Misty Islands

A fantastic account of a voyage by Miles and Beryl Smeeton sailing the length of Japan, then across to Alaska, running down the US Pacific seaboard, through the Panama Canal, then up around the top of Iceland, and to the Faroe islands on the way back to England, in fact Stornoway in Scotland..

The story is all told in a matter of fact, calm and common sense manner, that's so different to the many sailing you-tuber's, and reminiscent of a mostly by-gone world where unshakeable self-assurance is rooted in deep experience rather than loud validation.

 There's a passage in the book where Miles mindful of sharks inwardly lost his temper when Beryl decided she would go over the side to cut free a line which was tangling the propeller. "No you're bloody well not, give me that knife" was his reply, and then spend an uncomfortable time in the water cutting free the prop, imagining circling sharks anxious to feed and exasperated that "she never bloody well thinks of sharks".

It made me re-live a  similar experience, hove to some where off Africa, dangling head down over the transom to repair the damaged wind vane and being dunked from head up to waste by the passing swell. When eventually finished Mrs BB's reaction was very much the same as Beryl's, in my case a quick well done and made breakfast.

If you can find a copy buy it, a great read. 

Half boat - half track

Spotted by friend Greg on the Hamble hard recently, this could be the perfect tender when all you can do is crawl ashore after a hard day's sailing.

 Called the ⁠Iguana X100 which is a "luxury 10-meter amphibious adventure boat capable of driving directly onto the shore using fully integrated, motorized tracks." There are a few on Yachtworld.com for circa £300k for anyone who feels this is an indispensable way to get afloat.

Can't make out the power of the outboards but they look like a lot, the specifications say up to 600HP so probably quite a lot. Motorboat magazine described it prosaically as half boat, half tank.

Certainly useful getting into and out of Benbridge and the other drying harbours around the Solent.

 

Driftwood

It's amazing what washes up after a gale even in the shelter of Southampton water.

 

Ruby

 I've always had a soft spot for Nigel Irens Roxanne and Romilly designs, this one looks to the the smaller of the two the 22 foot Romilly.

The classic hull shape is simply lovely and easily driven with the inevitable restriction on interior space, but as a day sailer and weekender big enough - think lightweight camping.

 We were fortunate to sail and race on a Roxanne some years ago which was great fun, although dropping and taming that huge mainsail was quite a task in the conditions.

Lugworm's epic voyage

I'm not especially a fan of sailing and cruising travel books, they all start off well but they eventually and perhaps inevitably set into a repetitive pattern . No matter how daunting and epic the voyage there are only some many times I want to read about "setting the spitfire stay-sail and had whisky in my tea"  

Not so with Ken Duxbury's account of sailing an open Drascombe from Greece back to the UK, the writing moves along quickly, not too much nautical detail but enought to demonstrate the authenticity of the Duxbury's experience. 

 I first read the book back in the 1980's thinking what a wonderful boat to go off adventure cruising in. In the 1990's I met a couple who had spent 6 weeks cruising the western isles of Scotland in an open Drascombe but somehow life and lack of motivation have always got in the way which is a poor excuse.

These days Igor Stropnik is showing what fantastic adventures can be had in small boats, as does Log of Spartina linked from this blog, so the only thing stopping us is ourselves. 

Down memory creek - Horta

More from 1980's Practical Boat Owner, that looks like Horta with Pico in the distance.

Back in 1998 we were approaching the island of Faial in the Azores archipelago some 24 days out from the British Virgin Islands, all the sailing instructions had warned that we should have capacity for 150Nm or so motoring in the light winds caused by the Azores high.

 In the event we scooted along the southern coast of Faial and sailed right into the outer harbour of Horta before dropping the sails and coming alongside at the customs office.

The islands are probably a great place to explore by boat, but after over a year living on board we became marina dwellers while we were there taking buses around the island and the ferry over to nearby Pico. 

With direct flights  now available from the UK and air B&B's on the island it would be a great place for a holiday even if sailing there isn't a practical proposition.

Laser days

Weston 2nd fleet (apparently we're not supposed to use the term fast and slow fleets any more) comprised mostly Lasers

 The start line was just off the clubhouse due to recent fire damage to the race hut

One of the marks in the clear air and some tide out in Southampton water and a sparking sea on this fine day, things can get a little wild on occasions but still relatively protected water

 Finally back under the shadow of the castle, what a great location to sail.