Follow the global adventures of Paul and Sheryl Shard as they voyage to exotic ports around the world aboard their sailboat in this exciting new TV series!

Season One

Episode 1 - Gibraltar, Ceuta and South Spain
Paul and Sheryl Shard complete a transatlantic passage aboard their 11-metre sailboat, "Two-Step", and enter the Mediterranean Sea where they make landfall in Gibraltar. Next, they sail over to Ceuta on the North African coast where they are surprised by the luxurious facilities of this "outpost". The episode concludes with a voyage along the Costa del Sol of Spain where Sheryl visits the local markets and demonstrates how to prepare "Paella", a traditional Spanish meal, before they make a dare-devil drive through the Spanish hills where they participate in a dramatic mountain festival.

Episode 2 - Costa Blanca to the Balearic Islands
The Shards haul out their sailboat in Spain's Costa del Sol to prepare it for their upcoming voyage along the rugged Costa Blanca coast. They round Cabo de Gata and find isolated anchorages at the foot of the dramatic Costa Blance mountain ranges including some where the beaches are "clothing optional". They visit ports along the way that were once important Roman mining colonies and in Calpe, Paul and Sheryl climb the monolith, Penon de Ifach. Later, they attempt to sail to the Balearic Islands but are forced to turn back due to poor conditions. They eventually arrive at the island paradise of Espalmador where, with lots of humour, Paul and Sheryl try out nude sunbathing and discover the healing properties of the local mud baths.

Episode 3 - Isla Formentera
The Shards sail to anchorages around Isla Formentera, part of Spain's Balearic Island group and a quiet pastoral island which has been constantly invaded throughout history. They visit a fortified church where islanders fought off pirates and then Paul and Sheryl join the modern "invasion" of Northerners on the beautiful beaches of the island. In a quiet cove they discover an entire village built of driftwood and collect winkles along the seashore. They take the winkles to the crew of a Norwegian sailboat and demonstrate how to cook them along with mussels. Bad weather is coming so they do some underwater tests on their anchors and decide to leave for a safer harbour on the island of Ibiza. In the storm, another boat is washed up onto the beach and Paul and Sheryl assist with the recovery.

Episode 4 - Why People Sail
In this episode, Paul and Sheryl examine "how" and "why" the travelling life lures people away from a regular life ashore. They look back on the highlights of their 11 years on the high seas since they built their sailboat, visiting islands in the Bahamas and Caribbean, diving on tropical reefs, encountering whales at sea and participating in local rituals in the mid-Atlantic islands of the Azores. They also introduce sailors cruising for different reasons - a Norwegian couple who sold their home and are cruising in Spain so they can spend more time with their 2 small children and a retired British engineer who is restoring a large motor yacht for adventures in the Mediterranean.

Episode 5 - Mallorca
The Shards sail to Mallorca where they meet a group of teenagers who have sailed a 14-foot boat to a deserted smugglers beach and are camping there for the summer. When they ride an antique wooden train up into the Tramuntana mountains, they meet a couple with four children living in an isolated self-sufficient mansion and learn they are former sailors who fell in love with Mallorca. They visit the Palma cathedral, the tallest Gothic structure in the world, built in fulfillment of a sailor's promise when he was spared drowning in a storm at sea! Sailing on to the nearby island of Menorca they are stormbound in the tiny harbour in Cuidadella but during a small break in the weather make a run for the safer harbour of Mahon.

Episode 6 - Menorca
Paul and Sheryl sail into the historic harbour of Mahon, on the island of Menorca, said by the British Admiral Nelson to be the safest harbour in the Mediterranean. They moor at a unique floating platform called Isla Clementina anchored in the middle of the harbour where they are welcomed into a community of international cruising sailors. Menorca has the highest concentration of prehistoric ruins and monuments in the world and the Shards crawl through ancient natural tunnels in the cliffs to visit Neolithic cave-dwellings, Megalithic tombs and later explore sites where an unidentified culture has built huge standing stones and towers.

