Some days don’t need many words. Just time spent sailing with a little breeze and the rhythm of life at sea. Today was one of those slow, sun-warmed days spent coasting lazily along the Ligurian coastline. The Med shimmered in every shade of blue, boats of all kinds dotting the horizon: sleek motor yachts,...

Traveling to Sanremo, the site of Karen’s very first trip to Europe back in 1997, when she attended SPIE Europe to present a talk on light-activated adhesives, was always going to stir some nostalgia. Our first day was lovely: we wandered the winding alleyways of La Pigna, the medieval old town perched above the sea. But...

We set off for a sunny, stunning sail along the Riviera with glass-blue water, postcard-perfect coastline, and sailboats dotting the horizon. Unfortunately, the breeze didn’t do much at around 5 knots for most of the trip, so we motor-sailed most of the way into Menton. The glassy morning seas, however, did turn Kora’s deck...

If med mooring were an Olympic sport, Doug just took gold!🏅Sliding Kora into a tight slip in the sparkling Port Vauban. Entering the tightly packed marina we were surrounded by multi-million-dollar mega yachts, but Doug navigated the narrow fairways like a seasoned pro. One wrong move, and we’d be writing checks for more than...

The day started with a splash – literally – as Buzz took a quick dive to free a rogue bit of rope wrapped around our port propeller. Cool, calm, and collected, he had it sorted out in no time. With that handled, we raised sail and cruised toward Cannes in a breezy 16 knots, basking in...

Arrived in Fréjus, a lively harbor town where seaside restaurants buzz with energy and the scent of fresh seafood floats on the breeze. Marina Fréjus is a tight and bustling harbor, and Doug handled it like a pro, cooly maneuvering Kora into our fairway (twice!) while letting other boats shuffle in and out. As we drew closer...

Today’s postcard comes from Porquerolles, the largest and most visited of the Îles d’Hyères – a dreamy archipelago off the southern coast of France, nestled between Toulon and Saint-Tropez. We anchored off Plage d’Argent, where aquamarine waters sparkled under warm skies, and paddleboards became our taxis to shore. The anchorage was blissfully calm, shared...

We’ve officially fallen for the charm of Sanary-sur-Mer with its colorful pastel façades, charming old port, and a timeless blend of Provençal architecture and seaside vibrance that feels straight out of a postcard.  Wednesday mornings in this town mean one thing: the dockside market stretching along the port in a swirl of color, scents,...

We’re off! Had a very smooth push away from the docks for our first sail with light winds. As the day progressed Kora stretched her wings, gennaker up, gliding along the Provence coastline of France at a steady 6 to 7 knots. Picture-perfect views, calm seas, and the Côte d’Azur welcoming us by early...

After a full day of howling winds, the skies calmed just in time for Kora’s grand return to the water – and what a moment it was. Watching her suspended by the crane, gliding through the boatyard like a flying elephant (a graceful one!), was awe-inspiring and nerve-wracking all at once. We held our...