Unfortunately, I didn’t spend a lot of time on Capri. Not because I didn’t want to, oh no, I’d happily sail the entire way around the world, but, but… well such is life. The first thing I experienced was the fantastic hospitality Capris owners showed us. Despite there being very little spare room aboard, we felt truly welcome. Some will wonder- how can there be virtually no spare room aboard a 40-foot boat with only 2 on board? Yes, well, hmmm…. Aside from the two persons, there’s also:

 

Extra sail, extra second sail, sail repair wares?

Extra engine spares

Pots, pans, plates and cups

Extra knives and forks so more can sup!

 

Three tool chests, I think

Plus one in the dink

Vacuum packing machine, screws and rope

Paper charts of the world – enough to cope

Rice, pasta, potatoes all asunder

Aboard Capri there is no hunger

 

Lots of pillows, duvets and sheets

Stored everywhere the eye meets

Books, pilot books, Ice cube machine!

Such things I only find in my dreams,

Even an angle-grinder

Should a shroud round the mast winder

 

I was speechless, I hadn’t a clue

But Grazyna swears: “I saw it, it’s true!”

There was a baby grand,

tucked away in the loo!

 

Our thirst to quench,

Vinni acted serving wench

Cold beer she dished up

In a real glass, not a cup

 

Everywhere I looked,

By god I was hooked,

There was wine

Served both white and red when we dined

 

Clothes, shoes, Vacuum cleaner!!

Water, Diesel – even sunscreener!

Gloves, hats, lifevests’

Only worn by us for a test!

 

Polish kielbasa for dinner?

With this fare we won’t get any thinner

A spot more wine?

Yes please – I opine

 

 

Black and white chocolate,

For dessert, of course, mate

For breakfast – eggs she said?

Or fresh baked bread?

 

You name it¨

They got it

This floating home

Had we brought a dog – they would have had a bone.

 

But Capri sails MAJESTICALLY. All the above and the weight is evenly stowed so the waterline is perfectly horizonal. She moves as if she is a 50 foot long-keeled boat. Very comfortable slow-motion even in heavy choppy seas.

 

Oh how easy it is to admire such a boat – modern and solid and capable of anything.

But back to our welcome – we were met in style: first – a drink. What would you like?  Large or small?  A double perhaps? Ready for another? Did I remember to mention the ice cube machine? It is warm here, comfortably warm so everything happens in the cockpit – a wonderful place to relax in the long evenings with a drink in your hand. Passing squalls don’t bother us as we have the bimini up. The discussion is, of course, about the TRIP – how has it been and what now? All the pains and aches, problems big and small, stories from the real life on the ocean. We quickly forget the cold grey weather at home, political crisis the world is constantly in, the fact that the swine production I Jutland is falling. Not because we are in Paradise where everything functions perfectly, no-no, we know everything is happening out there, but we don’t turn on the radio or the TV (Capri has both), so we aren’t bombarded with news, fake news or news without meaning. On board, the atmosphere is relaxed – stress is an unknown word. Smiling faces from early morning until lights out. Easier perhaps if you are a sailor – then you know that not everything will be perfect.

We are all deeply touched by the destruction Irma has wrought. Despite the 6 months since Irma passed through, we see big and small boats by the hundreds on the beaches, holed hulls and broken masts. Unbelievably sad to see – the same story on land. Most houses are without roofs or windows – some totally destroyed. For the locals, life is difficult – very difficult. The economies are all tourist related, but the tourists aren’t coming because everything is destroyed – including the harbors. It is a good thing we are independent of the harbors. We lie at anchor and are self-sufficient. Our solar charges our batteries and our water-makers serves up 8 gallons of fresh water per hour. So we have electricity for everything and fresh water enough for all of us to takes long baths after a morning and evening swim. The sun goes down quickly this far south, but the evenings are long- just like in Denmark. There is no long red glow of a sunset here – but we have solar lamps that light up our cockpit – wonderful relaxing light.

We bathe in the warm ocean every day – especially the mornings so we can get our lazy bodies to wake up. Here the water is almost as warm as a bathtub. We tried but didn’t get in much snorkeling – unfortunately. But we couldn’t manage everything in just 1 weeks. We said good-bye in Danish/Polish with hugs and kisses and an extra 20 kg of sea charts to take back with us. But we came home wonderfully sun-tanned and a feeling that we had contributed to the TRIP: