Two weeks ago, my children and I were lucky enough to take part in one of the most incredible journeys—one that, to be honest, I hadn’t even dared to dream of!
Just a few months ago, I had no idea that projects like this even existed.
And then, through a magical turn of events and with the help of people near and dear to me, we found ourselves in Italy. 7 days, 8 yachts, 75 people, and a million emotions, impressions, and realizations.
Friendly Regatta is meeting interesting, joyful, and kind people.
Friendly Regatta is strict yet caring, fun, and brave captains.
Friendly Regatta is lively, open, and patient camp counselors.
Friendly Regatta is white sails, wind, heel, waves, fenders (all 8 of them), salty hair, bright sun, a full moon and an eclipse, a shower with a pump-out button, and mesmerizing, magical landscapes all around.
Friendly Regatta is a white party on the beach, when no yacht except the flagship has its anchor lights on, and the caps cheerfully head out to the boats in their dinghies while you watch from the shore as the lights flicker on one by one.
Friendly Regatta is singing along to a guitar on the beach late into the night.
Friendly Regatta is morning energizers and ubiquitous Squirrels.
Friendly Regatta is cheerful, loud kids who don’t touch a single gadget for an entire week—rushing to morning workouts, swimming from boat to boat, seeing adults not as ‘chaperones’ but as good friends, fearlessly jumping into the water, riding pirate swings, feeding seagulls, catching fish and jellyfish, sleeping on deck, inventing games, and eating endless ice cream.
Friendly Regatta is… childhood wonder and a bright spark in the eyes of adults—something that, unfortunately, is a rare sight in our ‘adult world.’
Friendly Regatta @regattaforfriends is love forever! And yes, I think you already get that this is #MoreThanYachting.
Nina and Seryozha, as well as every single person involved—thank you so much for bringing me back to my childhood, lighting my own ‘anchor light,’ and showing me what a real team truly is!
Sending big hugs to everyone and saying, ‘Until we meet again!’
