Sometimes the universe has a funny way of orchestrating exactly what you need, when you need it.
My 2022 sailing adventure in Sardinia, Italy with Sailing2Wellness was one of those divinely aligned moments that would forever change my relationship with myself and my willingness to take leaps of faith based on my intuition.
The Journey Begins (With a Plot Twist)
Picture this: I’m sitting at Jacksonville airport, bags packed and heart racing with excitement about my last-minute Italian vacation.
Although a trip to Italy wasn’t on my radar when 2022 kicked off, this wasn’t just any trip — I was about to spend 10 days living on a sailboat around Sardinia, plus an unexpected 48-hour Venice adventure I didn’t even know was coming. Plus, Italy had been on my bucket list for as long as I could remember.
Then Mother Nature decided to throw me a curveball. Lightning struck the plane that was supposed to take me from Jacksonville, Florida, to Charlotte, North Carolina, to catch my connecting flight. With no ETA in sight and my Italian adventure hanging in the balance, panic started to set in.
Enter my hero: my dad. Without hesitation, he picked me up from the airport, drove me back to my Charlotte apartment, spent the night, and then made the trek back to Jacksonville the next morning. What a mensch!
Thanks to his quick thinking and generous heart, I was back at the Charlotte International Airport the next day, ready to embark on my European adventure via Berlin to Olbia.
How the Universe Conspired to Get Me on This Boat
The story of how I ended up on this sailing trip feels nothing short of a magical introduction to working with the universe. I first learned about the Sailing2Wellness adventure through the Holistic House in the spring of 2022. When I saw it, I thought, “Wow, what a cool trip,” but like so many bucket list dreams, I filed it away for the future and didn’t take action.
Fast forward a month or so, and I received a text that would change everything. A friend had put several of us in a group chat with enticing news: two girls had canceled their spots on the sailboat, and there were suddenly two openings for the trip happening at the end of summer.
I took it as a sign from the universe that I was supposed to take that trip, especially since it was the second time the trip had been put right in front of my face, like a little “hey you, are you paying attention?”
Within a week, I had scraped my funds together, convinced my parents to watch my dog while I was already down in Florida for the summer, and booked my flights. Just like that, my Italian sailing adventure was secured.
Did I know who my cabin-mate would be? Nope. (Spoiler alert, I never spent a single night in my actual bed on board.)
Did I have any idea who else was going on the trip? Also, no.
I barely even knew the girl who was putting it together. All I knew was that every fiber of my being was screaming, “go for it.”
Looking back, I realize this was the exact moment I started learning to trust the universe’s timing and take those blind leaps of faith that would become foundational to my new way of being.
The Sailing2Wellness Experience
The Sailing2Wellness luxury experience in Sardinia and Corsica takes place aboard a top-of-the-line catamaran, offering the chance to explore stunning islands and their crystal-clear waters while focusing on health and well-being. Each day is anchored in wellness activities like yoga, breathwork, meditation, paddleboarding, and snorkeling.
Our floating home for the week was a spacious Lagoon 42-foot catamaran — 13 meters long and 7 meters wide — designed for the ultimate Mediterranean wellness retreat. And while this cat had the most impressive galley layout I’ve ever seen in person (I’m talking a full-sized fridge, a generous stovetop, and wraparound seating at a large kitchen table), this wasn’t my first time living on a boat.
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That honor goes to a family trip to the British Virgin Islands when I was in college. It was a memorable adventure that kicked off with a docking and mooring test led by a man who quite literally vanished into the bushes when the day was done. But that’s a story for another time.
Despite some boating experience under my belt, I had never been on a sailboat before. I was excited to try it for the first time, and curious to see how it compared to the world of powerboating I knew so well. (Lucky me, believe me, I know!)
Island Hopping Through Paradise
The trip kicked off in Olbia, Sardinia, where I shared an Airbnb with another girl who happened to be on my same flight. We hung out at the airport waiting for Amanda — my soon to be cabin mate and now my best friend to this day — who arrived with a suitcase full of books. Once we were all together, we grabbed a taxi into town, dropped our bags, and headed out to get a feel for the area.
Getting into the Airbnb turned out to be a mini adventure of its own. We were locked out for nearly an hour, lounging on the front porch while waiting for instructions. When we finally made it inside, I was so glad I’d packed light: just a duffle backpack, a small bag, and my trusty straw hat. The other two? Not so lucky — they had to haul large wheeled suitcases up four flights of stairs.
