Tuesday 23rd August 2022

We arrived from Toulon station by the "Bali line" to Port Pin Rolland, where we were warmly welcomed by Christian, and Loïc, our skipper.
Boarding the Bali 4.2, we opened the aft door to discover the large living space. We’d have never imagined that the fusion of the "aft cockpit and saloon" space would provide such a large living area. It's amazing! The saloon is also accessible via the forward door. This makes it very pleasant for moving around on (from the stern to the bow through the interior).
We immediately felt comfortable in all the spaces - the large saloon, including the airy galley, and the hulls also offer a large and pleasant volume in the cabins. The owner's cabin is spacious. There’s plenty of storage, andeven a hanging locker, chart table, and sofa. The bathroom is also large, with 2 washbasins, and you never have to stoop to get to anywhere (for the taller crew members). The other two cabins are just as comfortable, the bed is rectangular and the ceiling is high, and there is much more room than on any of the boats I’ve sailed on before. Each cabin has its own heads compartment, with one shower shared in the middle. The skipper's cabin is located in one of the forepeaks.
We collected our provisions for the week's meals, settled in and enjoyed dinner at the beach restaurant where the last of the crew joined us around 10pm. We spent our first night on board, in port, heading off the next morning. I didn't expect such comfortable bunks: it’s like being in 4* hotel beds.

Wednesday 24th August

There we were, we cast off and headed out of Port Pin Rolland bound for Porquerolles. The weather was with us and the week was looking very good. Loïc our skipper gave us our first sailing lesson. The objective was for us to be independent by the end of the week!
During the day we stopped off Pointe Sainte-Marguerite, inflated the paddleboards, got out the snorkels and fins and headed off. The more adventurous among us swum into the cave, through it and out the other side.
We set sail again and quickly got settled in on the flybridge where there’s a maxi sun lounger next to the helm station, allowing you to enjoy the fresh air, the 360-degree view, the sun or the shade under the boom and the mainsail. This was ultimately the spot place where we would gather most often, also coming up here to enjoy a sundowner.
After lunch we headed offshore, in the mood for adventure. First came training to hoist the mainsail. Sat comfortably next to the helm, we let the waves and the fresh air lull us into silence.
In the early evening we arrived at the cove of the Gorges du Loup in Porquerolles enjoyed drinks in the upper saloon, experiencing our very first sunset at sea!

Thursday 25th August

In the morning, Loïc organized a race inspired by the Porquerolles Cup. We had to go around the islet where we were anchored, two by two on a paddleboard, and back to the boat. The winners got to do the dishes. The favourites won the race but the others weren’t far behind.
After the race we put to sea again, trying the wake skate behind the boat. The girls managed to get out of the water, and depending on what course we were on, we took more or less waves on our legs.
At lunchtime, we cooked on the plancha grill. The sea can make you very hungry! In the evening, we stopped at Notre Dame beach, north of Porquerolles.

Friday 26th August

We went ashore to discover Porquerolles. We dropped the dinghy in the water for the first time and went over to the island. Heading inland, we arrived at the main square and the church, getting the impression of being at the end of the world. We enjoyed lunch in the shade of the trees.
After lunch, we were keen to get back on board. As on the other days, we put to sea. The sound of the water and the wind and the sight of the horizon made us dream. We told ourselves that one day we’ll make the crossing to Corsica!
Everyone found their place, the chess players in the saloon sheltered from the breeze, the sunbathers up at the bow, the fisherman at the stern, the readers up on the flybridge on the maxi sunlounger. Sunbathing was very pleasant, both during the day and in the evening, and I never once missed the trampoline from the catamaran I’d previously sailed on.
That evening we slept at Nertassier Cove in Port Cros where we were alone. The low swell might have been unpleasant at anchor for a monohull, but the catamaran remained flat thanks to its two hulls. This allowed us to pick less sheltered anchorages, that were less frequented, calmer and morepristine, which we all preferred.

Saturday 27th August

In the morning, after a coffee on the paddleboard, we visited the cove at Calanque Longue.
On the boat, everyone was taking their turn at cooking or doing the washing up. We’d planned the shopping and we’re eating mainly salads for lunch and pasta for dinner. The galley was large and very airy, making it very pleasant for cooking. After lunch we set off again and were lucky enough to come across a school of dolphins. They were everywhere, there must have been several dozen! We felt like children, approaching them so they would come and play with the boat.
That night, we decided to continue at sea. We learned to read the navigation lights of other boats in the dark with Loïc. Everyone took a watch, in groups of two. This was to be our first training for a longer passage. The night was calm, and we could see some boat lights at the beginning of the night as we passed a ferry. It wasn't easy to tell if it was moving faster or slower than us when looking from a distance, but it warranted waking up Loïc our skipper. Ultimately, we passed it a long way off.
There is something magical about being at sea at night. No light pollution, meaning we could enjoy the view of the stars and the Milky Way. We felt so alive on the boat with the wind in our hair!

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