. You will have to do without the internet and modern technology. Intuition and manual work are required.
A last farewell
Shortly before the start: Suddenly the old lady’s visit. She appears on the horizon in venerable black. She looks at the family yacht for the last time and says goodbye. The harbor master says: The lady once sailed successfully with her son with the “Romelo” regattas. The ship has been in the port for years. Gone are the glamorous times of sport. Now the sailing yacht has been sold with a heavy heart. We are commissioned by the new owner to transfer the vintage car to Mallorca.
The harbor master says: The old lady followed her intuition. Nobody had informed her that the “Romelo” was finally leaving her traditional berth in Sanremo today.
We wave friendly. The old lady greets you with dignity back. We take your blessing as a signal for a good crossing. Get off!
Next stop Marseille before we continue sailing
To Marseilles it goes along the coast. Then it is refueled. The tank holds 175 liters of diesel. We stab in open sea. How long will we be on the road no idea. The ship’s engine only has 75 hp. We set sail. If wind and weather permit, we use the elements. We’re going to think about the Cote Vermeille But to drive by decide for the direct route.
Dolphins visit us
Soon we will be without a network: no telephone. No internet. silence. Only the flapping of the sails and the sound of the waves. Suddenly dolphins. They accompany our journey for a while.
We also sail at night and take turns sleeping every two hours. The weather is rough. Cold crawls into the limbs. We are looking forward to the sunrise. First glow on the horizon. The sea turns golden. Every now and then we see a container ship. Otherwise only us, the sea, sky and cloud veils. blue-grey width.
A whale says “Hello” and then we continue sailing
A fountain in the distance around noon. A whale crosses our path. Another night on the water in front of us. There is quite a bit of lull. Finally – after 38 hours – our cell phones are back from Nirvana. We are near the Balearic Islands.
Port of Palma de Mallorca
Civilization has us back. But there are still a few hours to the port of Palma de Mallorca. We leisurely circumnavigate a large part of the island. Land is now always in sight and there is already rain boat traffic around the small bays. In the afternoon we reach the port of Palma de Mallorca.
After three days at sea, we leave the boat blanks fluctuating. The new boat owner at the quay welcomes us happily and invites us to brunch. Just in time, we catch the last plane back to the mainland in the evening. We say goodbye tired in Barcelona. Soon a new adventure will lure us out to sea. Until then, ahoy! Have fun sailing!
