Soul Sailing – Sometimes the best way to recharge both mind and body is simply to let nature set the course
After 22 months on land, our Jolie Fleur was finally back where she belongs—at sea. ⛵
Work has been intense, building the robotics business, so sailing had to wait. My wife and I weren’t entirely sure how she would respond after such a long pause. She floated. She sailed beautifully. Sometimes, that’s all the reassurance you need. Together, we set course along the stunning Istrian coastline.
🚫 No robots. No AI. No screens demanding attention.
⚡ An electrical fault took out the wind vane and autopilot, leaving us to hand-steer for eight days along Croatia’s Adriatic coast. Our little boat doesn’t even have an electric anchor winch, so every anchoring meant hauling the anchor by hand. Physical. Demanding. Sometimes exhausting. But also deeply engaging. Every maneuver required attention, teamwork, and presence. What first felt like a setback became a reminder of why I fell in love with sailing in the first place: not because it is easy, but because it reconnects you with the wind, the sea, your surroundings—and yourself.
🌊 Just wind and sails. The rhythm of the sea. Warm summer days. Crystal-clear anchorages. Dolphins, a sea turtle, and even a family of swans sharing the journey.
➡️ Technology is extraordinary. It enables much of what I do every day, and I genuinely believe in its potential. But every now and then, stepping away from it reminds us that not everything needs optimizing.
❗ Sometimes the best way to recharge both mind and body is simply to let nature set the course.
Trip summary
Distance: 331.6 km / 179.0 nm
Duration: 173.8 h total, 47.2 h moving
Average speed: 1.9 km/h
