It was Cowes Week on the Isle of Wight off the coast of Southern England, the place was buzzing with yachties from all over the world. The bay was full of the latest and biggest racing yachts of the 1970’s, the Britannia with Prince Charles on board was anchored next to us, we were on the 140 ft Baltic trader we had been living on … Continue reading Three Sheets to the Wind
Wake Up! We’re being attacked by pirates! It was 11.00 pm. Being the boring person I am, I was asleep in my cabin, others were drinking cocktails on the after deck, sampling chocolate at the late night chocolate fountain and generally being and having lots of fun. I later learned that the cocktail drinkers on the after deck had by chance seen a small, open … Continue reading Just Over the Horizon
The only way to get across The Drake Passage I’ve decided is to lie on your bunk and will it to all be over as soon as possible and the only thing worse than hugging your bed to stay on it through the relentlessly enormous waves is the crawl on all fours to the bathroom. It really can be anywhere between ghastly and absolutely terrifying. … Continue reading The Great Southern Ocean
Yes! Of course I’ll be able to sail her! I had been sailing and racing yachts most of my life in Auckland, I wasn’t too keen on going up onto the yards to release the sails, but if someone else did that I would be fine! HA! WHAT A JOKE! We were living on board the 140 foot Brigantine “Esther Lohse” built in 1949 in … Continue reading Walking the Plank
TRAVELS PAST & PRESENT 