Rio's Atlantic Passage: Two Purposes, One Yacht
Alexandra
Departing Port Leucate in early May 2025, Rio left with a clear logistical plan: a two-year cruise window, scheduled haul-outs for winter maintenance, and a sequence of marina berths and stopovers across Corsica, Sardinia, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands before the transatlantic crossing to Cape Verde. Provisions, spare parts and redundancy in critical systems were prioritized during the preparation phase, alongside a pragmatic itinerary designed to reduce time spent in high-cost Mediterranean ports while maximising shakedown miles for systems and crew training.
Departure and dual motivations
Aurelia and Anatole sailed from Port Leucate with two distinct but complementary objectives. For Aurelia—an artist, composer and singer—the voyage is a creative sabbatical focused on inspiration through landscapes and encounters. For Anatole, raised beside the New Caledonian lagoon and schooled in practical sailing, the trip represents an opportunity to deepen seamanship and test personal limits. The stated route and timing were shaped by these aims: a practical Atlantic circuit that can be completed within roughly two years, rather than the three-plus years required for a Pacific crossing from Lorient.
Genesis of the plan
The couple originally met in New Caledonia in 2012 and, after settling in Lorient in 2022, their long-term cruising project took form. Initial plans for a Pacific-bound journey were scaled back after technical and budgetary assessments suggested a larger investment—at least a 40-foot vessel and substantial fit-out—to safely tackle a three-year passage. Opting for an Atlantic round trip became the pragmatic compromise: meaningful distance, diverse destinations and a manageable timeframe.
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Boat search and the choice of Rio
Searching for the right platform involved visiting around fifteen 36-foot yachts across Brittany with no perfect match. A Sunshine class yacht in La Roche-Bernard briefly inspired confidence but missed key criteria. The decisive find came at Port-Leucate: a Sunshine named Rio. Despite the logistical challenge of readying a Mediterranean-based yacht while living in Lorient, Rio’s condition and intrinsic suitability convinced the pair to proceed.
Refit, preparation and systems work
Rio was hauled out for an extensive winter refit in 2024–2025. The couple prioritized running rigging replacement, mechanical and electrical reliability upgrades, hull preparation and fresh antifouling. This period also served as an immersive learning phase: Aurelia traded guitar strings for sandpaper and paint, personalising the interior for comfort and colour, while Anatole handled technical systems and project management.
Key boatyard tasks and upgrades
- Running rigging: replaced to ensure safety during long passages.
- Mechanical works: engine service, spare parts inventory and fuel filters.
- Electrical: battery bank checks, alternator servicing and shore-power diagnostics.
- Hull and bottom: antifouling application and structural checks following haul-out.
- Comfort upgrades: reupholstered cushions, refreshed paint and improved storage.
| Stage | Location | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Shakedown sails | Mediterranean coasts | Systems testing; crew training |
| Consolidation | La Gomera (La Palma area) | Provisioning; final checks before Atlantic |
| Ocean leg | Cape Verde → Atlantic crossing | Open-ocean experience; long swell exposure |
Mediterranean shakedown: practice before the ocean
Before committing to the Atlantic, Rio completed a measured shakedown across the western Mediterranean. Short hops and longer coastal legs through Corsica, Sicily, Sardinia, the Balearic Islands and Andalusia allowed the crew to refine watch routines, provisioning plans and onboard roles. A friend’s wedding in Sicily and summer family time in Mallorca became useful operational trials rather than distractions.
As the yacht passed Gibraltar, wildlife awareness and routing around cetacean groups—particularly transient orca sightings—entered the operational brief. The crew tracked local reports and adapted passage timing when necessary. Cultural stops also featured: Aurelia staged concerts in Lagos, Portugal and later on the Canary Islands, blending the artistic purpose with the cruising schedule.
Canary Islands rendezvous and final provisioning
On La Gomera’s port of San Sebastian the couple reunited with friends and completed last-minute provisioning and pharmacy optimisation before the leg to Cape Verde. Guests joined from Tenerife, and the social logistics of accommodating visiting crew were resolved alongside route planning and weather window selection for the transatlantic stretch.
GetBoat always keeps an eye on news related to sailing and seaside vacations, recognizing how route choices, maintenance planning and stopover logistics shape the quality of leisure time and the safety of every charter or private cruise.
Crossing outlook and wider implications
With Rio bound for Cape Verde and an Atlantic crossing planned thereafter, the voyage will expose the crew to long ocean swells and autonomous decision-making. The route is designed to minimise high-cost marina time early on, concentrate maintenance during winter haul-outs, and maximise creative and exploratory opportunities—exactly the balance sought by both sailors.
Impact on global tourism: the cruise itself is a microcase rather than a market mover, but it illustrates an ongoing trend—small, experience-driven voyages that prioritise authenticity over mass hospitality. For coastal destinations, this trend supports marinas, local charters and small-service economies rather than large-scale resort infrastructure.
If you are planning your next trip to the sea, you should definitely consider renting a boat (boat rentals, rent a boat, rent a yacht), as each inlet, bay, and lagoon is unique and tells you about the region just as much as the local cuisine, architecture, and language GetBoat.com
Start planning your next seaside adventure and make sure to book the best boat and yacht rentals with GetBoat before the opportunity sails away! The current news of Rio’s voyage is a local story with limited global disruption, but it demonstrates the planning mindset and equipment standards modern cruisers should emulate to keep safety, comfort and creative purpose aligned.
Highlights: a compact but thorough refit, the decision to prioritise an Atlantic itinerary over a Pacific odyssey, and the fusion of artistic pursuit with seamanship. Experiencing new coasts is multifaceted—one learns about culture, nature, the indescribable palette of local colors, the rhythm of life and the unique aspects of service at each stop. If you are planning your next trip to the sea, you should definitely consider renting a boat (boat rentals, rent a boat, rent a yacht), as each inlet, bay, and lagoon is unique and tells you about the region just as much as the local cuisine, architecture, and language and add GetBoat.com
In summary, Rio’s voyage blends practical logistics with personal ambition: a refit-led preparation, staged Mediterranean shakedowns, and a strategically timed passage to Cape Verde and across the Atlantic. The story reinforces important lessons for charterers and private owners—choose the right platform, budget for systems redundancy, and stage learning opportunities close to shore before open-ocean legs. For anyone seeking yacht charter or boat rental advice, platforms such as GetBoat offer transparent listings and filters that help match vessel make, model, ratings and budget to intended Destinations and activities. Whether a day sail, a long-term charter or a yacht sale, planning ahead around marinas, provisioning, and captain readiness is essential for memorable time on the beach, gulf or ocean. Fair winds and following seas.
