Born in Messina, “christened” and raised on the sea of the Strait. Competition athlete in Olympic and river canoeing, winner of several regional marathons and downriver events. A fervent fan of BERNARD MOITESSIER, his writings plus his approach to life and to seafaring. At the age of 21 circumnavigated Sicily alone (1995). In a new Kayak called “BERNARD”, set off again alone: in ´96 to circumnavigate Sardinia, Corsica in ´97, the Peloponnese in ´98, Crete in ´99, central and south Dalmatia in 2000, and in that same year founded the “Canoa Kayak Club Messina” and has been a F.I.C.K. instructor (the Italian Canoe and Kayak Federation). Since 2000 he has taught and promoted sea kayak touring in Sicily and the Mediterranean. In 2005 became a qualified river U.I.S.P. Instructor (Italian Association of Sport for Everyone). In 2007 became a Marine - Coastal waters - F.I.C.T. Instructor (Italian Canoe Touring Federation).In 2010 St. Francisco, California has received a 4 star Leadership training BCU sea kayaking and Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning.

Manuela Garaffo [ mgaraffo@gmail.com ]

Grew up in Sicily, moving between Crete and Las Palmas developed her passion for the sea - encouraging her to discover and learn new languages and culture by travelling and working from one island to another.
An Olympic kayaker, in 2002 won a couple of regional prizes for speed and marathon, but left this to share the passion of her friend  Eugenio  for kayaking and touring. Thus, in 2003, she ventured into Sea kayaking on a kayloa kayak called “Ola” (Spanish for Wave!) which she took on a maiden voyage on a crossing between Capo Peloro - Scylla, followed by tours of the Aeolian islands, the Egadi, the Ionian Greek islands (from Corfù to Zante) and... the voyage goes on! Since 2004 has been a F.I.C.K. instructor (the Italian Canoe and Kayak Federation) for the Canoa kayak Club Messina, handling tourist and recreational activities, victualling and welcoming groups of adventurous kayakers coming from overseas!

Luca Astuto [ astuto@astutoteam.it ]

My love for kayaking, the sea and sea-faring became irresistible when in the year 2000 a group of four canoeists returned at sunset to their base in a campsite on Lampedusa. The day after we were to head for the island of Linosa and in less than 24 hours was established a way of living that today affects every thought and action. My Guru is called Eugenio Viviani and it is due to him that I have had the chance to lead an alternative life to the one on land. Wherever there is water flowing then CKC and Nanni (as friends call him) will be there with all the necessary gear, and with a joy and enthusiasm to share unforgettable experiences. Even if other things and people come and go, I can still count on Nanni, kayaking and the sea. Although I live in Rome, my winters there are spent organizing the next good long nautical camping trip. Being at sea whenever possible, even alone, is like reliving the experience of the great Bernard Moitessier, this is howit was in 2006 when circumnavigating Corsica crossing the Bonifacio Strait and once again in 2007 for the circumnavigation of Sardinia and will be once again this year around Sicily.

We dedicate this sea kayaking school to
BERNARD MOITESSIER
who inspired our dreams and our trips