It was New Year’s Eve 2019 when Giulia Baccosi, a 31-year-old seeking a sign from the universe about her career path, received a life-changing message. Just as she questioned her decision to move to Sicily, an opportunity arose: a cargo ship, the Avontuur, needed a cook for a voyage from Europe to Central America. Having worked as a ship’s cook before, Giulia seized the chance, intending it to be a short stint before returning to Italy.
The journey began in January 2020, a three-month expedition that quickly turned into an epic adventure. As the historic schooner Avontuur sailed through the North Sea and towards the Canary Islands, Giulia embraced her role, preparing meals for the crew and managing supplies. The first port of call, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, offered a brief but vibrant interlude with the city’s energetic carnival, a stark contrast to the vastness of the ocean.
However, the voyage’s true test came shortly after. A rumour about a mysterious virus spreading in a hotel on the island was quickly overshadowed by an alarming sight on the horizon: a small, overcrowded fishing vessel carrying desperate migrants. The Avontuur immediately altered course to assist, a moment that deeply affected Giulia, reminding her of humanity’s shared vulnerability.
As they continued their journey, the world began to change. News of lockdowns, closed borders, and cancelled flights reached the crew via sparse satellite emails. Giulia’s fear for her loved ones back home grew with each passing day, isolated as they were by the immense ocean. The Avontuur became a ‘floating bubble,’ a confined space where the crew had to adapt to a new reality, finding ways to combat boredom and anxiety through crafts, music, and the shared experience of nature’s beauty – from playful dolphins to majestic whales.
Facing dwindling supplies and logistical nightmares due to the global pandemic, the crew improvised, even crafting a makeshift slow cooker to preserve their last ingredients. Their voyage took them as far north as Newfoundland before eventually making landfall in the Azores after four and a half months at sea. Finally, after 188 days, the Avontuur returned to Hamburg, Germany.
Giulia’s six-month odyssey transformed her. While she returned to her old life, she was not the same person. Five years later, she continues her life at sea, always seeking that guiding sign, a testament to the profound impact of her unexpected adventure.