Sailing Water

I come to know a world I hadn't imagined before—men who are both passionate and skilled sailors, living with the rhythm of the sea, each moment defined by the wind and the waves. I meet them in Preveza, a place in Greece I had never heard of before. Here, boatyards dot the landscape, and history whispers from the shores. Just a few kilometers from the town, there's a place where the Romans fought their first civil war, a chapter of history that played out in the very waters and hills I now gaze upon.

In this small town, where the pulse of history and the pulse of the sea both run deep, I embark on a journey with Massimo, an 80-year-old man whose life has been intertwined with the sea. He sails his boat, Alchinè, with a quiet wisdom born from decades of experience. Massimo was born on October 4th, 1937. As for me, I’m much younger, driven by an insatiable need to move, to discover, to find beauty, truth, and meaning in everything. I’ve come to know the world of sailing not just as a physical pursuit but as a dialogue between man, boat, and the vast, unpredictable sea.

This journey becomes something more than just a sail through the Mediterranean—it becomes a shared experience of learning. In the company of Massimo, I discover not only the technicalities of sailing, but the philosophy behind it: the relationship between a sailor and his boat, the delicate balance between control and surrender to the forces of nature. We speak little, but there’s an understanding between us—a silent exchange that runs deeper than words. The sea doesn’t need words to teach; it just demands presence, patience, and respect.

We sail through the waters of Preveza, and with every tack, every turn of the rudder, I feel myself becoming more attuned to the boat, the wind, and the rhythms of the sea. Massimo’s hands move with the ease of someone who has spent a lifetime in this dance, and though his movements are slow, they carry with them an effortless mastery. For me, it’s a moment of discovery: learning the art of sailing, not just as a sport, but as a way of life, a way of seeing the world that is shaped by patience, adaptability, and respect for forces greater than us.

Through him, I begin to understand that sailing isn’t just about crossing water; it’s about understanding the vastness of the world, about knowing when to hold tight and when to let go, about finding your place within the rhythm of the sea, the wind, and the sky.

We sail together, two different generations, but united by a shared love of the sea, and by a shared curiosity to explore the world—one that moves in ways beyond our control.

Αμβρακικός Κόλπος / Κουγα