Almost fried the engine minutes out of Cartagena. After finishing the service, we left the seacocks closed — and only caught it once we were already underway.

This is the slow leg sailing southwest along the Spanish coast toward Motril Marina. Light air, glassy nights in open bays, and a passage that is more about reading the weather and picking shelter than making miles. After the engine scare, the rest of the trip settles into calm water, barely any wind, and sunsets that made the slow progress feel worth it.

We stop overnight at anchor in open bays that go flat, then push on when we can. Motril is the next pause for a few days before we keep working down the coast.

If you like real Mediterranean passages — the small mistakes, the glassy anchorages, and the unhurried boat life — you’re in the right place.

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We say goodbye to Canet-en-Roussillon and set off on a mission: reach Cartagena in just 6 days. That means a few overnight passages down the coast of Spain, and a forecast that just says "variable." So the plan is to make the best of whatever wind we get, and motor when it gives us nothing.

On this stretch of Mediterranean sailing we get it all: beautiful sunrises at sea, calm and gentle days, a bit of real sailing when the breeze shows up, and thunderstorms rolling in around us. Night watches, changing weather and the miles adding up.

This is what liveaboard sailing is really like when you're working to a deadline.

If you're enjoying the journey, subscribe and come along with an Aussie and a Kiwi as we keep sailing the Mediterranean on Helios. ⛵

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We found an electric sailing catamaran built from volcanic rock and recycled plastic bottles. First, we tour the factory, then the boat, then we take her sailing.

This episode starts at the Windelo yard to see how they build a durable, lightweight performance catamaran at a competitive price — with no extra cost for the reduced ecological impact. The hulls use basalt fibre from volcanic rock and PET foam from recycled plastic bottles, a composite sandwich the yard says cuts construction emissions by nearly 50% compared with traditional GRP.

From there we come aboard for a full tour of the interior living spaces and the exterior, then we go for a sail to feel what life is like on this vessel under passage and see first-hand how she performs in light airs. Silent electric propulsion, solar, hydrogeneration, and an easily driven hull are the other half of the story.

If you care about sustainable boatbuilding — or you just want to know whether a “plastic bottle boat” can actually sail — this is factory, tour, and sea trial in one.

What do you think of this approach versus conventional fibreglass? Tell us in the comments.

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We didn’t plan to come back to Canet-en-Roussillon. A few weeks ago the plan was to return west through the Balearic Islands.

Then a chance encounter with some fellow Aussies changed everything — and we found ourselves heading back to Canet, the marina where we first laid eyes on Helios in May 2023.

It’s only a day sail from Cap d’Agde, but this stop is different. Canet is where the whole adventure began. After more than 7,000 nautical miles around the Mediterranean, we’re returning one last time before we point Helios toward the Atlantic.

Join us for the passage, the approach into Canet, and the reason we decided we had to come back.

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After waiting a day for better weather and getting some rest, we leave at night, sailing to Cap d’Agde — the only window that keeps us clear of strong westerlies around Toulon.

This is the final leg of a week of sailing that has taken us from the west coast of Italy, near Naples, all the way to the Gulf of Lion in France. Night watches, a weather window we couldn’t ignore, and the promise of a few quiet days in Cap d’Agde.

Join us aboard Helios for the last miles of this crossing, the decision to depart after dark, and arrival on the French coast.

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Our visitors have gone and it’s time to get going.

This is as far east as we sail this season. From here we turn around and start heading west — west all the way to the Caribbean. First, though, we have a date in Canet in mid-August. With a break in the westerlies, we need to make haste and get moving as fast as we can.

Ahead of us is about four days of sailing, including a few overnight passages. This is real-life Med sailing and motorsailing: progress that can feel slower than a person on a bike, and a reminder that the Mediterranean isn’t the “big ocean” — until you’re trying to cross it against the clock.

Join us as we leave the east behind, pick up the westbound rhythm, and take the first real steps on the path that will eventually take Helios to the Caribbean.

