Berlin Express

Our adventure has come to an end: our beautiful ‘be’ has been sold. Our heart is heavy but we are also happy to see ‘be’ continuing her trip with her now owner.

We’re missing her already and treasure all the amazing experiences we were gifted to have on our voyage all the way from Australia to Europe. As well, we’re thanking our friends who sailed with us and made this trip even more special and to Mother Nature and the mighty oceans which treated us kindly and showed us true beauty.

New adventures are waiting but we know already that one day we’ll be sailing again …for sure!

All the best to all of you

Chloe & Stefan

After the last maintenance in October 2010, BE is still shining like new. Here are some photos from March 2011. A great boat and perfect home for a special crew…

PS: Some more photos in September 2008…

After 24651 nautical miles in 2 years, 8 months and 12 days Berlin Express has found a new home. We will start over in the Canary Islands! surrounded by ocean, close to Europe, large enough to offer everything and most of all: always warm… Thanks to everyone, who followed our trip! I will add some photos from Morocco and the Canaries but there will not be any big sailing for a while. Hope that Badger and Squirrel will work, EMS and all the other ideas we have. Please stay in contact with me over my regular email and maybe see you down here.

All the best

Chloe and Stefan

Running out of wind some 300 miles before the Canaries we stop in a small fishing harbour in Morocco. It is quite a different experience… and we love every bit of it.

Anchored just under the Gibraltar rock we’re waiting for the right winds to sail South, which proves a bit more tricky as expected because the weather in the Atlantic is all over the show at the moment…

PS: Here a photo of BE leaving Sardinia from our new friend Thomas.

I already thought, that I’d never be able to leave again while one storm goes over Sardina after the other. Had to stay 10 days in a marina because of anchoring restictions everywhere but met some nice people!

Yes, I was optimistic when I left because there was a Southerly lift predicted some 70 miles away. Maybe, I was a bit disappointed when this wind wasn’t there but I took it like man and started motoring through some calm patches. Certainly, I was a bit frustrated when the sea built and even under motor I hardly made any progress. Very much so, I was angry when the first thrunderstorms came blowing right in my face.

On day 4 I radioed a container ship and ask them to send a email to Chloe to let her and my parents know that I’ll be a bit late (I told them it would take me only 2-3 days).

Gosh I was happz when I saw Sardinia on the horizont and some 10 mile away, I started texting everyone thinking I would be snuggled up in an achorage soon. But I made this plan without the Sardinian biest! This one came out of nowwhere and blow again right in my face. I reefed down to storm sails but it kept on building, I had to bear away to make progress, then I had to start motorsailing not to miss Sardinia! I was reallz pissed off, when it ripped my storm sail! I didn’t really care that I ended up 20 miled from where I wanted to arrive… at least I made it!

I had this nifty little plan of elegantly sailing along the South coast of Sicily ro the W end ready to tackle the Western Med, but…. well, I ended up in Malta. What a place! Even I got all history, when I sailed past all these fortresses and old palasts… There is no anchoring in Valetta and a marina berth is about 50 Euros a day, so how lucky am I that I (again accidenty) befriended an old freidnly local sailor, who offered me to stay at his spot for free!

Had the most expensive internet session in my life with 3.5 Euros per 30min! but love the place… however still ready to get moving. Checking weather…

Easy as…. was running out of wind at the end but arrived safe and sound after about 3 days and 280 nm. The massive mount Etna was visible already 70nm offshore! No mafia in sight (so far;-)

Light Northerly winds predicted. Now is the time! …and this time it will be just me again. Me and BE!