I slept in a cosy little cubbyhole in the middle of the boat. When I woke, there was a fresh breeze whistling over the mast, and the boat rocked gently. I sipped a coffee and listened to everyone talk. The Italian language is so beautiful, I could listen to it all day. There’s so much expression in the words, so much rhythm, elegance, flow.

After the race, Ale and Daniele are sailing Aspra to Finisterre, Northern Spain. Ale has just finished a project about migrant integration in Italy, creating a short music film on the boat with a group of guys who had no musical background. It’s pretty powerful, even if you don’t speak the language.

I said goodbye and left the marina just as all of the yachts were leaving for the days racing to Monaco. There were some amazing full-on racing yachts but also some beautiful wooden cruisers. Thank you so much to Raffaella, Federico, Ale and Daniele, I love Italy already!

The cold wind soon dropped, leaving the sea calm and the air hot. Again I was majorly overdressed so went to shore and stripped off. I can’t deal with overheating, I’d rather be cold than hot every time.

I reflected back on my time in France as I paddled along. Leaving Cherbourg feels like a lifetime ago. Before this journey, I had only travelled to a few locations in France, and never the South coast. These past trips created a limited conception of the country, and I feel I now have a far more realistic understanding of France. I’ve been paddling in here for almost two months and this has given me a sense of scale – it’s massive! The landscape, climate and wildlife have all changed dramatically. I’ve visited Cherbourg, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Marseille and Nice – all great cities each with a different vibe. I’ve loved spending time on beautiful beaches and islands, paddling past stunning cliffs. Finally, I’ve met loads of people, each a character with a different story, different beliefs and ideas, but all in common their kindness and generosity.

This trip has made me question my hesitation to reach out to others in the past. One thing I’ve learnt is that pretty much everyone wants to offer help, and all it takes is one party to reach out and connect. I’ve had so many positive experiences on this trip, whenever I’ve reached out. Today most people live their lives in isolation and struggle along on their own. But life would be far easier if we helped each other out, so why don’t we do it more? I don’t think it’s because of a lack of community spirit, I feel it’s a lack of communication. How do you feel when someone asks a favour? It feels great to help out, especially when you are giving back reciprocally. The chances are, others feel this way. There’s no reason for hesitation, the worse possible response is no. Less screen time, more talking time.

I thought this part of Italy would just be the same as France, it’s the same coastline after all. As soon as I crossed the border, however, I noticed changes. Or maybe I imagined them.

The mountains have become less green, more arid. The architecture has changed, houses built perched on the cliffs, surrounded by terraces of crops. Old towns are clustered on hilltops, church spires at their centre, and newer towns line pebbly bays, colourful apartment blocks and palm trees forming cheerful promenades.

I paddled past San Remo, the finish of a famous cycling race, and then Imperia, before stopping at the town of San Bartolomeo al Mare. On the beach there I found a rack of kayaks, mostly K1s, to safely leave my boat. It’s crazy how much luck I have, or is it luck?