Episode 7 - Passage to Sardinia
After spending the winter in Menorca in Spain's Balearic Islands, Paul and Sheryl prepare their sailboat, "Two-Step", for another season of exploring the Mediterranean. It's hard to say goodbye but, ready for new adventures, they cast off their docklines and head to sea for a 2-day passage to the Italian island of Sardinia. En route they encounter vast flotillas of neon blue jellyfish that travel the sea using tiny sails. Late the next day, the Shards make landfall at the dramatic headland of Capo Caccia where they explore an enormous cave before sailing to the medieval town of Alghero where they meet fun-loving local sailors who attempt to teach Sheryl Italian.

Episode 8 - Strait of Bonifacio
The Strait of Bonifacio, the narrow strait between the French island of Corsica and the Italian island of Sardinia, is notorious for shipwrecks because of its rock-strewn waters and the strong winds that are funneled
between the mountain ranges on both sides. But it is also one of the most beautiful cruising grounds in the world with numerous islands, beaches and bays. So keeping an eye on the weather, Paul and Sheryl navigate this treachorous channel visiting the French island of Lavezzi, site of the worst maritime disaster in the Mediterranean, and explore the idyllic La Maddelena Archipelago in Sardinia. Next they sail to the Corsican side to sample a taste of France in the historic city of Bonifacio before crossing the channel back to Sardinia. Here they participate in the festival of San Giovanni which involves jumping through the flames of a roaring bonfire.

Episode 9 - Barbagia
Numerous civilizations have invaded the island of Sardinia over time, but the people of the island hid in the mountains and were never conquered. Called "barbarians" by the ancient Romans, the name remains in this mountainous region called "Barbagia". In this episode, Paul and Sheryl sail along this wild eastern coast of Sardinia beginning their voyage in the resort town of Porto Cervo, the playground of the rich, where the Shards' 11-metre sailboat is dwarfed by 60-metre yachts and ocean-liners. In contrast, further south they find remote bays and coves and, leaving their boat, travel inland where they meet proud mountain people with strong traditions. Invited by the locals to join in, the Shards participate in a pagan festival and visit ancient temples known as "nuraghi".

Episode 10 - Pantelleria
Paul and Sheryl sail to Pantelleria, a tiny volcanic island in the Sicilian Channel close to the North African coast. They arrive in time for the annual grape harvest and learn to make wine in the traditional way, dive on a Byzantine shipwreck with a group of archeologists, and while hiking around the island discover that the volcanic activity makes it a natural health spa. They have a sauna in a cave, relax in hot thermal pools by the sea and restore their energy in a mineral-rich mud bath in the Lake of Venus.

Episode 11 - Tunisia
Tunisia on the North African coast is reknowned for its warm climate, beautiful beaches and affordable resorts, but when Paul and Sheryl sail in to the port of Monastir they discover that an exciting world lies beyond the marinas and hotels along the coast. Riding camels into the Sahara Desert they sleep under the stars at night, cook bread in hot sand, and learn what its like to live life as a beduin.

Episode 12 - Sicily
It's November when Paul and Sheryl sail to the Italian island of Sicily and olive season is just beginning. They are invited by a local family to join in the harvest and spend a day in the groves picking olives, then deliver them to the regional co-op where the Shards learn how olive oil is produced. When the work is done they celebrate in the hills at the annual Festival of Olive Oil. Family life in Sicily, they discover, centers around food and a local woman teaches Sheryl how to prepare some of the local dishes. Ice cream was invented in Sicily by the Arabs who collected snow from the top of Mount Etna and the Shards make several attempts to climb to the top of this ancient volcano in the strong November winds.

Episode 13 - Malta
Autumn is setting in when Paul and Sheryl sail into Grand Harbour, the port of Valletta on the island of Malta, home of the famous Knights of St. John who built this remarkable fortified town over 400 years ago. The island is also reknowed for its role in WWII as a military base and shipyard. While the Shards make use of the still-excellent shipyards to do work on their sailboat, they investigate the rich history of Malta which has been inhabited for nearly 6,000 years. Riding the island's antique buses, they visit the underground chambers of an ancient hypogeum, the cave where St. Paul lived after being shipwrecked on the island, and participate in Malta's spectacular Christmas celebrations.

Season Two

#14 - Spring Launch in Malta
After waiting out winter storms in Malta, the Shards prepare for a new sailing season. While Two-Step is in the boat yard, they participate in Easter celebrations, learn to cook spring vegetables Maltese style, and travel with local sailors to other islands in the archipelago where they dive in an underwater cave.

#15 - Vulcano
From Malta, the Shards sail north through the notorious Strait of Messina navigating the strong currents featured in Homer's "Odyssey". They sail with unique boats used by the locals to hunt for swordfish, then face headwinds on their way to the Aeolian Islands. They eventually arrive at the island of Vulcano where they swim in bubbling hot seawater from the volcano, dive on underwater bubbling gas vents, relax in healing mud pools and climb to the top of the island's steaming crater where their path is blocked by vents of toxic gas.

#16 - Stromboli
The wind shifts in Vulcano and the Shards raise anchor to sail north to the twin-peaked island of Salina, famous for it's Malmsey wine. While Sheryl works on the boat, Paul rents a unique vehicle called a Magoo and searches the island for the best wine. As he travels the island he meets fun-loving locals and samples a lot of wine. In the distance is the island of Stromboli, an active volcano which for centuries has erupted every 15 to 20 minutes and is known as the oldest lighthouse in the Mediterranean. Leaving Two-Step in the marina on Salina, the Shards ride one of the island ferries and do a night climb of Stromboli and get a spectacular view of the eruptions.

#17 - Siracusa & South Italy
From the Aeolian Islands, the Shards sail back south through the Strait of Messina where they have calm seas and are visited by dolphins. They stop at the ancient town of Siracusa in Sicily, once the most powerful city-state in ancient Greece, rivalling even Athens in power. From here, they leave the Strait and sail to small ports along the south and southeast coast of Italy heading for the Adriatic Sea. They rent a car and visit a village of unusual old homes called 'trulli' which are whimsical cone-shaped buildings unique to the area. They also explore the isolated hilltowns of Calabria where they attend a local wedding and are 'captured' by friendly brigands who wine and dine them.

#18 - Dubrovnik
In Brindisi, Italy, the Shards are held up with bad weather. Finally, they get the right wind to cross the Adriatic Sea to Croatia but have a rough passage. When they make landfall in Croatia the next morning they drop anchor to rest and are awakened by a couple of marine police officers who charge them for stopping without an anchoring permit. Their passports are confiscated and they have to appear in court to get them back. They consider leaving the country there and then. But the court translator befriends them and, determined to show them what a wonderful country Croatia can be, introduces the Shards to the local people, takes them on a tour of the old city of Dubrovnik, and sails with them to the beautiful surrounding islands where they dive and play with the colourful marine life.

#19 - Dalmatian Islands
Continuing their voyage along Croatia’s coastline, the Shards leave Dubrovnik and sail north to the fortified town of Ston where they visit the treasured salt pans. in Mali Ston, they meet a local oysterman who takes them out in his boat where they help harvest the oysters his son prepares for dinner. Next they sail to the barren islands of Kornati Islands National Park where they’re caught in Croatia’s most dreaded type of storm - a bora. They participate in a rescue, then sail north to the island of Dugi Otok where they dive for giant mussels.

#20 - Hvar Island
The Shards sail to the island of Hvar in Croatia for a week-long rendezvous with 60 other sailors where they celebrate both Canada Day and American Independence Day, visit local wineries then explore this island, famous for its cultivation of lavender, in an old citroen rental car that continually breaks down.

#21 - Rogoznica
Two-Step's next stop along the Dalmation coast of Croatia is the town of Trogir, an ancient walled city and one of the few Dalmation towns to first resist ,then thrive under old Venetian rule.From here, the Shards sail to the town of Rogoznica, once a pirate strong-hold, where they meet up with the Stanton family, French sailing friends that have renovated the old harbourmasters building into a waterfront summer home. The Stanton's take Paul and Sheryl to explore an abandoned hilltop bunker from the recent war, teach them how to purchase and cook the local fish. The highlight of their visit is the annual procession of Our Lady of the Shrine where Paul joins the locals in a grueling one-hour swim around the bay, while Sheryl participates in the nautical procession joining the local boats in her dinghy.