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It’s time to leave Sardinia and cross the Tyrrhenian Sea to the small Italian island of Ponza.
This passage is pure soft sailing — light winds, gentle seas, and those quiet, beautiful hours at sea that make everything else feel worthwhile. Ponza may be small, but it carries a long and fascinating history, and for us it holds something even more special: a few days with Richard’s youngest son.

We arrive ready for the full force of an Italian summer on the water, but the crossing itself is calm, slow, and exactly what we needed.

After a short hop along the Maddalenas, we tuck into a secluded anchorage and slow right down — a few days away from the hectic world, with nothing but calm water, warm sand, and no schedule.

We swim, we paddle, and we kayak across to a beach where clothes are optional and cameras are off — so this one's a story you'll have to imagine more than watch.To beat the heat of the Mediterranean sun, we try out our hats from Aussie Chiller — giving them a good dip in the water and letting them do their thing to keep us cool through the hottest part of the day.

After a few days of quiet, we lift anchor and head back to one of our favourite bays. The Maddalenas really are something else when it comes to finding a snug spot out of the weather.👇 Join us for the adventure

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Crystal-clear bays, a quick paddle to a quiet beach, and pizza on the mainland — this is what a day in the Maddalena National Park really looks like.

We spend a relaxed day exploring one of Sardinia's most beautiful cruising grounds. The Maddalenas are known for their easy-access anchorages and stunning coastline, and this episode captures exactly that — a morning sail into the park, finding our spot in a lively bay, launching the kayak for a beach stop, and wrapping up back on the mainland with beer, pizza and a parcel pickup.

No drama, just life on the water in one of the Med's best-kept secrets.

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We wake up to a calm, idyllic morning at Isola Piana on the northwest tip of Sardinia. An early start takes us across the top of the island toward the Maddalena archipelago, where we’ll be meeting family in a few days.

The quiet beginning soon turns into a fresh sea breeze and a cracking sail across the bay and down into the Maddalenas. We drop the anchor in familiar waters at Palau.

The next morning we head into town to check parcel delivery options and do a bit of shopping.

Join us for another chapter of life aboard Helios as we continue exploring Sardinia.

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We're leaving Menorca — with or without the vang part. 200 nautical miles stand between us and Sardinia. This is our longest passage yet: two days at sea, sailing from the Balearics to Sardinia. It's only a short hop compared to what's coming (hello, Atlantic), but it's the perfect chance to test new watch systems and see how we handle extended time offshore.

Along the way, we dodge boats towing entire fish farms, settle into our night-watch rhythm, and get the best welcome Sardinia could offer — dolphins at the bow.If you've ever wondered what life is really like on a two-day sail, come aboard.📍 Route: Cala Addaiia, Menorca → Sardinia (~200nM)

⏱️ Duration: 2 days at sea
🐬 Highlight: Dolphin escort into Sardinian waters
🔧 Vang Update: Watch S04E16 to see if the part arrived

We broke our boom vang off Mallorca's north coast — now we're in Menorca waiting for the replacement part.Our next stop is the stunning Cala Addaia, a protected bay hidden behind a narrow, tricky channel. We're here for one reason: to collect a package that could fix our vang. But we're also on a deadline — family is waiting in Sardinia, and if the part doesn't show up, we'll have to leave without it. While we wait (and stress), we explore this beautiful corner of Menorca — grabbing a coffee at the local café, stocking up at the tiny supermarket, and soaking in the scenery of one of the Balearics' best-kept secrets. Will the part arrive before we have to go? Let's find out.

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We’re on the move again! We are sailing from Mallorca towards Menorca — the next stop on our way to Sardinia to meet up with family in a few weeks.

With very light winds, we end up motoring much of the way, but it leads us to a magical remote bay that opens straight out to the ocean — perfect for a peaceful overnight stop. The next day we sail into Badia de Fornells, one of Menorca’s famously protected bays. The calm, authentic seaside town has such a relaxed and beautiful vibe — exactly why we love cruising these islands.

