Episode 1: The Bonita Cruises

A hundred years ago, in 1925, five young women embarked on an extraordinary 1'200-mile sailing adventure from Marseille to Athens...

“Miette, her sister Yvonne, Pa'Tchoum, and I — Kini — sailed from France to Athens, stopping at ports in Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily. Following in the footsteps of Ulysses, we ventured to the Ionian Islands and Ithaca. We battled seasickness, and once, crossing the Adriatic in rough weather, Bonita’s mast snapped. But we were happy!” — Ella Maillart, Cruises and Caravans Ella Maillart, (Croisières et Caravanes)

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Bonita Cruise 2025:

In 2025, five women retrace the legendary journey of Bonita 1925

One fine spring day in 2024, a kind soul who gives us a hand to maintain our boat — Mr. Nanar — handed me a book: “Here, Valérie, I thought you might like this.” A tale of female friendship, sailing, and adventure. I devoured it in days, and a wild idea was born.

I sent the book to Esther, my sailing partner on Lake Geneva, with a note: “Did you get the hint?

A few days later, she called.

Esther: “What was I supposed to get?”

Valérie: “We need to celebrate the 100 years anniversary of the Bonita voyage. What those girls did was incredible. What if we followed in their wake?”

Valérie