EUROPA is an Alubat OVNI 32 - an aluminium centerboard sailing boat produced in France in 1990. With 10,40m LOA (34ft) and 3,30m beam it is a comfortable medium-size cruiser, designed for offshore navigation (category A). Often referred to as the 4x4 of the seas, it's  far from being fast, but with its lifting keel and lifting rudder up, her draft is only 0,60m, so it can access to areas out-of-reach for others or even land on a beach. Europa is big enough to take us around Europe (or further one day), and small enough for economic short-handed coastal cruising on weekends and holidays. She can berth comfortably 4-5 (up 7) people in two double cabines and saloon with one single sea-berth plus one convertible double sea-berth. 

Her "story"

Europa was first sailed in tidal waters of Brittany, France until her previous owners took her from 2011 till 2014 sailing from France to Madeira, Canary Islands, Cabo Verde, then crossing the Atlantic ocean to Brazil, Carribean islands, Azores and back to France, while taking a very good care of her. After we bought her in July 2016, we brought her to the Adriatic sea to warm her up a bit again and in summer 2018 we sailed her from Croatia via Italy to the Greek island of Crete to which the mythological "Europa" was abducted by Zeus (read the full story below). From there we sailed Europa west up to Malta where she waits for the adventure to be continued...

According to the legend, Europa was the epitome of feminine beauty on Earth. Zeus once saw her on the seashore of Phoenicia (Lebanon) playing with her friends. He was so captivated by her beauty that he fell in love with her and developed a strong desire to possess her. Immediately, he took the form of a white bull and approached her. The bull looked wonderful with its snow-white body and gem-like horns. Europa looked at the extraordinary animal curiously and dared to touch and later hang him because he appeared so calm to her. Later, she was somehow motivated to climb on his back. As soon as she did so, Zeus ran to the sea and carried her all the way from Phoenicia to the island of Crete. There he regained his human form...took her by hand to the cave near the village of Psychro and later mated with her under an evergreen tree. This was the abduction of Europa, who later gave birth to three sons of Zeus: Minos, Rhadamanthys and Sarpedon. These men were known for their fairness and became the three judges of the Underworld, when they died. In fact, Minos founded the town of Knossos and gave his name to an entire civilization, the Minoan civilization...

EUROPA's equipment:

Unlike standard Ovni 32 (but similar to bigger Alubat Ovni boats) Europa is equipped with a very practical fixed stern arch, holding solar panels, wind generator , antennas, and dinghy. This arch is really handy both during navigations or in ports and add a real value to the boat also in terms of security. She is fully equipped for offshore navigation (main sail, furling genoa, staysail, storm sail, spinnaker, windvane plus tiller-autopilot steering), 27hp Vetus engine, communication equipment (VHF with AIS receiver with remote control in the cockpit,  Radar, EPIRB, NAVTEX, Iridium Satellite tracker and messenger Garmin inReach Mini) and safety equipment (2019 Plastimo Transocean liferaft, 2,5m dinghy with 4hp outboard, mast steps, 2+2 powerful electric and manual bilge pumps, stern platform for easy access to water, 20kg Spade main anchor with 40m of 10mm chain, Fortress FX-16 stern anchor, Walder boom brake, LOFRANS electric windlass, etc). Most recently (April 2019) we have replaced the stern round fixed plexi-window by an opening rectangle hatch, which substantially increased the comfort in our aft cabin, due to much better air circulation. New navigation screen and OpenpPlotter on Rapsberry Pi have been added in 2020.