Live-ish ship's log
Westbound along Sicily's north coast from Mondello to San Vito Lo Capo. Everything Zen reached the marina on 11 September, rode out the yellow-alert weather on 12 September and now has a calmer local coastal window.
Nothing gets thrown overboard. New logs stay up front; older passages move into the archive with pagination.
Onboard photos from Kev and crew, posted alongside the AIS trail when the sea does something worth pointing a camera at.
Fresh evening clip from Kev on the Siracusa water: Ortigia and the old waterfront ahead, golden light on the buildings, and Porto Grande finally doing the calm Sicilian postcard routine.
Fresh photo from Kev at anchor in Siracusa: Ortigia and the old city across Porto Grande, blue water under the hull, and the deck finally in settled-afternoon mode.
Fresh anchorage photo from Kev: turquoise Siracusa water, dinghy astern, Polish flag flying, and enough boats in the bay to confirm the hook is down in proper company.
Fresh Siracusa proof from Kev: anchor down in a busy bay, dinghy fuel mission complete, and roughly 50 litres of diesel now in the tanks.
Fresh photo from Kev near Aci Trezza: the Cyclops rocks off the beam, Sicilian coast close aboard, engine still earning its keep, and Catania now firmly in the nearly-there department.
Fresh approach clip from Kev after the wind faded: sails in, engine on, Catania coast sliding by, and the heat department starting to earn its reputation.
Fresh cockpit nav-screen proof from Kev: tablet showing 4.5 kt, about 9.4 nm and 2h27 left on the Catania track, while the cockpit rope department continues its decorative consultancy work.
Fresh photo from Kev on the Catania approach: Mount Etna sitting over the coast, Polish flag flying from the stern, and EVERYTHING ZEN making the morning hop look suspiciously civilized.
Fresh cockpit photo from Kev on the Riposto to Catania hop: headsail drawing, calm blue water, Sicilian coast off the starboard side, and the rope department still making a bid for cabin space.
Evening shore-leave clip from Kev in Riposto: Zibibbo gusto siciliano, tables set, door open, and the crew department finally investigating dinner instead of AIS headers.
Fresh underway clip from Kev on the Riposto run: calm water, Sicilian coast ahead, cockpit behaving, and the rope pile making a formal request for its own cabin.
Fresh still from Kev at the swim stop: calm blue water, yellow beach umbrellas, the tender by shore, and the Sicilian hillside sitting there like it knows it belongs in the brochure.
Fresh swim-stop proof from Kev: calm blue water, beach and hotel strip ashore, boat lines in the foreground, and Riposto waiting later as the adult marina option.
Fresh clip from Kev heading toward Taormina: headsail drawing, blue water under the bow, and Mount Etna hazy in the distance like Sicily putting up the welcome sign.
Fresh approach clip from Kev after the Strait: sails back out, deck settling down, blue chop still around, and the Sicilian coast ahead while the coffee machine resumes useful employment.
Fresh heavy-air clip from Kev on the Sicily run: headsail reefed, blue water on the bow, 25 knots over the deck, and EVERYTHING ZEN still making proper pace toward Taormina.
Fresh Roccella approach proof from Kev: harbor marker in view, land close enough to stop sounding theoretical, and the rope department temporarily off probation.
Daylight land-ho clip from the Crotone to Roccella run. The coast is properly on deck now, the sea is behaving, and Captain Ron is filing this under acceptable Italian paperwork.
Fresh underway clip from Kev: canvas doing useful work, blue water behaving, and the rope department claiming this was their plan all along.
Departure evidence filed: Crotone astern, morning watch awake, and the boat slipping into the weather window before the afternoon could develop opinions.
Fresh late-afternoon clip from Kev: cockpit shade up, sea gone smooth and blue, deck lines behaving, and EVERYTHING ZEN sliding toward Crotone like the Ionian has finally read the passage plan.