To make matters sweatier, the higher we climbed, the hotter it got. I’d heard the phrase “Italians don’t believe in air conditioning” before, but now I felt it. The apartment had a single floor fan working overtime against the heavy Sardinian heat.
Still, we were buzzing with excitement. In need of water and wine, we headed out to explore and landed in a charming courtyard, where we toasted our first glass of wine over charcuterie. As the evening unfolded, we enjoyed pizza, more wine, and connected with a few other girls who were also joining the sailing trip. Eventually, we ran into the hosts themselves.
After strolling past street performers, a small Ferris wheel, and vacationing families, we reluctantly made our way back to the oven of an Airbnb. The heat hit us like a wall. I slept on the couch by the window in my underwear and a tank top, hoping the breeze would do its job. Amanda and the other adventurous companion claimed the bed with the fan.
The next morning was just as hot. We walked a mile and a half to meet another girl booked on our sailboat trip at her hotel, where she’d promised a relaxing morning by the water. Unfortunately, the hotel staff had other ideas. We weren’t allowed in the pool — even as her guests — but we could enjoy overpriced cocktails as long as not even a toe touched the water. Still, we had time to kill. The frozen drinks were good, a breeze had picked up, and soon we’d be heading to the marina. We leaned into the moment — we were on island time now.
Our sailing adventure officially began at Marina Olbia. The winding Uber ride through mountainous terrain had some of us mentally fighting for our lives, battling the creeping waves of carsickness. After 20 minutes — though it felt like an eternity — we descended the other side of what felt like an Italian rollercoaster. Then the view opened up: a jaw-dropping marina nestled into a cove, surrounded by crisp blue water and dotted with some of the largest yachts I’ve ever seen.
This was definitely luxury territory— something I’m not exactly used to. Our captains, Vincent and Val, were still prepping the catamaran, so they sent us to the marina grocery store to grab essentials: snacks, water, and — of course —wine. I also picked up a few toiletries I’d forgotten (bar soap and a razor, since I use straight razors and still have no idea if loose blades are allowed in carry-ons).
Once we topped off the water tanks and stocked the fridge, we popped champagne for an early happy hour and set sail. Our first night onboard would be spent at a different marina further southeast. After an afternoon cruise, our full group of eight girls finally settled in and shared what had called each of us to book this trip.
My reason? Because the universe handed me an opportunity to put myself — and my mental wellness — first. A completely foreign concept in the course of my life. But I took it.
We moored in the harbor for the night, and none of us wasted a second before jumping into the salty, picturesque blue water for a sunset swim. I felt at peace for the first time in I don’t know how long. As I watched my feet slowly kick to keep myself afloat with the sky slowly dipping behind the horizon, I realized I made this happen — just by following my intuition. That realization felt like a shot of confidence straight to my bloodstream. It felt like remembering the whole point of this wild ride we call life: to experience everything we dream of, if we’re willing to go after it.
As the sun set behind the hills, we rinsed off the salt water and waited — buzzing with excitement — to hear what dinner plans the night would bring. I quickly learned that in Italy, dinner doesn’t happen until late. Our reservation was at 10 p.m., and I made a mental note to stash more snacks going forward unless I wanted to flirt with hanger every night.
We took the dinghy ashore in two trips for dinner as our sounds of laughter echoed through the quiet harbor. Night one? Bliss. And we were just getting started.
The next morning, we sailed toward scenes that felt ripped from a dream. One highlight: Tavolara, a magical island that claims to be one of the smallest kingdoms in the world. Val cooked us a seafood lunch inspired by Blue Zone longevity principles, and we took a moment to set intentions for the week.
From there, the itinerary was a whirlwind of beauty — Golfo Pevero, the protected Maddalena Archipelago (a UNESCO World Heritage site), and eventually crossing the Strait of Bonifacio to reach the French island of Corsica. Bonifacio stole my heart. The historic town, its cobbled streets, and the dramatic marina entrance were unforgettable.
Docking there, though? Pure chaos. We were crammed into a narrow slip with no margin for error. Every fender had to be perfectly placed to avoid scraping fiberglass, or concrete. I was so grateful not to be the captain or first mate in that moment, though I did step in as second mate to help dock. I grew up boating and even went to boating school at 13, so it felt good to be a helpful hand on deck.
