We’re enjoying our last two nights in Tuscany, nestled into a cove on the Monte Argentario Peninsula, in a little place called Il Caruso. The views are spectacular, but with a heat wave rolling into Italy, the temperatures are climbing, so we’re spending plenty of time leaping in and out of the water to stay cool.
We’re also buzzing with excitement aboard Kora because our crew is about to grow by a few very special people! First to arrive in just a few days – my brother Steve and his family: Catherine, Oscar (13), and Chelsea (9), all the way from Sydney, Australia. (Steve and crew spotted in full prep mode in pic below 😁). Chelsea, the youngest in our family’s next-gen lineup, is pure sunshine – adorable, energetic, and totally irresistible. Chelsea, sunset soirées with Aunty Karen await! Oscar, meanwhile, brings a brilliant mind and a knack for deep questions – a perfect intellectual sparring partner for Uncle Doug. Doug’s gearing up for the challenge… and hopes to show that sailing the seas can rival the thrill of skiing the slopes! And while the quiet may be gone, I have a feeling the laughter will more than makeup for it!
And that’s just the start. Soon after, my amazing cousin Khali (pic below) joins the crew with her partner Cam. Okay, yes, the photo I found is from when Khali was little, but let’s not let “grown adult with a child of her own” ruin the nostalgia. (I still remember bringing little Khali – with her adorable ringlet curls – to my elementary school for show-and-tell, like she was my very own baby doll. Haha!) Oh, and then comes our first-born, Kaitlyn – ready to add her spark to the adventure. She’s 24 now, but I couldn’t resist a cute little kid pic, too! And finally… the queen herself: my mum! Take a look at the pic, and you’ll know where I get my good looks from!!! 😉 Of course, accompanied by my dad! And if you know him, you’ll understand that the boat will never be in better shape after his visit!!!
With so many VIPs onboard, I’ve gone into full safety-officer mode. Fire, flood, and safety equipment diagrams prepared ✅ Review of the use of all equipment ✅ Knot practice ✅ (Well, mostly. Fender knots are my specialty, but bowlines … still working on it 😫) Kora’s well-stocked, well-loved, and ready for sailing, swimming, and safety lessons aplenty. And don’t worry – I’ll also be pulling out all the stops to maintain my rep as Fun Aunty Karen™!!!
Between prep sessions, Doug and I have been paddleboarding the coastline, discovering rocky caves and a sea full of fish.
Kate – remember that enormous bunch of parsley we bought for €0.50 and thought we’d never finish? Turns out it makes fantastic fish food. Fish now pre-seasoned (thx to the parsley 😂) and everything… if only we were allowed to fish here!
Let the adventure begin. Bring on the laughter, the learning, and the sea-salted memories!!!!!
