Kind of Blue SAILING

From the cobalt calderas of the Tyrrhenian Sea to the precipitous limestone cliffs of Positano and Capri, Kind of Blue SAILING delivers a masterclass in classic Mediterranean coastal seamanship. Helmed by seasoned Italian skipper and maritime educator Alfredo Contaldo aboard Kind of Blue—a versatile Beneteau Oceanis Clipper 393—the channel bridges the gap between picturesque Italian holiday voyaging and rigorous technical pilotage. Whether deconstructing the high-stress mechanics of Mediterranean stern-to mooring in crowded quays or navigating the deep volcanic depths of the Pontine and Aeolian archipelagos, Contaldo provides sailors with an honest, technically grounded window into handling a mid-sized cruiser along one of the world's most alluring yet unforgiving coastlines.

Key Takeaways

• Channel Ethos & Focus: Authentic Mediterranean coastal navigation, hands-on docking diagnostics, and nautical education led by Italian skipper Alfredo Contaldo across the Gulf of Naples, Pontine Islands, and Sicily.
• The Flagship Vessel: Kind of Blue, a 39-foot Beneteau Oceanis Clipper 393 configured with a deep-fin keel, Volvo Penta D2-55 inboard diesel, and optimized deck hardware for both single-handed passages and instructional cruising.
• Operational Milestones & Legacy: Comprehensive route documentation across Capri, Sorrento, Amalfi, Ponza, Ventotene, and the Aeolian Islands, culminating in the strategic sale of Kind of Blue to prepare for next-generation offshore projects.

⚓ Quick Specs & Channel Vitals

The operational framework of Kind of Blue SAILING reflects an emphasis on disciplined seamanship, practical navigation skills, and cruising self-sufficiency in high-density European waters.

Meet the Crew: Alfredo Contaldo at the Helm

Unlike transient travel vloggers who purchase sailboats on an impulse, Alfredo Contaldo approaches maritime video production from a solid foundation of professional seamanship and pedagogical experience. Operating out of the Campania region in southern Italy, Contaldo has dedicated decades to understanding the complex microclimates, thermal winds, and navigational idiosyncrasies of the central Tyrrhenian Sea.

Alfredo Contaldo (Skipper, Nautical Educator & Content Creator)

As the principal skipper of Kind of Blue, Alfredo Contaldo serves as captain, navigator, deck officer, and onboard mechanic. His maritime background is deeply tied to Italian yachting culture, where recreational boating licenses—most notably the rigorous Patente Nautica oltre 12 miglia (unlimited offshore license)—demand a mastery of traditional nautical cartography, dead reckoning, celestial navigation, and tidal calculations. Contaldo translated this technical expertise directly into his video channels, creating a dual presence where cruising vlogs on Kind of Blue SAILING complement analytical classroom-grade nautical courses on his primary digital channels.

On camera, Contaldo avoids over-dramatized emergencies in favor of measured, educational commentary. His watchkeeping routine emphasizes preemptive risk assessment: setting spring lines before docking, calculating drift angles in gusty harbours, monitoring seabed topography on sonar, and methodically briefing crew members before dropping anchor. When operating single-handed, he demonstrates tight halyard and sheet control from the cockpit, using line jammers, self-tailing winches, and bow thruster pulses with deliberate precision.

⛵ Fleet Forensics: s/v Kind of Blue (Beneteau Oceanis Clipper 393)

The centerpiece of the channel is Kind of Blue, a Beneteau Oceanis Clipper 393. Conceived by the renowned French naval architecture studio Berret-Racoupeau and constructed at Beneteau's Vendée shipyards, the 393 earned an enduring reputation as one of the most balanced production coastal cruisers of the early 2000s. Combining a moderate displacement hull, high-volume interior, and robust fiberglass layup, the yacht represents an archetype of Mediterranean family cruisers and instructional vessels.

