We awoke from our first night aboard Sea Cloud in the south end of the Peloponnesus peninsula, where there was sunshine and calm water. After breakfast, the expedition staff introduced themselves and Captain Nemerzhitskiy brought us to the Spanker Deck for a description of winds and weather and a play-by-play of hoisting the sails. Once the sails were set, they provided a fantastic photo opportunity. Chief Mate John had a short class for willing passengers who wanted to help take in sails later in the day. After all the excitement of our first sail, National Geographic certified photo instructor Max Seigal gave an introduction to photography. After a relaxing yet informational morning, we had lunch on the Lido Deck, where we took in views of the Ionian Sea.
The afternoon had time for all of us to acclimate to the ship, find our favorite spots aboard, and participate in the time-honored tradition of siesta. Afterward, we heard a presentation on the “Myth of Maps.” And then we helped take in the sails! Passengers who had taken the course were invited to help pull lines and rush around the deck to get an authentic Sea Cloud-crew perspective. Thanks to our passengers and the crew, we were able to set our course for Katakolon/Olympia, knowing that we had some true Olympians aboard.
The welcome cocktails were a treat for our weary sailors, and then we were introduced to Sea Cloud officers. We wrapped up our day with an exceptional dinner served by Chef de Cuisine Maik Albrecht.
