First of all, for our choice as a group too much navigation from Palermo to the islands (2 days lost) the boat needs maintenance and accessories inside (from the 4th day we no longer sailed). Elizabeth

Extremely negative experience – technical problems, maintenance and management absolutely to be reviewed.

Boat [hidden] - Aeolian Islands - 15/22 August 2026 "UNFORGETTABLE BAD EXPERIENCE" Writing a review is not an indication of malice or defamation. What I am writing is exclusively a personal opinion based on the facts and the experience actually lived by me and my crew on board from 15 to 22 August 2026. *1. Skipper change and language barrier* About 24 hours before the departure we were informed by Sailsquare of the change of skipper. Shortly after, with some guests already on the road, the owner informed us that the new captain did not speak Italian, but only English. This condition created immediate discomfort, considering that several members of the group do not speak English at all or do not master it. However, less than 24 hours before the set sail and with all the participants already on the road or about to leave, it was in fact impossible for us to cancel the reservation. In practice, this language barrier has generated continuous misunderstandings and critical slowdowns for us during the fast maneuvers of mooring and docking, and has made it extremely difficult to collaborate to manage technical failures that have occurred on board. The skipper's instructions had to be continuously translated and reported to the other members of the group, creating constant word of mouth and making communications less immediate in a context where impact communication is essential. Precise with intellectual honesty: the replacement skipper was an exquisite person who made real efforts to safely steer the boat. *2. Check-in conditions* At check-in on 15/08 at 12:00 we found: interiors that in our opinion were not clean and sanitized, standard fridge with mold and smelly not usable for us, portable makeshift fridge on board not working for us due to lack of energy autonomy, only one stove out of two working, cutlery and other accessories with widespread rust. *3. Electrical failure and autonomy* First night at anchor in Filicudi total electrical blackout, without anchor lights and without lighting on board. We had to use our personal flashlights to signal our presence to an approaching catamaran avoiding a collision. In the following days, it was necessary to intervene several technicians in different ports, including Salina. We were told that the alternator was faulty and part of the photovoltaic wiring was worn. The installed spare part has proved to be defective. For about 7 days we had very limited energy autonomy. The toilets could not be used as the drain was electric, they gave off nauseating smells and had continuous and unacceptable episodes of excrement rising making the boat unlivable. Not to mention the deterioration and consequent loss of various food supplies, the engine of the Tender is not working etc.... Most of the time we spent in the ports solving problems with the boat and waiting for technicians to do it. All of the above corresponds to facts that we have experienced firsthand. After a year of work, all this is unacceptable !! The only luck was the group: we were very united, everyone gave 101%, we were sailors, mechanics and psychologists for each other. Without this extraordinary cohesion and mutual support, we would never have been able to complete this experience. *Personal opinion:* From my personal experience from 15 to 22 August 2026, I would never, ever book it again and I would not recommend it. 0 stars for the boat 0 stars for the owner.

An unfortunately very negative experience caused by a truly endless series of problems with the boat, such as: - boat refrigerator not working and replaced with one of the dimensions absolutely not suitable to accommodate 7 people, - faulty alternator that did not allow the battery to be recharged during motor navigation with substantial problems for all the electrical instrumentation on board -Gas cylinder finished after 2 days of navigation severely limiting us in the preparation of meals, which following recharging had already proved to be partially discharged and therefore not refilled from the last charter -Too superficial cleaning of the boat since the last charter Added to this is the lack of prior communication of the skipper change, with a person who did not speak Italian and which made general communication difficult while sailing with us, the skippers of the other boats and the port insiders, this lack of prior communication is really incomprehensible, was there a fear that people would cancel the experience? We got to get to most of the islands, but we didn't get to visit them as it should have been, because most of the time we spent in the ports fixing boat problems or waiting for technicians to do it. I think it would have been right for Gaetano to recognize and take responsibility for these inconveniences by reimbursing us at least part of the fee paid for this (non) holiday, instead he has always minimized every issue by demonstrating little intellectual honesty and little care of his customers. Unfortunately, a mention must also be made of Sailsquare, which, aware of the situation we were facing, left us at the mercy of the problems without offering us concrete and valid support. I leave only 3 stars to the destination because in fact we saw and enjoyed it very little, 1 star with our eyes closed for the skipper and the boat. Too bad.