The uncertainty of everything in strange times 2020

01.07.2020

Just a week ago, we didn’t even think that it would be possible to envisage the transfer of Easy Rider from north Sardinia to Port Napoléon (Golfe de Fos) near Marseille and from there, back to the Solent.

waiting for Godot

We left Santa Teresa di Gallura at the western entrance of the Strait of Bonifacio in July 2018. Since then Easy Rider has been waiting for us in a cradle in the boatyard. Not only did it take us almost two years to write the 4th edition of the Corsica and North Sardinia pilot book (published by Imray in April this year), but we also moved from Devon to London last year.

2020 was going to be a very welcome return to leisurely sailing around the western Mediterranean starting with Sicily.

That, unfortunately, was not to happen. We could only dream of future plans from our lock-down at home.  We were not only in the ‘at risk’ group because of our age, but Stephan was supposed to shield until the end of June.

Now that restrictions are being eased more widely in Europe, we started to forge our plan to bring Easy Rider home. Talking to the harbour office in Santa Teresa yesterday, they said that they are now back to 'normal'. Restaurants and shops have reopened as well.

I also called Port Napoléon. Apart from having to announce your arrival to Cross Med telling them your state of health, there are no restrictions to enter the harbour either. The haulier Van De Wettering Transport can collect Easy Rider at a ten days’ notice. Global Nautic can unstep the mast there too.

The tricky bit is that the situation is changing rapidly and that the rules are adjusted accordingly. It is a calculated gamble, but one which we feel is worth taking. If we are unlucky, we might still have to quarantine somewhere.

These good news precipitated a whole chain of events in the Strobel’s household yesterday: we booked our flight to Alghero on the 9th of July, asked the boatyard when they would be able to launch our boat, booked a hotel room for the first night, bought tickets for the Stansted Express, cancelled anything pending here at home… 

Now we are suddenly very nervous about everything! What if a second lock-down is imposed in Italy, France or the UK? What if our flight gets cancelled by Ryanair? Will we be able to keep a safe distance from other people?

We can now also enjoy planning our journey in equal measures!  We hope that by making this happen earlier rather than later we might just make it should the ugly head of Covid-19 resurface again.