With an overall length of 11.94 meters (39 ft 2 in) and a beam of 3.96 meters (13 ft 0 in), Kind of Blue provides the stability and displacement necessary to comfortably negotiate steep Tyrrhenian chop while maintaining agile maneuvering within constrained Italian harbor quays. The yacht features a deep fin keel drawing 1.90 meters, paired with a spade rudder that delivers crisp responsiveness under power when backing into tight berths during Mediterranean stern-to moorings.

🛠️ The Gear Locker: Crucial Hardware & Rigging Setup

Cruising the Mediterranean imposes specific mechanical demands that differ sharply from open-ocean trade-wind passages. Short coastal passages between island archipelagos require heavy reliance on ground tackle holding in volcanic sands, dependable auxiliary propulsion during summer doldrums, and responsive line-handling gear for stern-to quay tie-ups. On Kind of Blue, the gear configuration is tuned specifically for Mediterranean coastal realities.

📊 Vessel Systems Health Scorecard

A technical assessment of Kind of Blue reveals an offshore cruiser balanced for Mediterranean autonomy, prioritizing engine reliability and freshwater storage while maintaining moderate electrical self-sufficiency.

Voyages, Destinations, and Local Waters

The operational cruising ground of Kind of Blue SAILING spans some of the most historic and visually arresting waters in the Mediterranean. Sailing along Italy's southwest coast demands a combination of tactical weather awareness and localized pilotage knowledge.

Navigating the Gulf of Naples & The Amalfi Coast

Cruising the Gulf of Naples brings sailors into close proximity with iconic landmarks: the volcanic cone of Mount Vesuvius, the colorful pastel houses of Procida (Italian Capital of Culture 2022), the thermal anchorages of Ischia, and the sheer sea cliffs of Capri. While distances between ports are relatively modest—often under 15 to 25 nautical miles—the area is notorious for heavy commercial hydrofoil and ferry traffic, necessitating constant VHF watchkeeping and vigilant lookout duty.

Rounding the Punta Campanella brings the yacht onto the Amalfi Coast (Costiera Amalfitana), where sheer limestone cliffs plunge straight into depths exceeding 30 to 50 meters mere yards from the rocks. Traditional anchoring in places like Positano or Amalfi is virtually impossible without snag-resistant moorings or picking up commercial buoy fields. Thermal breezes dominate during summer: gentle morning land breezes give way to brisk westerly sea breezes (Maestrale) reaching 15 to 22 knots in the afternoon, creating short, choppy seas against the cliffs.

The Pontine Archipelago: Ponza, Ventotene & Palmarola

Lying approximately 40 to 60 nautical miles northwest of Ischia, the Pontine Islands offer a dramatic shift from continental Italy to raw, wind-scoured volcanic geology. Ventotene, known in antiquity as Pandataria, features a remarkable 2,000-year-old Roman harbour carved directly into volcanic tuff rock—one of the most historically evocative mooring experiences in the Mediterranean. Farther west, Ponza and the uninhabited jewel of Palmarola provide breathtaking anchorages like Chiaia di Luna and Cala del Francese, where yachts anchor over crystalline turquoise waters framed by volcanic cathedrals and natural sea arches.

The Aeolian Islands of Sicily: Cruising Active Volcanic Seas

Sailing south from the Campania coast across the open Tyrrhenian Sea leads to the Aeolian archipelago (Isole Eolie), designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here, the crew navigates past Stromboli—the "Lighthouse of the Mediterranean"—witnessing active volcanic eruptions illuminating nighttime passages from the cockpit. Anchoring in the sulfurous coves of Vulcano, exploring the chic anchorages of Panarea, or navigating the deep waters around Lipari and Salina requires extreme anchor scope and constant weather monitoring for sudden squalls generated by volcanic topography.

Technical Seamanship: The Med-Mooring Masterclass

One of the hallmark instructional elements featured across Alfredo Contaldo's videos is the unvarnished reality of Mediterranean harbor maneuvering. Unlike tidal fingers and walk-along pontoons common in northern Europe and North America, Mediterranean ports predominantly utilize stern-to mooring against solid concrete quays with bow ground lines (corpi morti / lazy lines).

