Sailors by Chance

In the last episode we left Pat, Syusy and Zoe in Tonga, on the Vava'u Islands. The three of them dedicate themselves to exploring the island guided by Alfredo Carafa, a doctor from Puglia who moved there 15 years ago and is perfectly integrated into the local reality. Together with him we talk about the health situation on the island, the importation of Western diseases such as diabetes and obesity, but not only that: Alfredo is also an excellent connoisseur of the society and character of the Tongans. The Adriatica crew then moves to Ongo's boat, a local guide who will make Zoe's dream come true: to see whales. In fact, we will witness an exciting tête-à-tête with a porpoise whale and her "little" of one ton!

Pat, Syusy and Zoe, finally reunited, continue their tour of the world in the Samoan Islands, but they are not alone: ​​Adriatica is in fact joined by Va' Pensiero, the boat driven by Gigi and Irene. Why? The reason is that two new guests have arrived: Gerry Scotti and his son Edoardo! The troop is discovering Western Samoa, independent since 1962, which has remained almost intact especially if compared to the part governed by the United States. In Apia, the capital, Gerry with considerable nerve sneaks into the "Aggie Grey", a luxurious hotel that in the past also hosted Marlon Brando. Gerry and Syusy do not hesitate to sneak into the room that the legendary actor occupied during his stays on the island. In the hotel pool, the group also comes across the Samoan rugby team in training.

Adriatica's world tour continues in Polynesia. Together with Syusy, Orso and his wife Orsa we will explore the Tuamotu Islands in search of the ideal location for the film. As you may remember, in the previous episode we left Syusy struggling with the making of a film: the story of a woman fleeing to Polynesia, to experience the myth of a tropical paradise. In Rangiroa, the capital of the Tuamotu, Syusy is enchanted. These are the places of Folco Quilici, the famous documentary maker who made an entire generation daydream. We will meet Bruno, the invaluable Polynesian guide with a histrionic temperament and deadly mimicry (the imitation of spearfishing is unmissable!). Another characteristic of Bruno is not mincing words; in fact, he will spark a lively controversy with a French master about the disasters of colonialism.

Adriatica's world tour continues in the Marquesas Islands. We will see Patrizio and Davide Riondino land on the island of Fatu Hiva to admire the Tikis, imposing monoliths that dot the island. Riondino appears very sensitive to the erotic atmosphere that reigns in the islands, so much so that his traveling companions accuse him of thinking of nothing else! Pat would like to indulge in a relaxing massage but ends up in the hands of an overly energetic brute... Landing in Hiva Oa, Pat also tries his hand at the national sport of Polynesia, pirogue: will our hero succeed in climbing onto the treacherous vessel?

In the sixth episode of Velisti per Caso we find Syusy waiting for Adriatica and Patrizio in the naturalistic paradise par excellence: the Galapagos. With her is the biologist expert in bio-acoustics Junio ​​Fabrizio Borsani. Her journey continues also in continental Ecuador, a bit towards the Amazon forest and a bit in the Andes, where she meets native populations who involve her in archaic, shamanic and auspicious rites, like the Limpia! In the meantime, Patrizio arrives together with a new character for the 80-person round-the-world trip: David Riondino, a disorganized intellectual, who has decided to celebrate his first 50 years by sailing the Pacific Ocean towards the Marquesas Islands... Will he be able to do it? Patrizio is a bit worried, but happy to no longer be the least experienced on board Adriatica.

The fifth episode of Velisti per Caso sees the first "change" at the helm: in Mexico, Giobbe Covatta comes aboard! Before embarking, Giobbe, who is there on vacation with his family, explores the surroundings a bit on the anthropological trail of the homo turisticus mexicano. In the meantime, Patrizio, Syusy and Zoe stop in Havana where they return after 7 years! Together with the family, we visit the house intended for Commander Che Guevara, which he refused to remain faithful to his revolutionary cause. And we will see where the American who lived, loved and wrote about Cuba the longest, Hemingway, worked and left from to fish. There is also a pleasant surprise from our country: Pat and Syusy are invited to the Italo-Cuban Friendship Festival, where the Casadei Orchestra, led by Mirko, son of Raoul, is there to liven up the evening with Cuban mazurkas and Romagna sauces!

The fourth episode of Velisti per Caso begins in Cuba, where Syusy and Zoe have finally reunited with Patrizio and the crew after crossing the Atlantic in the port of Santiago de Cuba. Cesare and Ballo from Lunapop are with them, ready to be overwhelmed by the Cuban atmosphere, the dancing, the music. There's also Deborah Andollo, the Cuban champion and world record holder in free diving. And there's the next Velistapercaso to take the helm of Adriatica, Admiral Giobbe Covatta, with his whole family in tow!

