Category Archives: Archives

 Whilst looking around the marina of Marigot on the French/Dutch island of St Marten last year, Ruth and I were approached by Karin of “Tradewinds”. She soon talked us into a morning aboard a Catamaran 51 which led us, as we knew it would, to a sailing week in the Grenadines this February. Some thought [...]

Prior to this Spring, the last time I went sailing was in 1984, seven days of what the brochure described as ‘gentle cruising’ around the Outer Hebrides, on John Ridgway’s 57ft ketch. In my naivity, I thought nothing of its large size, as we battled the high winds out to St Kilda, until I went [...]

Andy Blackstonehas organised a six month long campaign in the X332 class on Dragonfly Too. The campaign has comprised a number of events, all “round the cans” races, in the Solent, leading up to the X332 Nationals and essentially divided in two groups:
* The Spring Series, skippered by Andy, which was intended to give exposure [...]

For the majority of HSSC members, the prospect of a weekend’s sailing is something they look forward to with relish. Throw in a few extra ingredients, such as idyllic weather conditions, a professional crew and a chance to sail the East Coast on an authentic Thames Barge and the package is irresistible.
Unless, like me, you [...]

It was about 3.45 in the morning and I had been standing watch since midnight. The temperature was just above freezing and I was wearing six layers of clothing, a woolly hat, scarf, gloves, wet weather gear, and sea boots. We were in fairly high seas with sea state of around 5 to 6. I [...]

There are several advantages of a trip south to N Spain The journey is only about 60 times as long as a sail from Lymington to Cowes with 58 times less chance of a row with your crew for bungling [...]

WEEK FOUR – Tuesday 5th – Monday 12th August Dunmore East to Courtmacsherry
We went over to get fuel and tied next to a huge fishing boat. Having sorted this out we left the harbour at 10 a.m. for a pleasant, short trip to Dungarvon. The winds were still light and the sun shining. Coming into [...]

Well 4 actually as one of our crew came down with food poisoning on the departure day…
0100hrs Sat 24th August 2002.
Steve Moss, Louise duBosky, Dave Ramet & Fennella Flor cast off “Delta Blue”, a Sun Odysea 34.2, from Lymington Yacht Haven to catch the ebb tide through The Needles.
Destination : Alderney, Channel Islands, alternate [...]

We were off at last at 0750 hours on the 24th of October 2000. Some 4430 miles after leaving the Hamble in 1998, Dr Doolittle was now on the final 146 mile leg to Israel, intending to sail from Limassol to Haifa. The last delay was finding the harbour police to retrieve our passports. On [...]