Join us for scenic sailing, peaceful anchorages, and that classic Mediterranean cruising feel 🌊

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After refuelling and filling up with water in Soller, we discover there’s no space to anchor. Time to keep sailing along Mallorca’s dramatic, rugged coastline in search of the perfect overnight spot.
We end up in the beautiful and well-protected Port de Pollenca – an absolute gem of an anchorage! This turns out to be the ideal place to finally install and test our new Momentum Marine electric outboard on the EZRaft dinghy "Bobby" for the very first time.

Jude takes charge of rigging it up, and we’re both blown away by how different (and enjoyable!) the electric experience is compared to our old petrol outboard. Quiet, smooth, responsive – it’s a total game-changer for dinghy life aboard Helios.

Watch as we explore this stunning part of Mallorca under sail and put the new electric propulsion through its paces.

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We leave Palma Bay and set off along the beautiful north coast of Mallorca. In a stiff breeze, the boom vang suddenly breaks with a loud bang, forcing us to drop sails and motor the rest of the day.
We find a stunning anchorage that’s only suitable in very calm conditions — luckily, that’s exactly what we have, so we settle in for a peaceful night. The next morning, we head into Soller to take on fuel and water. Unfortunately, there’s no space to anchor, so we head back out and continue east along the coast… destination still to be decided!
Join us for real cruising ups and downs, scenic sailing, and life aboard Helios in the Balearics.

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We’ve had an amazing time exploring Ibiza’s crystal-clear bays, but it’s time to keep heading east toward family reunions and a very delayed parcel in Palma de Mallorca.

This episode features a beautiful downwind sail across to Mallorca, stunning anchorages near Palma, and the saga of our long-overdue battery for the new electric outboard motor. FedEx played ping-pong with the delivery, but we finally get everything sorted and head into Palma to collect it!

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Join us as we sail into the breathtaking northwest corner of Ibiza, dropping anchor in some of the most beautiful and sheltered bays in the Balearics. With fantastic sunny weather, crystal-clear turquoise water so transparent you can see the seabed 7 metres below, and fish darting all around the boat — this is the Mediterranean cruising dream come true.

In this episode we spend a relaxing week exploring these stunning anchorages, paddling in inviting seas, enjoying the laid-back island vibe, and wandering through charming local towns. If you dream of casting off the dock lines, living aboard with your loving partner, and discovering paradise bays like this… this video is for you.

Whether you’re planning your own escape or just love travelling vicariously through beautiful sailing destinations, this one will have you itching to get out there.

What’s inside:

Anchoring in stunning northwest Ibiza bays
Crystal clear water & abundant sea life
Sunny days, paddling, and relaxed island exploring
Real liveaboard cruising life aboard Helios

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After a refreshing morning workout in the cockpit, we set sail back to Ibiza! This time, we head into the stunning Old Town (Dalt Vila) for some exploration.

The crossing is wonderfully calm, and we're thrilled when a pair of dolphins come to play right beside the boat as we approach our anchorage.

We treat ourselves to a delicious vegetarian paella with a view, and catch-up with our good friends Stu & Di from @thecampbellgamble. There's plenty of boaty camaraderie as Stu shows Richard how to clean a carburettor and Jude makes them a new outboard cover. This is what the sailing community is all about — helping each other out on the water!

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We finally set sail to Ibiza for the first time! In this episode, we explore the charming town of Sant Eulalia (Santa Eulària), with its beautiful streets, marina, and relaxed vibe.
After a few wonderful days, a southerly swell forces us to make a move. We head back to our favourite island — Formentera — and anchor in the stunning turquoise waters off Es Pujols. This picture-perfect bay and lively seaside town made the perfect escape.
Come along as we sail between these two beautiful Balearic Islands, enjoy the views, and find our perfect anchorage.

Locations:
• Sant Eulalia, Ibiza
• Es Pujols, Formentera

If you're planning a sailing trip to Ibiza or Formentera, this video will give you a great feel for both places!

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