This an email I have just written to all potential crew.
"Dear all,
I apologise for the generic nature of this email, but, if you are receiving it, you will have expressed an interest to me or Alix to be part of Missy Bear's voyage from France to Turkey this year.
I wanted to give you all an update on our plans, albeit the numerous issues (post Brexit Long-Term Visitor Visas; VAT export requirements; Covid-19 travel restrictions etc.) continue to require a fluid outlook.
At the moment, Missy Bear will leave the factory in Challons around Week 25 and be transported to Canet-en-Rousillon. The broker then needs 3 weeks to prepare her, so I expect a handover around mid July.
1. Sat July 17 (Canet to Palma)
The broker and I will sail Missy Bear on Sat July 17 to Palma (Mallorca) to clear French waters. We will stay around Palma to solve snags etc.
2. Sat July 24 to Sat Aug 7 (Palma to Sardina).
The first crewed leg will be from Palma to Sardinia, sailing from the end of July. We would pick crew up in Palma, spend a week or two getting to and hopping around Sardinia, before dropping you off at, say, Alghero, in early-August to fly home.
3. Mon Aug 9 to Friday Aug 27 (Alghero to Catania, Sicily)
We will then have a crew pencilled in (you know who you are) to help us get Missy Bear from Sardinia to Sicily. We will take 2 to 3 weeks on this section, dropping them off late August.
4. Sun Aug 29 to Sat Sep 12 (Catania to Preveza)
We will then sail, with crew, direct from Sardinia (say, Catania) to the Ionion. We can spend a few days hopping around the islands, e.g. Kephalonia, before dropping crew at Preveza to fly home.
5. Preveza (a few days)
We will stay around Preveza and the inland lagoon for a few days with Alix's family.
6. Thu Sep 16 to Thu Sep 30 (Preveza to Poros)
We will sail to Poros, around the Peloponnese, as we think the Corinth Canal will still be closed following a recent landslide. We will allow 2 weeks, which will take us into mid-October. We may sail alone at for this leg (unless anyone has a very strong interest)... We will stay alone for a couple of days in Poros to see old friends.
7. Sat Oct 2 to Sat, Oct 9 (Poros to Gocek)
We will be happy to have crew for this leg. Meet us in Poros. We will need to clear Greek/EU waters at, say, Rhodes, and then sail to our marina birth in Gocek, Turkey. You could fly from Rhodes or Turkey.
If you have any strong requests for any of these legs, please let me know (notwithstanding the usual caveats)
Best wishes,
Richard and Alix
Missy Bear"
