The tumultuous seas of the previous evening still fresh in our minds, we slowly woke to a full day of sailing the Aegean. The sun had barely begun its climb into the pale sapphire sky when the crew of Sea Cloud scrambled high into the rigging, setting sails for an exhilarating day at sea. The highlight of the morning was a presentation by expedition leader Tom O’Brien detailing the colorful history of this fascinating vessel. Built in 1931 as Hussar V, the ship—later renamed Sea Cloud—was the most luxurious yacht in the world at the time and remains a sailing legend to this day.
Our leisurely afternoon was interrupted by the unanticipated excitement of a man-overboard drill, during which the entire crew—sailor, purser, and bartender alike—rushed to participate. This was followed by afternoon tea, at which we indulged in Marc the baker’s homemade ice creams and cookies once more, knowing we would be disembarking the following morning. Many of us spent the afternoon packing, in anticipation of relishing our final evening on board: cocktails on the lido deck with Captain Pushkarev and the gorgeous view of Temple of Poseidon before sunset, followed by a sumptuous, four-course meal. We ended the last full day of our trip bidding farewell to new friends and enjoying a slide show at the lido bar highlighting some of the many memorable moments of our journey through the Aegean.
