Today we present Alex, the youngest member of the crew, but with excellent sailing and sled fishing skills, for the second year in a row in a Capetan delivery crew, the soft-spoken and grooming master for bearded men.
What is your sailing story so far?
It's not really a story because I discovered sailing quite recently, but every outing is a story in itself.
By 2017 I was invited to a holiday at sea by my fiancee's brother. As it seemed different from the holidays I used to organise year after year, I decided to give it a try. I'm so glad I did it, I found a new passion.
What made you want to go out to sea again?
After my 2017 holiday, spent in the Ionian Sea, aboard a catamaran, I decided to change the pattern of the boring holidays I used to take year after year on the seaside. The following spring I decided to attend a sailing school and acquire skipper's licence. I wanted to be able to go out to sea on my own.
How did you start sailing?
In 2018, in April, half a year after my first sailing experience, through Capetan, I attended the Aegean Yachting School in Kavala Greece, a course accredited by the RYA-Royal Yachting Association. Freshly graduated from the course, I chartered in the same year, through CapetanCharter.com, a catamaran from Athens and visited Saronica with some friends.
Who do you generally go out to sea with?
Basically, I go out to sea with acquaintances, friends and other enthusiasts of this sport, to various events of training or charter.
How did you come to make this delivery?
Last year I also participated in a delivery on a shorter route, Ibiza-Athens, also with the guys from CapetanThis year we received a proposal from Panos to participate in a Capetan delivery.
What attracted you to such an adventure?
I was most attracted by offshore sailing and visiting several countries on a boat. Besides these aspects, I plan to take a new step in sailing and that is to take the Yachtmaster Offshore sailing course, and such a delivery brings me a lot of experience and confidence in offshore sailing.
How did the delivery experience start?
Everything went ok. I even witnessed the catamaran being put in the water and took delivery the same day.
How has the weather affected you?
The weather hit us pretty hard. After taking delivery of the catamaran we waited almost a week for the right weather to cross Biscay Bay. We caught the right weather and sailed non-stop to Gibraltar, where we stayed in the marina of La Linea de la Conception for two days, as the wind was blowing hard from the east and it was impossible to make headway. Then we also took shelter from the easterly winds in Cala de San Pablo near Almeria, where we stayed for a day. We also stayed for a while in a bay in Ibiza... otherwise we had a good wind.
What do your friends and family at home think of what you do?
Family and friends are supportive, constantly asking for updates and pictures. They wish they could be here with me or in my place, but until then they are waiting for me to get home.
How often do you communicate?
We communicate every day when we're near the shore and have a phone signal. We've also had 2-3 day crossings with total lack of connection to civilization, it's to be expected.
How do you feel, being away from home, in these times of crisis?
It's hard to describe how I feel. In some ways I'd rather be on the boat and sailing than having to stay cooped up in the house, but I'm away from the people I love and I wish I could have been a support to them in this difficult time and be together.
How do you feel the impact of COVID-19 at sea? How has it affected you?
It has affected us almost from the start of delivery from France until now. On the day of departure I went to a fishing shop to buy some line and bait. When I got there, the shop was closed due to new regulations in France - it was the first day the shops were closed. Then, in Portugal, we tried to stop in Cascais, but were refused entry to the marina by the Portuguese coastguard. Lucky for us, we were allowed to enter the marina in Spain, with some restrictions of course, but at least we were able to shop and stock up on water. Only one person was allowed to leave the boat to shop, otherwise we were forbidden. Another unpleasant experience due to the virus was on the island of Cabrera near Palma de Majorca. We stopped to take shelter from a low pressure cyclone in a beautiful bay where we tied up to a buoy. Shortly after securing our boat, we were visited by the Guardia Civil and told we couldn't stay as the whole island was totally closed, including the anchorages. We had no choice but to make the crossing to Italy and escape the bad weather as quickly as possible. At the time of writing we are in the Sicily area and are running low on water supplies, but we have been refused entry to the marina for supplies. We will continue our journey to Greece where we will most likely spend 14 days in quarantine, but we will see what the exact situation is when we arrive in Greek territorial waters.
I try to stay positive and optimistic that this crisis will pass quickly, and sailing helps me a lot to disconnect, both during this period and in terms of future plans.
I know you have a business in Romania. How do you cope with this and what can you do from the sea to support it?
Barber Society is my business in Cluj-Napoca. It is a salon for men - barbershop. We offer classic, hot towel cutting and shaving services. It's a business I started together with my fiancée in the summer of 2016.
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic and the business profile we had to close temporarily. We strive to take care of our staff at this time; they are our most valuable resource. We are affected quite badly, but we are optimistic that this period will pass as quickly as possible. We are aware that most businesses have been affected. We are confident and will get through it, then plan our next holidays at sea.
What has been your favourite moment of the experience so far?
How could I choose just one? Off the top of my head, offshore sailing, night charters and those times when our friends the dolphins came to visit.
What is or has been the hardest part so far?
I think the hardest part will come after we get to Greece. I'm talking about the possible quarantine in Greece and the uncertainties of returning home.
What are your plans after you get home?
I wish I could say anything else, but I have to be realistic and say that I'm going into a 14-day self-isolation period.
Send a thought home to those who follow you
Remain confident that this period of crisis will pass quickly. Let's each contribute what we can, so #statiacasa!
