There is an Italian gentleman in Tahiti looking for crew for round-the-world boat trip

There is a gentleman who is ready to host you aboard his catamaran to sail from Tahiti to Italy, passing through Australia, Asia, Africa, and complete his round-the-world voyage. At the bottom of this article we explain how to apply (you just need to know how to move well on a sailboat). But let’s proceed in order.

Around the World Tour by Pino Lasalandra

It all started with a dream come true. It was the end of 2019. The Laura IV along with the other boats that made up the ARC (Atlantic Rally For Cruiser) fleet was heading for St. Lucia, the finishing point of the largest “non-competitive” transatlantic race. But Pino Lasalandra’s intentions were quite different.

The starting point for the world tour

Aboard his Nautitech 54 (16.30 x 8.55 m catamaran) he would cross the borders of the Atlantic Ocean and embark on a far more challenging route that would take him, once past the Panama Canal, into the Pacific Ocean and take part in the World Arc, around the world and then return to the Netter dock, in Fiumara Grande (Fiumicino), which Pino had left before the summer of 2019 to embark on this wonderful adventure.

Everything went smoothly. The excitement of departure from Gran Canaria. The Atlantic crossing accompanied by the breath of the trade winds. The festive arrival on the Caribbean island. Christmas spent planning the second part of the trip in detail. Then preparations to tackle the sailing transfer to the Pacific Ocean. The stop at the San Blas Islands prelude to the passage through the Panama Canal.

A must stop but also an emotionally dense experience. Finally, doors opening wide onto the endless expanse of the Pacific and a logbook with pages waiting to accommodate new chapters.

World tour, covid upsets plans

Then what you least expect happens. News related to the increasing spread of the pandemic, which at first appeared muffled by the distance to the point of being almost a distant background noise, began to break through to the point of affecting the very course of the second half of the regatta.

As the Laura IV sailed into Galapagos waters comes word from the organizers to target Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas Islands. Moral, Pino Lasalandra along with the group of boats that had decided to join the World Arc find themselves overnight with the regatta cancelled and no longer a destination. Progressive port closures, increasingly stringent rules related to landing procedures, are forcing many to give up and find alternative solutions to cope with the emergency.

Some decided to turn back, others to head home, a discourse that applies to those geographically fortunate few especially Americans, New Zealanders, and Australians. For Pino and his all-Italian crew, the outlook was quite different. While they were in Nuku Hiva the decision matured to not throw in the towel and to continue at least as far as French Polynesia.

It starts again in Polynesia

A long journey but still doable. An intermediate step to continue fueling a dream that is back in the limelight today: a round-the-world trip. Yes, because Laura IV is ready once again to weigh anchor to set course for Australia. From Papeete, Tahiti Island, the voyage will resume in late February to early March 2022.

In the first part the coordinates plotted on the nautical chart lead straight to the Cook Islands, then Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, the Australian continent, and why not all the way to the final destination in Italy after touching on the most fascinating places in Asia, Africa, in a journey that promises to be rich in excitement and content.

Pino Lasalandra seeks crew

“I began this wonderful adventure with the energy, desire and enthusiasm to give myself the dream of a lifetime. Then what you least expect happened. Nevertheless, I told myself that if I don’t do it now, I will never do it again. That is why I am looking for mates to sail together, experienced sailors ready to share this experience as equals. The only requirements are: some English, have good sailing experience, and be mentally prepared for long sailings. You will see that we will have fun!“.

Get on board together on the Nautitech 54 with Pino

Would you like to board the Laura IV, Pino’s catamaran, and sail around the world with him? Apply by sending a resume to laura4aroundtheworld@gmail.com

M.Z.

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