Episode 8: The art of getting ready

1925: Preparations Amid the Buzz and Excitement of Departure

In the bustling Old Port of Marseille, the young women prepared Bonita for her epic voyage.

Miette redesigned the dinghy and reconfigured the cabin to fit five crew members, a kitchen, sail storage, and provisions.

They scrambled to sew curtains, gather mattresses, water jugs, cooking gear, navigation tools — and most importantly, a gramophone.

After long hours at the helm, nothing beats a dance on deck!

Ingenious and hands-on, Miette de Saussure had personally designed the dinghy and reimagined the boat’s interior to accommodate four to five crewmates. It took some serious problem-solving to fit in all the bunks, a small kitchen, a sail locker, a large storage area for suitcases, and enough space for water and provisions.

Now, only a few days remained to finish sewing new curtains, find all the mattresses, demijohns for water, kitchen supplies, the last navigation instruments, and maps. Amid the hustle and bustle of Marseille, they had to elbow their way through the crowds to secure their new set of sails — and above all… a gramophone. Without it, they said, it wasn’t even worth setting sail!

After steering for hours on end, a little dance on deck was the perfect way to stretch their legs.

Carinne Bertola

---

2025: The Rollercoaster of Preparations

No need to caulk a boat before departure these days — our vessel will arrive in the port of Marseille on September 20th, ready to sail!

But let’s not be fooled: this adventure didn’t come together overnight. Preparations have been underway for about a year. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that assembling and stabilizing a crew, finding the right boat, and clarifying the project’s concept has been a true rollercoaster.

The biggest challenge? Finding a woman with a boating license, willing to take on the role of skipper and genuinely excited about the project. But then again, isn’t the real magic of an adventure found in the challenges we overcome and the bonds we build along the way?

The latest setback: our dear Sunny (Danielle) won’t be able to join us for the 2025 cruise — she’s undergoing emergency hip replacement surgery. We’re saving her a warm spot for 2026 and wishing her a smooth recovery.

We’ve decided to sail as a crew of four and not bring in a new member just 20 days before departure, to preserve the group’s harmony.

Thankfully, good humor, self-deprecation, and kindness reign within the team. Here we are, in all our glory, trying to coordinate during an online meeting!

The Crew During an Online Prep Session

Or practicing harbor maneuvers* — and striking a pose for the iconic 1925 photo of the girls brushing their teeth.

Let’s just say… we’ve still got some work to do!

The 2025 Crew Winks at the 1925 Trailblazers

*A huge thank you to Florian Marmels from Concept Lémanique for guiding us through a harbor maneuver training session aboard his 38-footer — with a steady 20-knot wind to keep things interesting!

Valérie Bauwens