Our Final Sail: Saying Goodbye To Our Catamaran

Ruth and Andrew of The Runa Life steer their Excess 11 catamaran SV Rúna away from the Aeolian Islands, setting course across open water toward Cefalù on the northern coast of Sicily. Leaving Stromboli and Panarea astern, the catamaran tracks past Vulcano on a 25 to 30 mile crossing under light winds. With their cruising catamaran listed for sale and prospective buyers preparing to view the vessel, every mile marks the final stages of a two-year journey logging over 5,000 nautical miles across the Mediterranean.

Under clear skies and favorable conditions, the crew hoists the Code Zero sail to maintain 5 knots of boat speed, occasionally running the auxiliary engines when the breeze softens. The passage marks the last leg for visiting guest crew member Jack, prompting the crew to trail fishing lines from the stern in hopes of securing fresh provisions before reaching the mainland.

Crossing to Mainland Sicily and Catching Provisions

After six days of trolling fishing lines throughout the Aeolian archipelago without a single bite, the morning run toward Sicily delivers an abrupt turnaround. Approaching halfway through the passage, a rod bends on the stern quarter. Bringing the line aboard, Andrew lands the boat’s first catch: “We got a fish. We’ve been fishing for about a week and we are on Jack’s last day sailing with us and we’ve managed to catch a fish finally.” The initial catch is identified as a small false tuna, locally termed a sunny, offering a fresh starter course to share among the four people aboard.

Resetting the gear immediately, a second strike follows within minutes as the crew brings a landing net to the stern steps. A mackerel is hauled aboard, followed quickly by a third and fourth fish. After six days without success, the crossing yields four fish landed before noon, providing one fish for each person on the boat. With the sails drawing and the coastline of Sicily growing on the horizon, the crew guts and cooks the catch for a fresh fish dinner in the cockpit.

Anchoring in Cefalù and Weathering Northeasterly Swell

SV Rúna drops anchor behind the breakwater at Cefalù just as evening rain sweeps across the bay, canceling plans to head ashore for gelato. With rain drumming against the coachroof, Andrew and pregnant partner Ruth play rock, paper, scissors to determine who braves the wet deck to haul the tender onto the davits. Andrew loses the game, dons his wet-weather foul-weather gear, and hoists the tender into place while Ruth stays warm inside the salon.

The following morning, guest crew members disembark, leaving Andrew and Ruth alone aboard to face an incoming Mediterranean weather system. Northern Sicily offers notoriously sparse coastal shelter for cruising yachts. Assessing the regional weather charts, Andrew outlines the challenging conditions: “Forecasted 20-30 knots every single day, swell around 2 m. And this is one of the biggest problems in Sicily, especially the northern coastline. There’s very, very little protection.”

Although Cefalù’s outer stone breakwater offers some shelter from prevailing winds, the anchorage lies exposed to incoming sea conditions: “This has been a very rocky day in Cefalu. We’ve got about a meter northeasterly swell coming into the anchorage and it’s not that comfortable.” The one-meter swell creates an unrelenting roll inside the anchorage, while several miles offshore, towering waterspouts form over open water.

Suffering from motion sickness caused by the relentless rolling motion, Ruth heads ashore to regain her footing. As sea conditions moderate late in the day, Andrew motors the tender into the small harbor basin, tying up against the marina wall. Observing heavy breaking waves pounding against the rocky outer coastline, he joins Ruth in town. The couple explores the stone streets of Cefalù, ordering sushi for dinner and drinks at sunset before returning aboard. Trapped by the persistent swell, SV Rúna remains at anchor in Cefalù for about a week awaiting a viable passage window.

The Final Sail to Termini Imerese

With high swell finally subsiding, Andrew and Ruth weigh anchor in Cefalù to navigate westward toward Termini Imerese, covering approximately 50 nautical miles. The leg represents the final passage under sail for SV Rúna before winter haul-out and transfer to new ownership. At departure, calm sea surfaces provide zero wind, registering four knots of apparent wind generated solely by the twin auxiliary engines. The crew deploys trolling lines off the transom once again while motoring westward along the mountainous coastline of Sicily.