Contaldo methodically breaks down the physics of handling a 39-foot single-screw cruiser in these tight quarters: managing prop walk in reverse, setting up windward stern warps first to establish a pivot point, and picking up slimy bow slime lines with a boat hook before the bow falls off into neighboring yachts. In high-wind scenarios where crosswinds threaten to pin the hull against adjoining anchors or docks, his analytical approach offers invaluable practical training for cruising skippers worldwide.

⏳ Voyage Milestones & Cruising Chronology

A structured timeline of the voyages, production milestones, and vessel transitions that defined the journey of Kind of Blue SAILING.

💸 Cruising Budget & Financial Blueprint

Cruising the Mediterranean aboard a 39-foot production sloop requires careful fiscal management, especially when balancing peak-season Italian marina fees against off-season boatyard refits and educational business operations.

Top Episodes: Where to Start Watching

To experience the finest navigation logs and technical pilotage tutorials from Kind of Blue SAILING, start with these essential video episodes curated from the WeBoating video library:

• SAILING in the MEDITERRANEAN – Costiera Amalfitana Ischia Procida Amalfi Positano Capri Sorrento: The definitive showcase of cruising southern Italy, capturing dramatic passages past Capri's Faraglioni, Procida's vibrant harbor, and Positano's vertical architecture.
• CRAZY SAILING BOAT MOORING: A gripping, fast-paced demonstration of high-wind Mediterranean stern-to docking in challenging harbor surge, illustrating essential throttle and warp control.
• SORRENTO HIDDEN LAGOON – KAYAK & SAIL – exploring sorrento coast: An enchanting expedition dropping anchor along the Sorrento peninsula to explore the natural swimming pool and historic Roman ruins at Bagni della Regina Giovanna.
• SAIL BOAT CRASH – best of sail yacht fail: An educational analytical review examining common harbor docking mishaps, anchor windlass snags, and maneuvering errors to teach prevention and defensive seamanship.
• AEOLIAN ISLANDS SICILY – Isole Eolie – Sicilia sailing: A stunning bluewater passage south across the open Tyrrhenian Sea to explore volcanic anchorages and dramatic island geology across the Aeolian archipelago.

Channels Similar to Kind of Blue SAILING to Explore

If you value the technical seamanship, monohull cruising discipline, and European coastal exploration of Kind of Blue SAILING, explore these similar high-authority sailing channels on WeBoating:

• Take the Waters: Explores captivating European coastal navigation and traditional cruising discipline aboard a classic yacht, sharing Kind of Blue's appreciation for rich maritime heritage and technical boat handling.
• Sailing Artha: Follows a dedicated couple navigating diverse Mediterranean passages and offshore archipelagos, delivering meticulous maintenance breakdowns and authentic cruising logs.
• Sailing Volupia: Chronicles rugged coastal navigation and tidal passage planning aboard a classic Beneteau First 435, offering parallel technical insights into handling French production cruisers in demanding waters.

Community Impact, Legacy & Future Horizons

The legacy of Kind of Blue SAILING extends far beyond the duration of a single video series. By grounding every voyage in sound seamanship, respect for maritime regulations, and transparent operational analysis, Alfredo Contaldo has empowered thousands of aspiring Italian and international boaters to step into coastal cruising with competence and caution.

With the sale of Kind of Blue in late 2022, Contaldo turned his focus toward expanding his maritime training platform on his primary YouTube channel (@AlfredoContaldo), where he produces in-depth technical courses on chart plotting (carteggio nautico), boat handling, and marine safety regulations. As he scouts potential vessels for his next offshore chapter, the archives of Kind of Blue SAILING remain a benchmark for authentic, technically sound Mediterranean cruising.

Frequently Asked Questions about Kind of Blue SAILING