Readers’ cruising destinations, near and far
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Having motored my yacht, Celestine, a Carambola 38, across the width of Europe, by river and canal, in 2019, I left her up on the hard in Mangalia, Romania. I departed for New Zealand certain in the knowledge that I’d be back the next year to step the mast and sail her to Turkey, through the Bosporus Strait, to spend a leisurely season cruising northern Aegean waters.
That was over two and a half years ago. My plans had turned to ash, along with the movements of millions of others around the world as the Covid-19 pandemic brought society to a standstill.
When the pandemic hit, I’d emailed Luca, who managed the yard where was being stored, saying I wanted to extend the lease for another year. Luca, sensing he had me at an extreme disadvantage, emailed back saying the this ‘was possible’600 per month. He was increasing the rent by almost five times! The room swayed before my eyes on reading this, and I had to grip the edge of the desk to steady myself. Sleep was not possible that night, and I saw every hour on the clock.