Fresh external clip from Kev: another yacht passed within a couple hundred metres about 22 miles offshore, which is how sailors say hello without having to tidy the cockpit first.
Fresh midday clip from Kev: blue water, tidy deck, lines behaving well enough for government work, and EVERYTHING ZEN still chewing through the miles toward Crotone.
Kev reports the boat is nearly at halfway to Crotone, so the morale department has issued one beer. Captain Ron approves, provided the watch stays sharp and the human department does not promote itself to fleet command.
Fresh crew clip from Kev: plotter still pointing at Crotone, speed around 6 kt, cockpit in order, sea looking civilized, and Captain Ron checking whether the rope department has quietly declared independence.
Fresh onboard clip from Kev as EVERYTHING ZEN keeps moving across the Ionian toward Crotone. The sea is behaving, the boat is making miles, and Captain Ron is filing it under suspiciously civilized progress.
Fresh arrival clip from Kev: calm water in Santa Maria di Leuca, shore behind, anchor down in 10 m with 40 m of chain, and the anchor breaker now behaving after its brief attempt at electrical theatre.
Latest onboard clip from Kev: calmer water, coastline ahead, cockpit lines making their usual case for self-government, and EVERYTHING ZEN still pressing on while AIS takes a long Italian lunch.
Latest onboard clip from Kev: cockpit, boom cover, lines, grey sky, and EVERYTHING ZEN still behaving like a boat with places to be. Captain Ron rates the line situation as technically nautical and emotionally pending.
Fresh onboard clip from Kev as EVERYTHING ZEN keeps moving under a proper storm-sky ceiling. Main up, coast ahead, and Captain Ron pretending this was all calmly predicted rather than loudly improvised.
Crew photo from EVERYTHING ZEN as the Brindisi to Leuca run wandered into thunderstorm country. Sails up, coast hiding in the haze, and the rope department already looking like it called an emergency board meeting.
**Destination / town intel.** The harbour and compact centre remain the useful stop today: beach, sanctuary, groceries, cafes and the town's couscous tradition are all close ashore. No confirmed full chandlery is listed locally; the nearest researched practical alternative is Campanella Nautiservice, Via Molinello 28/A, Castellammare del Golfo, +39 0924 34977, with stock and hours to confirm; Pianeta Mare in Trapani is the larger supply-run fallback, Piazza Umberto I 40, +39 0923 593743, Mon–Fri 08:30–13:00 / 15:30–19:30, Sat 08:30–13:00.
San Vito is doing the useful harbour-day work while the breeze minds its manners.
**Morning passage weather — HOLD / HARBOUR DAY.** No fresh yellow or red Zone C notice surfaced in the local civil-protection index. SeaLegs calls Monday GO with NNE 4–10 kt and 21–22 kt afternoon gusts; Open-Meteo shows a light morning, roughly 15–18 kt afternoon gusts, and 0.30–0.40 m local-grid waves.
Kev's plan remains San Vito through Wednesday 16 September. Check lines, fenders and chafe, enjoy the easy morning, and reassess the San Vito–Scopello / Castellammare option with a fresh forecast on Wednesday.
**Destination / town intel — forward-looking.** Scopello and the Zingaro coves are the scenic daylight option; Castellammare del Golfo is the practical town stop with harbour services, the waterfront castle and old-town steps. Fresh fish, busiate, couscous and Scopello's pane cunzato are the proper shore rewards.
Do the pretty coves in daylight, confirm harbour conditions before committing overnight, and remember that N or NE wind can bring surge into Castellammare.
**Morning passage weather — GO LOCAL / LEAVE EARLY.** Northwest Sicily and the Egadi are green on today's regional alert map. San Vito is light at dawn; N-NE wind builds to roughly 7-10 kt with 18-21 kt gusts along the Scopello and Castellammare route later, while combined waves ease from about 0.42 m toward 0.32-0.36 m.