Each day unfolded with a beautiful rhythm: morning yoga in dreamy spots, snorkeling in turquoise lagoons, paddleboarding through quiet bays, and enjoying some of the best meals I’ve had in a long time. The wellness elements weren’t an afterthought — they were built into the experience.
One night, a group meditation turned into an impromptu nap session. Half of us dozed off on deck, and one girl’s snoring let our trip leader know that we were connecting with the back of our eyelids more than our third eye. Balance, right?
More Than Just a Vacation: A Self-Healing Getaway
What I thought would be a beautiful sailing trip around Sardinia turned out to be so much more. It became the catalyst for my relationship with the universe and a turning point in my willingness to trust something bigger than my carefully laid plans. Each day on that catamaran — surrounded by the blues and greens of the Mediterranean — I felt myself slowly shedding the version of me shaped by expectations, and embracing the self I’d been quietly silencing for far too long.
Related: 6 Practical Exercises to Strengthen and Unlock Your Intuition
The combination of daily wellness practices, meals made from fresh local ingredients sourced from Sardinian farmers, the rhythm of sailing, and the company of like-minded travelers created the perfect environment for transformation. There’s something about life on the water — the wind in your hair, the gentle rocking of the boat, the vast, open horizon — that strips you down to your essence and reminds you what really matters.
The entire trip was filled with meaningful and unexpected moments: vineyard and winery tours, a girls-only dinner on deck while our captain and first mate went ashore, and a hilarious interaction with harbor guards pulling a prank on the American girls.
Near the end of our self-healing getaway, we gathered together for a ritual I’ll never forget. Each of us wrote down a limiting belief on a small piece of paper and set it on fire, watching old identities turn to ash in the sea breeze. It was the kind of moment that changes you quietly, but forever.
We ended our journey back in Marina Olbia, sharing a final dinner at a restaurant overlooking the water before migrating to the live music nearby. There, we found ourselves on a crowded dance floor, laughing, sweating, singing, and fully alive in the joy of the moment.
It wasn’t just a sailing trip — it was an awakening. And it marked the beginning of a new chapter in how I choose to live, connect, and trust myself.
The Unexpected Gift of Venice
As if the sailing adventure wasn’t magical enough, halfway through the trip, I learned that some of the girls were headed to Venice afterwards. Venice was on my bucket list, enticing me for years, even though I really knew nothing about the floating city.
In response to another divinely guided nudge, I changed my flights home and set my sights on Vencie. I spent 48 hours in that stunning city, where architecture, culture, and vibrancy are infused into every alleyway. Those two days wandering the canals, getting lost in the winding streets, and soaking up the unique energy of that floating city felt like the perfect bookend to my sailing experience.
It’s also where I found what quickly became my favorite addition to my daily ring stack — a sterling silver snake ring — a small but powerful symbol of the personal evolution that had already begun before I even set foot in Italy.
For those who don’t know, I try to buy a ring in every country I visit. Pictured above is another favorite I found in Corsica. It was handmade by a husband and wife duo — he dives to collect red coral from the sea floor, and she transforms it into one-of-a-kind jewelry. I met her in their tiny shop tucked into a quiet Corsican alleyway, where she helped me pick out the piece.
48 hours is not enough time to take in all that Venice is. But I’m more than okay using that as an excuse to visit in the future and give that city the exploration it deserves.
A Trip That Changed Everything
This wasn’t just a vacation; it was a divine alignment cloaked in a self-healing getaway that set the course for who I was becoming. The me who boarded that plane in Charlotte (after all the travel drama) was different from the me who returned. I had learned to trust the universe’s timing, to say yes to opportunities that scared and excited me in equal measure, and to invest in experiences that fed my soul rather than just my Instagram feed.
Sailing2Wellness and the Holistic House didn’t just give me 10 days on a beautiful catamaran — they gave me a new relationship with myself and a template for living more boldly. Sometimes the best trips are the ones that don’t just take you to new places geographically, but to new places within yourself.
If you’re reading this and feeling that familiar tug of “what if,” I hope you’ll remember this story. Sometimes the universe has to get creative to get us where we need to go, but it’s always, always worth the leap of faith.
Ready for your self-healing getaway? Check out Sailing2Wellness and their incredible wellness sailing experiences in the Mediterranean and beyond. Trust me — and trust the universe — it might just be exactly what you need.
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