👉Birthdays, Bastille Day and Bouncing Radar

Well it was not short of mayhem and mishaps as we enjoyed a week with Joe!

Click on the title to read more

7/18/20266 min read

As I write these blogs each week, reflecting on everything we’ve experienced, I’m realising that no week aboard Novera is ever the same. No plan goes 100%, no day ends quite as it begins, and somewhere within that almost‑chaos lies the beauty of this adventure. That’s exactly what it is — an adventure. A constant lesson in adapting to whatever nature, the weather and sheer chance decide to throw at you. And this week, things were quite literally thrown at us.

A Birthday at Sea

It all began with my birthday — my first celebrated while living aboard Novera. Birthdays have always been special to me, but this one was made even more memorable because Joe flew out to join us. Even better, his nine‑day visit meant he’d also be here for Tim’s birthday before heading home.

Our first sail together was a gentle one. We suspected that first‑night excitement, a birthday celebration and a few drinks might result in slightly sore heads the next morning, so a short hop seemed wise. It also gave Joe the chance to take the helm of Novera for the very first time.

When the wind disappeared, we dropped anchor off the little islands opposite Marseille, opened a cold beer and settled into holiday mode. Anchoring at this time of year comes with its own entertainment: boats squeezing into impossible gaps, jet skis weaving through swimmers, daredevils leaping off cliffs, and dogs deciding it’s time for a cooling dip. My favourite was one very cautious dog who dipped a single paw into the sea before finally committing.

Then, just as we finished taking our sunset photos, the weather decided to spice things up!

Lightning, Chaos and Teamwork

Lightning is magical from land. Sitting beneath a very tall mast in the middle of the sea while it strikes all around you… less magical. I’ve seen far too many videos of boats being hit.

Our peaceful evening suddenly became one of those stories we’ll be telling for years. Thirty‑knot gusts tore through the anchorage, boats dragged their anchors, people shouted over the wind trying to avoid collisions, and lightning cracked across the sky.

Moments like these remind you how quickly conditions can change — and how important teamwork (and staying calm) really are.

Lifejackets went on, the anchor came up, and Tim calmly guided us through the maze of boats while Joe and I did our best to be helpful… by pointing excitedly at every lightning strike and shouting, “Wow! Did you see that?” Thankfully, Tim had already spotted the changing clouds and insisted we put away the sunshades earlier. Once again, preparation paid off. As the Scouts say: expect the unexpected.

A Perfect Morning, a Perfect Bay

The next morning couldn’t have been more different. Calm seas, blue skies and just enough breeze for another sail. We were heading towards Bandol and Toulon when we stumbled across a stunning bay near Cassis — crystal‑clear water beneath towering limestone cliffs.

The boys launched Little Nova (our tender) and went off to explore. The town was beautiful, apparently, but with nowhere suitable to leave the tender they soon returned. No hardship — it simply meant G&Ts on deck, plenty of people‑watching and, thankfully, no storms. As the day‑trippers left, the bay emptied until only a handful of boats remained. It was one of those peaceful evenings that make life at anchor so special.

Of course, peace never lasts long aboard Novera…

The Radar Incident

On our sail into Sanary‑sur‑Mer, the day quite literally threw something at us.

With a healthy breeze filling both sails, Novera was charging along beautifully. Everything was perfectly trimmed, the telltales streaming just as they should, when suddenly…

BANG.

Our 15kg radar, mounted 15 metres up the mast decided it had had enough. The rivets failed and it came crashing down, bouncing off the tender before landing on deck just feet from us. The circular top flew through the air and Joe somehow caught it like Captain America catching his shield.

It could have been a very different story.

Once the shock faded, laughter took over especially when Joe broke the silence with, “Alexa… play Radar Love.”

Sailing teaches you to stay firmly in the present. There’s rarely time to dwell on what’s just happened because the next job already needs doing.

Which became obvious a few minutes later when I confidently untied what I thought was one of our fenders… only to watch another bounce off the stern and disappear into the sea.

Really?

Time to put our man‑overboard practice into action. Tim spun Novera around while Joe expertly hooked it with the boat hook. We may have lost a radar, but at least we saved the fender.

Bastille Day Magic

Sanary‑sur‑Mer itself was a wonderful surprise. We arrived just in time for the Bastille Day celebrations, and the whole town came alive with music, markets, marching bands and an incredible atmosphere. Watching the fireworks from Novera later that evening was the perfect end to a fantastic couple of days.

And for those who know me… yes, there was a market. And yes, I bought another pair of shoes.

Porquerolles: Peace at Last

From there we swapped bustling streets for complete tranquillity as we sailed to Porquerolles.

The contrast was huge. After days of crowds, celebrations and soaring temperatures, we found ourselves surrounded by stunning turquoise water. We spent the afternoon swimming, paddleboarding and trying to cool off in the 37‑degree heat.

There was of course a memorable moment when we paddled ashore for a beer at the beach bar. After teasing me for packing a dress in the dry bag to throw over my swimsuit, Tim discovered that “beach bar” didn’t necessarily mean “shirt optional.”

Faced with either missing out on a cold beer or wearing my sparkly blue scarf as a makeshift top, the scarf won. Unsurprisingly, he wore it with complete confidence while Joe and I laughed until we cried. I have to admit… he absolutely rocked the look.

What Life Aboard Really Is

When people ask what life aboard is really like, it’s difficult to explain.

Yes, there are incredible places, beautiful anchorages and unforgettable sunsets.

But it’s also the unexpected moments, the storms, the mishaps, the laughter after things go wrong, and the memories you make with the people you love — that make this journey so special.

Whether it’s lightning lighting up the night sky or a radar deciding to leap off the mast, the best adventures are rarely the ones that go exactly to plan. They’re the ones you’ll still be laughing about years later.

Closing This Chapter

Joe heads home in a few days, and we’ll be returning home ourselves for four weeks while the Mediterranean enjoys its busiest and hottest part of the summer. It will also allow our Schengen days to reset before we continue our adventure.

I’m feeling a little sad that this chapter is ending, but equally excited to spend precious time with family and friends before we return in September. Then it’s onwards to Corsica and Elba for our final eight weeks of sailing this season, before Novera is lifted safely onto the hard for winter.

For now though, there are still a few more sunsets, a few more swims and, knowing us… probably a few more stories waiting to happen.

If you want to chat or share a comment why not email me hayley@sailingnovera.com