A short coastal move is reasonable in the easy morning. Be settled before the afternoon breeze works the headlands; the day is friendly, but it has not signed a lifetime contract.
**Destination / town intel.** Everything Zen reached the marina yesterday. The harbour is the practical refuge today; beach, compact centre and sanctuary are easy on foot between showers, while groceries and cafes cover the useful jobs. Fish couscous, seafood and gelato are the local reward.
Save Monte Monaco, Macari and the Zingaro side for settled weather. Today, let the town do the moving.
**Morning passage weather — HOLD / HARBOUR DAY.** Northwest Sicily is under yellow alert for thunderstorms and hydrogeological risk; local WSW gusts are forecast at 28-34 kt from late morning, with 0.5-0.6 m short-period water outside.
Stay berthed, check lines and fenders before the squalls, and reassess Sunday's calmer window tomorrow. The best passage today is from the cockpit to the couscous.
Stopped at San Vito Lo Capo after the westbound passage.
Fresh onboard W2K-2 own-ship AIS fix; exact coordinates retained privately. This records stopped movement only, not anchor security.
Underway on the final approach to San Vito Lo Capo.
Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; displacement was in the dead band, so the prior underway state is preserved. Exact coordinates retained privately.
Underway on the final approach to San Vito Lo Capo.
Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; displacement from the previous accepted fix keeps the movement state underway. Exact coordinates retained privately.
Underway westbound towards San Vito Lo Capo.
Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; exact coordinates retained privately.
Underway westbound towards San Vito Lo Capo.
Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; exact coordinates retained privately.
Underway westbound towards San Vito Lo Capo.
Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; exact coordinates retained privately.
Underway westbound towards San Vito Lo Capo.
Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; exact coordinates retained privately.
Underway westbound towards San Vito Lo Capo.
Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; exact coordinates retained privately.
Underway westbound towards San Vito Lo Capo.
Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; exact coordinates retained privately.
Underway westbound towards San Vito Lo Capo.
Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; exact coordinates retained privately.
Underway again westbound along Sicily's north coast.
Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; displacement from the previous accepted fix confirms movement. Exact coordinates retained privately.
Stopped off the Cinisi coast after the westbound run.
Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; exact coordinates retained privately. This records stopped movement only, not anchor security.
Underway westbound along Sicily's north coast.
Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; displacement from the previous accepted fix keeps the movement state underway. Exact coordinates retained privately.
Underway westbound along Sicily's north coast.
Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; exact coordinates retained privately.
Underway westbound along Sicily's north coast.
Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; exact coordinates retained privately.
Underway westbound beyond Isola delle Femmine.
Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; exact coordinates retained privately.
Underway westbound along Sicily's north coast.
Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; exact coordinates retained privately.
Underway westbound from the Mondello area; anchor up confirmed by Kev.
Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; exact coordinates retained privately.
