New video out now! We’re sailing the Aeolians and we had to stop to see this Volcano erupt 🌋🌋

Rising nearly a vertical kilometer out of the cobalt depths of the southern Tyrrhenian Sea, the active volcano island of Stromboli stands as the legendary “Lighthouse of the Mediterranean.” For Scottish voyagers Andrew and Ruth Gibbon aboard their 2025 Excess 11 catamaran Rúna, voyaging into this volatile corner of the Aeolian Archipelago marked an extraordinary milestone for The Runa Life. Departing northern Sicily, the mariners sailed their 37-foot cruising multihull across open water to observe the world’s most consistently active volcano directly from sea level and high crater ridges.

Reaching Stromboli aboard an off-grid catamaran demands seasoned seamanship and specialized ground tackle discipline. The volcanic cone rises abruptly from abyssal depths without natural harbors or protected marina berths. As Rúna drew closer to the smoking summit, deep subterranean concussions reverberated through the sea, setting the stage for an intense expedition combining steep mountain trekking and challenging volcanic roadstead anchoring.

Anchoring Beneath the Volcano: Marine Logistics off Stromboli

Navigating into the shadow of Stromboli in the Aeolian Islands, Andrew and Ruth Gibbon faced one of the most demanding anchoring scenarios in the Mediterranean aboard their Excess 11 catamaran Rúna for The Runa Life. The seabed drops precipitously mere boat lengths from shore, leaving only narrow shelves of loose black volcanic sand and scoria off the northeastern village of San Vincenzo and Ficogrande beach.

Backing down with their twin 29-horsepower Yanmar diesels, the crew deployed their primary anchor with extensive all-chain scope into eighteen meters of volcanic sediment. Loose volcanic ash presents treacherous holding prone to slipping down underwater gradients. Andrew and Ruth set precise digital drag alarms, monitored bridle tension, and confirmed holding before stepping ashore for their summit ascent.

The Ridge Ascent: Trekking to the Summit Vantage Point

Securing their Excess 11 catamaran Rúna in the volcanic roadstead, Andrew and Ruth Gibbon took their tender ashore on Stromboli in the Aeolian Islands to begin an arduous high-altitude trek for The Runa Life. Leaving coastal cottages behind, the route ascended steep switchbacks through waist-high grasses and Mediterranean brush before tracing narrow cliff ridges overlooking the open sea.

After more than an hour of strenuous climbing under heavy camera packs, the hikers reached the high observation ridge above the active crater terrace. Far below, Rúna rode the gentle swell as a tiny white speck on the dark water. The air carried the sulfurous scent of molten rock, signaling the raw volcanic spectacle about to unfold at dusk.

Basaltic Explosions: Witnessing Planetary Fury Above the Clouds

From the summit observation ridge overlooking the craters of Stromboli in the Aeolian Islands, Andrew and Ruth Gibbon experienced the raw power of planetary geology aboard the milestone voyage of The Runa Life and their Excess 11 catamaran Rúna. Without warning, the subterranean vents detonated with violent concussions that rattled the mountain spine.

The volcano erupted repeatedly, hurling incandescent lava bombs, fiery magma fountains, and billowing plumes of ash high into the evening sky. Each explosive shockwave vibrated physically through the bedrock and into the soles of their boots. The Scottish mariners described the continuous eruptions as both terrifying and magnificent—a rare display of unfiltered geological energy.

Nocturnal Seamanship: Navigating Past the Sciara del Fuoco

Descending the mountain trails back to the shoreline, Andrew and Ruth Gibbon prepared their Excess 11 catamaran Rúna for the nocturnal maritime leg of their Stromboli expedition in the Aeolian Islands with The Runa Life. Weighing anchor under twilight, the crew set a course around the island’s uninhabited northwestern slope, the famed Sciara del Fuoco.

Along this steep 35-degree volcanic scar, glowing red-hot boulders roll directly into the sea, sending up hissings of steam. The crew maintained a strict exclusion margin over one nautical mile offshore, monitoring radar for thermal squalls and floating debris. Steering from the catamaran’s twin aft helm stations while molten lava cascaded into the dark sea provided an unforgettable conclusion to their passage.

Stromboli Anchorage Vitals & Excess 11 Technical Specifications

Navigating the volatile waters around Stromboli in the Aeolian Islands, Andrew and Ruth Gibbon relied on the proven engineering of their Excess 11 catamaran Rúna and dedicated passage planning for The Runa Life. The technical specifications below summarize vessel systems, ground tackle, and operational parameters for this Aeolian passage:

Frequently Asked Questions

Key nautical questions regarding the expedition of Andrew and Ruth Gibbon aboard their Excess 11 catamaran Rúna during their voyage to Stromboli in the Aeolian Islands with The Runa Life: