Tracey and I have just commenced construction of our very own Grand Designs in so much as we are self building a long dreamed of off-grid house in our little…
Cruising life
Through the French Canals to the Med in a yacht
One thing everyone knows about taking a sailing yacht into the French canals is that you have to take the mast – or masts – down first. Yet, while we…
Yacht deliveries: How to get your yacht from A to B
Perhaps your treasured yacht is in the wrong place at the wrong time? Does it need to be somewhere else, soon? Don’t have the time, crew, or experience to remedy…
Escaping the crowds in Northeast Greece
The islands in northeast Greece immediately have a different feel from the west and south. Not only do the flotillas fade away but the western tourists are replaced by eastern…
Orca attacks: ‘The orcas shook the boat like a toy’
Departing Nazaré, Portugal at around 0900, we headed south. The day started with no wind and a sizeable swell. The flogging of the sails was incessant but we – my…
Marine toilet: ‘Part of the gig I’m afraid. Get in there, good luck, and call me when you’re done.’
Heads on yachts, as we all know, represent a range of challenges. Some are physical, some mechanical, and some spiritual. My personal date with destiny came after a lovely weekend…
Is a trip up the west coast of Scotland by yacht the ultimate honeymoon?
Adventures that start with a party are some of the best. After the formalities of saying ‘I do’ and celebrating with family and friends, Stuart and I were now married.…
How to get some ‘me’ time at sea – Lu Heikell
Liz Wardley, Volvo Ocean Race legend, famously quipped she was just getting some ‘me time’ while suspended 30-odd metres above the deck at the top of the mast on a…
‘The boat smashes the shore and the floor bows inwards with each blow’
Setting sail from the Black Sea my husband K and I have enjoyed wonderful journeys through the Bosphorus, Marmara, the Dardanelles and the Aegean, cruising south along the western Turkish…
‘Why I fear a loss of freedom at sea’ – Pete Goss
Much like Asterix, the cartoon character from Gaul, I have never once considered that our coastal sea might one day find the generosity of its appetite being stretched. As a…