| Logged CEST | AIS Time | Position | SOG | COG | Area / note | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-14 06:20 | — | San Vito Lo Capo, northwest Sicily | — | — | **Destination / town intel.** The harbour and compact centre remain the useful stop today: beach, sanctuary, groceries, cafes and the town's couscous tradition are all close ashore. No confirmed full chandlery is listed locally; the nearest researched practical alternative is Campanella Nautiservice, Via Molinello 28/A, Castellammare del Golfo, +39 0924 34977, with stock and hours to confirm; Pianeta Mare in Trapani is the larger supply-run fallback, Piazza Umberto I 40, +39 0923 593743, Mon–Fri 08:30–13:00 / 15:30–19:30, Sat 08:30–13:00. | San Vito is doing the useful harbour-day work while the breeze minds its manners. |
| 2026-09-14 06:20 | Fresh VesselAPI fix at 2026-09-14 03:55 UTC; W2K-2 sample 04:20 UTC | San Vito Lo Capo area, northwest Sicily | 0.0 kt through water | COG north on AIS fix | **Morning passage weather — HOLD / HARBOUR DAY.** No fresh yellow or red Zone C notice surfaced in the local civil-protection index. SeaLegs calls Monday GO with NNE 4–10 kt and 21–22 kt afternoon gusts; Open-Meteo shows a light morning, roughly 15–18 kt afternoon gusts, and 0.30–0.40 m local-grid waves. | Kev's plan remains San Vito through Wednesday 16 September. Check lines, fenders and chafe, enjoy the easy morning, and reassess the San Vito–Scopello / Castellammare option with a fresh forecast on Wednesday. |
| 2026-09-13 06:23 | — | Scopello / Castellammare route, northwest Sicily | — | — | **Destination / town intel — forward-looking.** Scopello and the Zingaro coves are the scenic daylight option; Castellammare del Golfo is the practical town stop with harbour services, the waterfront castle and old-town steps. Fresh fish, busiate, couscous and Scopello's pane cunzato are the proper shore rewards. | Do the pretty coves in daylight, confirm harbour conditions before committing overnight, and remember that N or NE wind can bring surge into Castellammare. |
| 2026-09-13 06:23 | Fresh VesselAPI fix at 2026-09-13 04:07 UTC | San Vito Lo Capo marina, northwest Sicily | 0.0 kt | — | **Morning passage weather — GO LOCAL / LEAVE EARLY.** Northwest Sicily and the Egadi are green on today's regional alert map. San Vito is light at dawn; N-NE wind builds to roughly 7-10 kt with 18-21 kt gusts along the Scopello and Castellammare route later, while combined waves ease from about 0.42 m toward 0.32-0.36 m. | A short coastal move is reasonable in the easy morning. Be settled before the afternoon breeze works the headlands; the day is friendly, but it has not signed a lifetime contract. |
| 2026-09-12 06:20 | — | San Vito Lo Capo, northwest Sicily | — | — | **Destination / town intel.** Everything Zen reached the marina yesterday. The harbour is the practical refuge today; beach, compact centre and sanctuary are easy on foot between showers, while groceries and cafes cover the useful jobs. Fish couscous, seafood and gelato are the local reward. | Save Monte Monaco, Macari and the Zingaro side for settled weather. Today, let the town do the moving. |
| 2026-09-12 06:20 | Fresh VesselAPI fix at 2026-09-12 04:10 UTC | San Vito Lo Capo marina, northwest Sicily | 0.0 kt | — | **Morning passage weather — HOLD / HARBOUR DAY.** Northwest Sicily is under yellow alert for thunderstorms and hydrogeological risk; local WSW gusts are forecast at 28-34 kt from late morning, with 0.5-0.6 m short-period water outside. | Stay berthed, check lines and fenders before the squalls, and reassess Sunday's calmer window tomorrow. The best passage today is from the cockpit to the couscous. |
| 2026-09-11 19:40 | Live fix at 2026-09-11 17:40 UTC | San Vito Lo Capo, northwest Sicily | 0.0 kt | — | Stopped at San Vito Lo Capo after the westbound passage. | Fresh onboard W2K-2 own-ship AIS fix; exact coordinates retained privately. This records stopped movement only, not anchor security. |
| 2026-09-11 19:10 | 2026-09-11 17:10 UTC | San Vito Lo Capo approaches, northwest Sicily | 1.9 kt | 297.7° | Underway on the final approach to San Vito Lo Capo. | Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; displacement was in the dead band, so the prior underway state is preserved. Exact coordinates retained privately. |