Midway along the passage, favorable breeze builds across the water. Shutting off the engines, the crew hoists the full mainsail and unfurls the Code Zero. Drawing clean airflow on the beam, the Excess 11 accelerates to 5 knots in seven knots of apparent wind with 10 miles remaining to the harbor. Ruth dons warm layers and brews hot tea in the cockpit, contrasting the cool October breeze with harsh Scottish weather.

Underway, the emotional reality of parting with their catamaran settles across the cockpit: “And then he’s just made me realize that this could be our last sail ever on Runa if we sell her. So, whilst it is a happy time and I should be grateful for all the time that we’ve had on this boat. And um it opens up a new door for a new chapter, which is exciting. It is still incredibly sad that this might be the last time we sail her.” Sailing at 5 knots through the final miles, SV Rúna glides into the outer roads of Termini Imerese at sunset, where Andrew drops anchor to conclude their cruising season.

Voyage Milestones and Coastal Conditions

The following summary outlines the recorded weather, sail configurations, and operational benchmarks across the final Mediterranean passages:

Ultrasound in Palermo and Gale Conditions at Anchor

Inside Termini Imerese, the crew enjoys calm water and unbroken sleep, benefiting from one of northern Sicily’s few well-sheltered harbors. With Rúna scheduled for winter lift-out onto the hard, the crew dedicates several days to washing down the decks, polishing gelcoat, and detailing the interior so the catamaran presents in clean condition for incoming buyers flying into Palermo.

Taking a break from ship maintenance, Andrew and Ruth walk to the local railway station and board a passenger train bound for the regional hospital in Palermo. The trip marks a vital personal milestone: Ruth’s 20-week ultrasound scan to examine their developing baby. The attending physician confirms the baby is developing normally and healthy in every way, providing relief for the parents as they plan their return to the UK in February for the birth.

Returning to Termini Imerese, evening weather forecasts warn of impending squalls. Predictive models indicate winds building to 24 knots by 11:00 PM, with overnight storm peaks potentially reaching 60 knots. Taking proactive precautions, Andrew and Ruth decide to remain aboard rather than heading ashore for dinner, clearing all loose deck equipment and securing the tender onto the davits.

Their caution proves justified when an intense gale strikes the anchorage hours earlier than anticipated: “We decided to stay on the boat this evening because at 11:00 it was due to come in at about 24 knots. We thought, if that comes in early, let’s just stay on the boat, and I am so glad that we did because we’ve just hit out of nowhere 47 knots. It is blowing a gale out there.”

As sustained gusts surge between 47 and 48 knots, heavy swell sweeps across the anchorage. A neighboring sailboat anchored nearby sits empty after its crew went ashore for dinner, leaving their dinghy behind with no means of returning through the violent harbor chop. Inside SV Rúna, Andrew and Ruth stay secure within the salon: “Well, it might be 48 knots out there, but it’s actually quite warm and cozy in here, isn’t it?” Aboard their catamaran, the couple watches television while the ground tackle holds firm through the night.

Meeting Prospective Buyers and Winter Decommissioning

Following the storm, Andrew and Ruth resume deep cleaning across the catamaran to prepare for scheduled buyer inspections. Listing SV Rúna on international brokerage platforms six weeks earlier generated overwhelming interest from prospective owners across Europe: “We listed the boat for sale about 6 weeks ago and we have had over 5,000 people look at our listing and off the back of that, we’ve had so much interest, so many messages, people asking questions and wanting to come visit.”

After hosting an initial couple on board several days earlier, the crew coordinates a second in-person inspection. Prospective buyers fly into Palermo airport and arrive at the dock in Termini Imerese. Respecting the visitors’ request not to be filmed, Andrew tenders ashore to transport them aboard. The prospective buyers inspect the hull, living quarters, and technical systems, praising the catamaran’s clean condition while working through financing and personal vessel sale timelines.

With winter storage paid and secured on the hard at Termini Imerese until April, Andrew and Ruth face no immediate urgency to rush a transaction. As the Excess 11 prepares for haul-out and winterization, the crew prepares to conclude their two-year cruising chapter in the Mediterranean and travel home to the UK to welcome their new baby.

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