Newsletter #4 | August 2025 Edition

ENOLA awakens – the journey finally begins!

🎉 After a longer than planned winter refit, S/V Enola has finally set sail again!
 Our first miles of the season took us from Barth to Rostock, through the Fehmarn Belt and on to Kiel-Schilksee, where Enola proudly moored in the historic Olympic Harbor of Munich 1972.

💌 A word from the President – A journey full of emotions

What a start into adventure!

We sailed out of waters deeply familiar to me – around Rügen, Ummanz, and the Darß, where I began my sailing and windsurfing journey over 40 years ago. How time flies! To revisit these places now aboard S/V Enola was pure joy – and with a freedom that back then, four decades ago, was unthinkable.

Our journey continued to Rostock, the city where my daughter studied for four years, and then on to Kiel – our secret home. It’s where my daughter was born, where we married, and where part of my heart will always remain, no matter where we live today.

To share these special places with friends, to revisit memories, and to indulge in some German culinary delights together – unforgettable! And now, we are all ready to turn Enola’s bow westward.

Steffen

⛵ Encounters at sea – Friendship and inspiration

Great joy came with a reunion in Kiel with our friends Sylvia and Micki who sailed their first nautical miles with Gregory back in July 2021 in the Azores. They were aboard "Choco", their brand new Garcia Exploration 45. A wonderful couple with a beautiful sailing yacht. We wish them always fair winds and a hand’s breadth of water under the keel. Encounters like this remind us what sailing is truly about: community, friendship, and shared dreams.

⚓ Refit update – Challenges and new horizons

The refit continues – not without hurdles, delays, and disappointments. Yet alongside the struggles, there were bright moments and new partners joining the journey. We will dedicate a full blog post to the refit soon, sharing all details, challenges, and progresses.

On board, captain Gregory continues to coordinate the final works to be done in Germany. After completing the crossing of the Kiel Canal, and as of 25 August until the first 2 or 3 days of September, the yacht will be in Glückstadt to finish up the new standing rigging setup, have a thorough hull cleaning and get new antifouling.

In the meantime Steffen and Dimitri will rap up both hardware and software installation of our brand new communication system, based on Iridium GO! exec and PredictWind DataHub. Besides navigation and safety considerations, this will allow you to track us 24/7 on our website, and share that with your loved ones whenever you'll be onboard.

Dimitri is also documenting both the refit process and our very first shared miles. Stay tuned – his pictures and footages will give you a unique window into life aboard S/V Enola!

📬 Community and involvement - “Send me a Postcard”

Choose one or more postcards and let Enola bring it to your mailbox from along her sailing route. A little maritime joy among bills – and at the same time, direct support for the project.

Get your postcard now!

🗓️ Upcoming schedule

• 23-24 August: from the Baltic to the North sea sailing through the Kiel Canal.
• 26 August: S/V Enola on drydock in Glückstadt.
• 2-3 September: back on water, sailing to Ipswitch and then to Horta, Azores.
• From 15 September on through October, final refit #1 interventions.
• New passages to be announced for 2025 (October-December).
• 2026 passages announcement.

🧡 Become a Member – Join the Enola Team

Our journey thrives on community, vision, and commitment.

With your membership in The Grand 8 Sailors Circle and your involvement into the Enola Sailing Project, you actively support:

• 🔧 The refit and safe operation of S/V Enola
• 🌱 Sustainable and educational sailing initiatives
• 🌍 Shared adventures and new horizons for people of all ages

Why join?

• 💪 You make the difference – your contribution keeps the Enola Sailing Project moving.
• 🤗 You stay close – with exclusive updates, newsletters & stories.
• ⛵️You can sail along – Members have priority for future passages & events.
• ☝️You shape the course – with your voice in our association.

👉 Become a fellow Member today!

💫 Thank you for being part of the Enola story

Your trust, your passion, and your encouragement give us wind in our sails. The adventure continues – together with you! 🥰

Fair winds and following seas,

Your Enola Sailing Project team

Enola Sailing Project

By

The Grand 8 Sailors Circle