The beginning of a life adventure

Everyone is interested in how we decided to go this route, how we came up with the idea for this project. It was Petrov's wish, but it took me quite some time to make the right decision. It wasn't easy, but it was necessary, maybe even stupid for some.

At that time, I went through very difficult things. The death of my grandmother, who was like a second mother to me, and later the death of my brother, who could no longer fight for his life. He overcame two cancers, but he couldn't fight the third. He was the one who gave me the decisive impulse to decide on this life journey. Two weeks before his death, he told me: "Enjoy life, don't worry about finances, life is too short, enjoy it while you can. When you get sick, you can't take it anymore. Eat it for me!"

Peter had also survived cancer, so we both had the mindset that we had to seize every moment to see the world before it was too late. And so began our decision – researching, planning and preparing for a life we ​​had never imagined. It wasn’t easy. In addition to the mental preparations of dealing with loss and healing from past hurts, there were also practical things to take care of. Vaccinations, researching entry requirements, preparing the boat – there were so many details we couldn’t forget, all in the midst of Covid-19. But the biggest challenge was how to tell my parents, who were still emotionally scarred by my brother’s death. The wounds were still fresh. I was scared about how they would take my decision, but I eventually managed to find the courage to tell them. It was emotionally draining, but they soon realized that it was the right decision for us.

When life becomes an adventure: My first cruise around the Canary Islands

We began our adventure, which promised more than we ever dared to dream. The sailboat, our mature lady, is old, but has a wonderful soul. Despite the mistakes that accompanied us from the first day, we were convinced that a path lay ahead of us that would change our lives forever. After saying goodbye to the friends with whom I had flown to the Canary Islands, Peter and I set sail for sunny Tenerife.

But as always in life, this trip didn't go entirely according to plan. Windy days were getting on Peter's nerves, the sea was wild, winds from all directions. Peter was looking for his spiritual peace (if I may joke a little), while at that moment I was more imagining being anywhere else. But a sunset solves any bad mood. Seriously – it wasn't exactly a dream picture, but I soon found my peace again. Peter's beef soup saved the day! When you're seasick, this is exactly what you need – warm, homemade beef soup and the feeling that someone cares about you. With that, I overcame my first 'wave' on the trip, and although I continued to fight with my stomachache, we set off to explore the wild volcanic coast.

Antequera beach – it was the picture of a sailing paradise. Inaccessible, wild and without tourists, just Timy and nature, which was as wild as the sea we sailed through. And then… nudists. The Frenchman, who saved the situation with his big tent, was our only companion on the most inaccessible beach in Tenerife – a beach that could serve as the backdrop for the latest film about survival on a deserted beach.

But the real storm came later – and not just because of the gale-force winds. The beginnings on the island of Lanzarote were nothing short of a dream. When we woke up one morning, we were shocked – the ropes had been cut, our boat was gone. Peter knew immediately that we would never see it again. I never imagined that it would be stolen from us in front of the Rubicon marina, where there were a lot of anchored vessels, all with their boats lowered into the water. How would we get to shore now? How would we carry food,…a thousand and one questions in our heads? So we were left without a brand new boat with an outboard motor. Reporting the theft was no solution, or rather, the police didn’t think it was important, nor did they speak English (they do 100%) so we gave up. Days of searching for a used boat followed. This was no easy task. Instead of enjoying exploring Tenerife, we searched online ads and finally gave up on local shops that had nothing in stock. Really, if someone says sailing is easy, they probably haven't experienced enough!

After a few days of searching and negotiating, we finally found a year-old boat and a motor. Imagine how happy we were after ten days of searching. A moment of euphoria? Of course!

But it wasn't without its stresses. We had to wait a few days to rent a car. But it was interesting that we rented a Fiat Panda, and got a VW Transporter. So we were a little lucky. But how would we fit the boat into the Panda, we wondered in the end? But our new vehicle came in handy, because we were happy to finally have one.

Once all the problems were forgotten, we took the time to visit Loro Parque. The dolphins, orcas, and sea lions allowed us to feel the joy of childhood again.

And now? Crossing the Atlantic. Here, Dutchwoman Alana and Italian Valentina joined us as a crew. We wanted a little company, and it was only our first ocean. We felt safer, the company was really welcome. Our story gained a new layer. Preparations, organization, finding food, navigating unknown waters, testing the wind – all this brought an incredible dynamic. When we set sail in complete silence, surrounded only by the infinity of the sea and the sky, something unpredictable made us forget all our worries. The pod of dolphins that surrounded Timy was a dream moment. With their playfulness and joyful energy, they let us know that the world is not only made up of struggles and trials, but also of moments that take our breath away and change everything.

In a moment, everything stops, the remaining worries disappear like snow in the sun. After all the problems with the boat and the engine, this was pure magic.

Every day brings its own story – sometimes funny, sometimes extremely emotional. But my dears, this is life at sea! On the Atlantic Ocean, we understood that the real adventure is to let go of the flow, to trust ourselves and each other. It seems that every day is a new opportunity to get to know not only new places and people, but also better versions of ourselves. And if nothing else, I have no doubt that life will bring us something unexpected – I already see these as new adventures, not problems. Peter would say that these are challenges that you have to face. With each new sailing experience, we are closer to our new selves – strong, bold and always ready for the next wave!

Natalija