Who we are

In the great ports of the 16th century merchants would stroll every day looking closely at the ships. They scanned the decks, looked at the deck equipment, asked for information. And, after wandering around, they would approach alongside a sailing vessel that looked about to set sail shortly. They would ask some busy sailor, inquire about the boatswain, and finally ask for the captain. It was not unusual for him to be invited to have a glass of wine in the tavern of the nearest dock, and to be questioned minutely about the journey he was about to undertake. A business trip, hmm… well, where to? With what crew? Along which routes, for how long? And so on. At the end of the interrogation, after having also tried to understand the captain, the man, his nautical and life experience, the merchant would often made his offer: “I take ten shares of the shipment”.

The deal would close quickly with a signature and a handshake before a guarantor. The merchant would finance the expedition because he believed in it, because he hoped for a return: his money plus the share of any proceeds from the cargo. He risked, of course: was actually that captain as capable as they said? Would that ship come back? Did he make a good investment? Who knows…

Mediterranea is not a business, it is not a traditional charter, it does not aim at any economic return except for its cost coverage, but it is organized in a similar way to those sailing vessels of 1500. Its expedition has goals, a boat, a route. The return it seeks to achieve is cultural, nautical, scientific, of human relations.

A group of people read, understood, asked, and decided to be part of it, financially supporting the trip, participating in the most diverse ways through collaboration, work, help to the organization, going on board according to their wishes and commitments and to the boat needs. Others will join us, because we are open to anyone who really understands what Mediterranea is and wants to join our journey. We are waiting for you.

In this way, the small group of its founders has become a large group of people, dozens of travel and sea enthusiasts, all committed and involved, who have not by chance called themselves “Mediterranei“. This group supports the expedition, is an integral part of it, collaborates, and a share of them makes up the Committee of Rais, which leads the boat throughout the journey.

Nobody will receive money in exchange for their support, but they will rather act to generate, for themselves and for others, a much richer and more important return, as well as a much less “uncertain” one: the journey itself, with its whole load of adventure, discoveries, relationships, emotions, information, experiences. Life