In the third episode of Velisti per Caso, after 16 days in the sea, Adriatica finally arrives in the Caribbean, in Antigua. Cesare Cremonini and Ballo from Lunapop are waiting for the Adriatica crew. Cino Ricci, after the crossing and after having given lessons as a true sailor to the crew, returns to Italy. In the meantime, Syusy has landed in Havana with Zoe and begins an adventurous crossing of the island, while Adriatica with the Lunapop on board leaves Antigua and visits the Virgin Islands. After the Virgin Islands, the journey continues towards Cuba, but a breakdown forces Adriatica to take refuge in Haiti. After this stop, Adriatica sets sail towards Santiago De Cuba: here the Roversi family is reunited, the Lunapop return to Italy and the journey begins again with a new crew.

From the departure from Gibraltar, with the exceptional captain Cino Ricci, who finds himself having to form a crew that for half has never been on a boat and with a suffering Patrizio in the grip of seasickness, up to the Canary Islands where Syusy is waiting for the arrival of the boat. After a brief stop in the Canary Islands, Adriatica sets sail to face the Atlantic Ocean. After 16 days at sea finally the arrival in the Caribbean... our crew of landlubbers day after day becomes more and more expert in the sea and navigation, from Velisti per Caso promoted in the field to Velisti-Velisti!

The story of Patrizio and Syusy's sailing training and the birth of the boat. A two-year long story: from the conception of the dream in Polynesia to the departure for the Atlantic. In the middle there is the choice of the boat, there is the discussion on how to fix it, the search for a sponsor and the doubts about the route to follow. Finally the launch, the party, the departure.

The episode opens with a scoop: in the Gulf of Aden, in the waters between the Somali and Yemeni coasts, Adriatica suffers an attempted boarding by pirates (the real ones, this time!). Gigi, a brave captain, fires three shots in the air and the danger is averted. But how scary. The crossing proceeds without too many hitches until it reaches its destination, waiting for it in Yemen is Pat, together with an old acquaintance, David Riondino, and a very special guide, Marco Livadiotti. Marco's father accompanied Pasolini on his journey through Yemen at the time of his "One Thousand and One Nights", we couldn't be in better hands! The first stop is the ancient city of San'a, apparently founded by Sam, son of Noah. The view is truly evocative, "the buildings seem to be made of cream and chocolate" and, taking advantage of the hospitality that is sacred in these parts, our heroes ask for bread to be offered to them.

Pat wanders around the atolls asking surveyor questions: "where do water and light come from?" - he asks, before attempting a failed morning fishing trip. Meanwhile, Syusy, on the typical local boat (the doni), reaches a fishermen's island, discovering that the secret to coexistence between the variegated population of tourists and the native Maldivians is... a respectful and rigorous separation! With the help of the expert diving couple Enzo and Marta, our sailors explore the enchanting coral seabeds, before moving on to a visit to the emerged lands: precisely to the city of Malé, a "mini Hong Kong" of two kilometers by one, practically the smallest capital in the world! Here the roads divide: Syusy cannot resist the call of the mystery and goes from the museum on the origins of the Maldivian people, to the archaeological site of Kashidoo (reachable only by prior navigation on a blender motorboat).

Pat is still in Vietnam, discovering Ho Chi Minh City. Together with him we will visit the famous war museum, a memorial set up not to foment hatred, but to preserve the memory. Here is preserved a photo that has been around the world on television and in newspapers: the one that portrays a Vietnamese girl burned by napalm. Then we will wander through the streets of the city, where at dawn and dusk, every day, people meet to do gymnastics, considered a duty of the people... Will Pat be trained enough to face the Thai Chi lesson? Let's also follow him to the Mekong Delta, where life takes place on the water and where it is possible to achieve a continuous harvest throughout the year. However, the floods of the river are also an obstacle and will cause some inconvenience to our sailors - tourists!

We find Pat where we left him last summer: in Bali! Which he defines bluntly as "Paradise, the East as we Westerners dream of it". Together with the musician Andrea Centazzo he immerses himself in the exotic atmosphere of a village, in the shade of the sacred banana tree, among traditional music and child dancers (the famous "Nymphs of Paradise"). Did you know that Bali can be considered the source of the world's ethnic craftsmanship? Craftsmanship is a second job for all the inhabitants and supplies the banquets for tourists from all over Southeast Asia. We will see Pat try her hand at Balinese dances at the inauguration of a Children's House, founded by Sabrina, an Italian girl. Will she be able to get out of the impasse of the rigid social rules to be respected at the table?

Pat is in Bali and Syusy in Thailand... Adriatica takes part in the "King's Regatta".

Syusy visits Kakadoo Park, Pat goes up the reef and explores the Whitsunday Islands.

Pat in Sydney and Byron Bay, Syusy in Coober Pedy and Ayers Rock.

New Zealand and arrival in Australia.