#22 - Venice
After cruising north along the Dalmatian coast of Croatia, the Shards cross the Adriatic Sea to Venice, Italy. They moor Two-Step at the local sailing club and Sheryl rides the waterbus to the bountiful city fish market while Paul explores the canals in the dinghy looking for a repair shop to buy parts for Two-Step's engine. The Shards' visit coincides with the annual Historical Regatta where traditional boats are raced in the Grand Canal. Later, Mario, a local sailor, takes Paul and Sheryl for a ride to outlying islands around Venice in his shallow-draft sailboat and they make a stop at a boatyard where they see how gondolas and other traditional Venetian boats are built. The show concludes with Mario teaching Paul how to row a gondola, a very tippy vessel, while singing famous gondolier songs.

#23 - Ionian Islands
Leaving the Adriatic Sea, the Shards head south to Corfu where they begin a voyage through the Ionian Islands of Greece. Their first challenge is to sail past the Albanian coast where there have been reports of pirate attacks. They arrive at the island of Corfu, which has been settled since prehistoric times, and moor Two-Step beneath the castle walls in the old port. The couple running the local restaurant teach the Shards how to prepare traditional Greek food such as octopus sandwiches! They sail on to the island of Paxi, famous for olive oil and to Ithaca, reputedly the home of the Greek hero, Odysseus.

#24 - Corinth Canal
Before first light, Paul and Sheryl sail from Ithaca towards the shallow Bay of Corinth. They stop at the remote island of Trizonia where a young English woman has established a little yacht club to support her mother who is battling cancer. By chance they run into old friends who drive the Shards inland to the ancient site of Delphi, home of the Delphi Oracle. They continue sailing down the bay and enter the Corinth Canal, a historic canal that divides the Greek mainland from the peninsula of Pelopónissos. It is the most expensive canal in the work (per foot) to take a sailboat through. When they exit from the other end they are in the Aegean Sea. Luckily, the winds are good when they exit the canal and enter the Aegean Sea,

#25 - Greek Islands of the South Aegean
On this cruise of the Saronic and Cyclades Island of Greece, Paul and Sheryl meet up with Stavros Theoharides, the first Greek emmigrant to sail single-handed from the USA back to his homeland of Greece. Stavros takes them on a cruise to his favourite best places in the Saronic Islands and Eastern Pelopónissos peninsula - Hydra, Spetsai and Toló - all easy destinations to reach from Athens on a one-week cruise or charter. At the anchorage in Toló, the weather turns foul and the Shards must set sail for a safer port. While exploring the Pelopónnisos peninsula they meet a shepherd who invites them all back to his farm where he teaches Paul how to milk a sheep! Before leaving for the Cyclades Islands, the Shards fill their water jugs at the spring at the village chapel, said to possess magical properties. They say goodbye to Stavros and sail first to the island of Serifos, then Naxos where they head into the hills on a motorbike visiting the temple of Apollo, an ancient marble quarry and join villagers in the annual fall harvest.

#26 - Passage to Turkey
The sailing season is ending in the Cyclades Islands and so the Shards change course for the Dodeconese Islands to the southeast. En route they stop at the isolated island of Levitha where they dine on goat burgers with the shepherds tending their flocks there. Next stop is the Dodecanese island of Kos, home of Hippocrates, the founder of modern medicine. A French sailor who is a teacher of Classical Greek history shows Sheryl around the ancient temples of the Askeplion, the site of one of the first Schools of Medicine. From Kos, Paul and Sheryl sail to Bodrum, their landfall in Turkey, where they explore the Castle of St.Peter built by Christian crusaders in the 1500’s and now an award-winning museum of Underwater Archeology. Next the Shards sail south to Knidos, the home of the Aphrodite cult, where they anchor beneath the ruins of a vast ancient city and realize they have only just begun to discover what there is to see in Turkey.