The 8th of May we truly started to think about our trip.
The 10th of May we got a panic attack.
The 11th of May we made a handy planning.
Let's say that we sail away half of July. Yep, this year.
Can we do it and arrange it in the time we have? Well:

Start of the planning:
- Arrange the needed licenses like ICC and ICP because that might take a while. So far not possible because I lost my coast navigation license (oeps, very handy).
- Prepare the boat. Well, we don't own a boat yet (very handy).
- Buy equipment although we live in Italy and don't know yet how to bring the stuff to Holland (so handy!)
- Get a license for the Icom- Ic M59. But the closure date for examination is kind of NOW... and I can't find the right one. So I applied for the one and only examination I found before we want to leave and that's the not sufficient Dutch 'basis marifonie'. Examination date when we won't be in Holland (very handy) and the day after my birthday (very handy) and how do I get the right course material while being in Italy (very handy).
- Learn how to sail (might be handy). We found a course of a few weekends in Pisa. Only Enrico will do that because they said that I don't need it because I'm the Skippy... they don't expect us doing a trip like that without enough experience...and I'm to ashamed to tell that I haven't sailed for years (very handy).
- Translate all the technical terms in English and learn them by hearth because we found out that 'kikker' is not 'frog' in sailing (very handy).
- Navigate a course in which we survive. Through the channels? More scary to me than open sea. We will see how the wind blows (handy).
- Arrange the ark that we own in Amsterdam, to be sold before we leave. And empty it before the 15th of July (O Dio).
- Find and buy the right books in English. That's easy in Italy... NOT.
- Make a todolist.

So, now we know we can do it.
Next.

So, we're officially busy with it.
Yesterday we have been at Den Hover harbour and finally looked over our (forthcoming) boat, Kleine Mei, a Pionier 900 from far 1964 (I was not born yet!). Well, it's so nice, in perfect shape and it just needs small repairs and some... let's say so... renewals! I immediately thought about a "Pimp My Coarse" job, and I'm already thinking about it, and Ageeth is an interior designer for boats, so what better? Well, it feels really good. I have to admit I was scared, and I still am, about sailing from Amsterdam to Livorno, expecially for North Sea and Ocean part. But you only live once, and if not now when? Something to tell our children, and we will need it, they're gonna be a lot, so we need a lot of stories!
Well, but this is another story.
This is our Sailblog, people.
More is coming, about the boat, us and the trip.
Passo e chiudo!