In brief
On New Year’s Eve 2019, Giulia Baccosi made a spontaneous decision to become a cook on a cargo ship, leading her to a six-month adventure at sea. As COVID-19 prompted worldwide lockdowns, Giulia faced unforeseen challenges aboard the Avontuur, learning resilience and adaptability while encountering migrants at sea and grappling with the isolation of life on the ocean. Finally returning to Germany, she reflects on her transformation and continued passion for life at sea.
What would you do if you were stuck on a ship, far from loved ones, and you had no idea how - or when - you'd get home? A BBC podcast follows the story of how one young woman's life took an unexpectedly wild turn.It is New Year's Eve 2019 and Giulia Baccosi is at a party with friends when her phone pings. The 31-year-old has recently accepted a new job in Sicily, but isn't sure she's made the right call. My heart was telling me maybe I should reconsider, Giulia says. I look up at the sky and ask the universe for a sign - to let me know if I am on the right path.The message that flashes up on Giulia's phone is from a friend. It says a cargo ship carrying rum and olive oil from Europe to Central America is about to set sail - and it needs a cook. Giulia has previously worked as a ship's cook and decides she'll take this new job rather than the one in Sicily. I'll come with you to Mexico, she says on the phone to the ship's owner, and then I'll leave.In early January, excitement builds aboard the Avontuur - a 100-year-old schooner - as it sets sail from Germany and heads towards the rough waters of the North Sea. Giulia will be cooking three meals a day for the hungry crew and managing supplies. The crew's first port of call is Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and after 36 days at sea, the crew finds themselves surrounded by thousands of carnival revellers. However, the joyous atmosphere would soon be disrupted by the growing reality of the pandemic.As they continue their journey, they unexpectedly encounter a small, overloaded fishing vessel carrying desperate migrants, which notably alters the course of their adventure. Brought aboard the Avontuur, the exhausted migrants are fed, watered, and given medical attention.The situation aboard takes another turn when the crew receives distressing news about the COVID-19 pandemic spreading globally. With ports closing and flights grounded, Giulia grapples with anxiety about the safety of her loved ones back home, knowing that contact is limited.Over the following months, Giulia and her crew navigate the challenges of isolation at sea while becoming increasingly resourceful. Ultimately, they discover joy in the simple wonders of the ocean, build makeshift solutions for their dwindling supplies, and foster connections among themselves.In June 2020, after 188 days at sea, the Avontuur returns to Hamburg, where Giulia reflects on her transformational journey. She appreciates her time spent aboard more than she ever anticipated. Now, five years on, she continues to embrace the call of the sea, ever mindful of the universe’s signs on her journey.}
