After a month and a half of coastal raids aboard her 4.8 m trimaran, Violette has covered the Côte d'Azur, the shores of Italy and the eastern side of Corsica. She now tells us about her discovery of Sardinia and the serious damage that could have put an end to her voyage.
Arrival in Sardinia at the onset of winter
After sailing along the east coast of Corsica, Violette began her crossing to Sardinia on the 1 er december :
" Here we go again and it feels good! The sea offered me a beautiful day to make up for all those days of waiting. A good tailwind took me from Porto Vecchio to the Sardinian coast. The south of Corsica is magnificent, with ochre rock replacing the long sandy beaches. I passed the island of Cavallo and the Lavezzi archipelago, before crossing the Bouches de Bonifacio. Bivouac on a magnificent sandy beach at the end of a wild cove ".
But with the onset of winter, this kind of sailing becomes difficult to cope with, especially on a small boat. Violette can only take shelter in her tent when she bivouacs. Passepartout is constantly wet, and solo sailing is a mental game:
" Being alone is part of everyday life. When you get up in the morning and have to put on your cold suit, you have to keep your wits about you. I'm starting to sail a little less. I'm spending more time at a standstill, so it's less like la dolce vita ".
But the beauty of Sardinia's beaches was a welcome relief, and Passepartout beat his speed record on the crossing of the Gulf of Olbia: 6.5 knots!
A violent capsize in Sardinia
Approaching Siniscola, Violette suffered her first major damage after 45 days at sea:
"The waves were picking up and it was breaking a bit. I was trying to get between two sets to get to the beach. I've already experienced a bit of sporty docking; when the boat goes surfing, I have trouble controlling it. Near the beach, a wave caught the boat by the stern and made her sancir in a matter of seconds.
I panic for a few seconds, then manage to reposition Passepartout by folding up a float. Just as the boat easily comes to a halt again, I have a vision of horror when I realize that my mast has broken in two. I pick up my things, which are floating all over the place. Soaking wet, I pull the boat up onto the beach. I tell myself that the adventure is over and I'm sad to have broken my boat."
It's the final straw for Violette. But then, out of nowhere, three Sardinians, who had witnessed the caper, offered to help. The nearest town is a two-hour walk away.
" They don't speak a word of English, and we drive off with the broken mast in the boot. They take me to a workshop, and we find an aluminum tube that allows us to sleeve my carbon mast. Then they offer me a pizza to get over my emotions ".
The next day, Violette repairs the rudder, whose linkage broke in the capsize.
Doubts and breaks in navigation
Happy to set off again, but doubting the viability of her mast repair, Violette maintains her course towards the south of Sardinia. She calls at Cala Luna, where the alternation between cliffs and caves is incredible.
" The scenery is incredible. The cliffs are beautifully sculpted, at times forming deep, narrow coves. Inside, the water is translucent. Mini paradises inaccessible from land".
But sailing conditions are increasingly difficult, despite the incredible welcome from the locals. Blocked by the mistral, Violette finds an available campsite:
" I found an open campsite where I met some great people. The Sardinians are extraordinarily hospitable. Other travelers from Germany and Austria are also at the campsite. I've shared some great moments with them. But I'm starting to have doubts, and sailing is becoming less pleasant. It's hard to get out of my comforter in the morning. I'm suffering from the cold. I decide to go to Cagliari, to store the boat and come back later to continue my journey.
After a two-month expedition, I returned home to my parents to celebrate Christmas with them. I was supposed to leave again in the spring, but I finally gave up and sold Passepartout to a Sardinian.
It's impossible to continue sailing if you're not 100% motivated. This kind of sailing requires total commitment. I wanted to discover new countries and a magical route. The geographical route to Turkey continues to make me dream and I'll be back with a new Passepartout, just a little bit bigger" .