| 2026-09-11 18:40 | 2026-09-11 16:40 UTC | Approaching San Vito Lo Capo, northwest Sicily | 0.4 kt | 28.1° | Underway on the final approach to San Vito Lo Capo. | Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; displacement from the previous accepted fix keeps the movement state underway. Exact coordinates retained privately. |
| 2026-09-11 18:10 | 2026-09-11 16:10 UTC | Off the Zingaro coast, northwest Sicily | 5.4 kt | 254.9° | Underway westbound towards San Vito Lo Capo. | Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; exact coordinates retained privately. |
| 2026-09-11 17:40 | 2026-09-11 15:40 UTC | Gulf of Castellammare, northwest Sicily | 4.7 kt | 274.2° | Underway westbound towards San Vito Lo Capo. | Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; exact coordinates retained privately. |
| 2026-09-11 17:10 | 2026-09-11 15:10 UTC | Gulf of Castellammare, northwest Sicily | 5.2 kt | 265.8° | Underway westbound towards San Vito Lo Capo. | Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; exact coordinates retained privately. |
| 2026-09-11 16:40 | 2026-09-11 14:40 UTC | Gulf of Castellammare, northwest Sicily | 5.4 kt | 262.8° | Underway westbound towards San Vito Lo Capo. | Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; exact coordinates retained privately. |
| 2026-09-11 16:10 | 2026-09-11 14:10 UTC | Off the Balestrate coast, Gulf of Castellammare | 4.3 kt | 283.2° | Underway westbound towards San Vito Lo Capo. | Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; exact coordinates retained privately. |
| 2026-09-11 15:40 | 2026-09-11 13:40 UTC | Off the Trappeto coast, Gulf of Castellammare | 4.6 kt | 266.5° | Underway westbound towards San Vito Lo Capo. | Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; exact coordinates retained privately. |
| 2026-09-11 15:10 | 2026-09-11 13:10 UTC | Off the Terrasini coast, northwest Sicily | 5.3 kt | 268.1° | Underway westbound towards San Vito Lo Capo. | Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; exact coordinates retained privately. |
| 2026-09-11 14:40 | 2026-09-11 12:40 UTC | Off the Cinisi coast, northwest Sicily | 5.6 kt | 269.8° | Underway again westbound along Sicily's north coast. | Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; displacement from the previous accepted fix confirms movement. Exact coordinates retained privately. |
| 2026-09-11 14:10 | 2026-09-11 12:10 UTC | Off the Cinisi coast, northwest Sicily | 0.1 kt | 214.1° | Stopped off the Cinisi coast after the westbound run. | Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; exact coordinates retained privately. This records stopped movement only, not anchor security. |
| 2026-09-11 13:40 | 2026-09-11 11:40 UTC | Off the Cinisi coast, northwest Sicily | 0.3 kt | 213.2° | Underway westbound along Sicily's north coast. | Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; displacement from the previous accepted fix keeps the movement state underway. Exact coordinates retained privately. |
| 2026-09-11 13:10 | 2026-09-11 11:10 UTC | Off the Carini coast, northwest Sicily | 2.7 kt | 236.3° | Underway westbound along Sicily's north coast. | Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; exact coordinates retained privately. |
| 2026-09-11 12:40 | 2026-09-11 10:40 UTC | Off the Carini coast, northwest Sicily | 5.0 kt | 253.5° | Underway westbound along Sicily's north coast. | Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; exact coordinates retained privately. |
| 2026-09-11 12:10 | 2026-09-11 10:10 UTC | Off the Capaci coast, northwest Sicily | 2.5 kt | 252.3° | Underway westbound beyond Isola delle Femmine. | Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; exact coordinates retained privately. |
| 2026-09-11 11:40 | 2026-09-11 09:40 UTC | Between Capo Gallo and Isola delle Femmine, northwest Sicily | 5.6 kt | 260.0° | Underway westbound along Sicily's north coast. | Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; exact coordinates retained privately. |
| 2026-09-11 11:10 | 2026-09-11 09:10 UTC | Off the Capo Gallo coast, northwest Sicily | 2.4 kt | 252.8° | Underway westbound from the Mondello area; anchor up confirmed by Kev. | Fresh onboard W2K-2 fix; exact coordinates retained privately. |
17 position updates + 0 crew/media updates. Movement updates use fresh onboard fixes when available; repeated drift while stopped is not logged.