Category: Expeditions
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Preparations for the North West Passage – One week to go!
26th July 2023 Rotherhithe Reading time: 5 Minutes The adventure seems to be attracting a fair bit of press. The Telegraph had this write up and PBO had this. Stirling and Son’s Facebook page has this amazing video of what I should expect and, although I have sailed on Integrity before, this looks like pretty…
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How long does it take to prepare for an Arctic voyage from the UK?
16th May 2023 – London Reading time: 15 minutes Clearly there is no straightforward answer to such a wishy-washy question. It depends so much on whether you, and your boat, have made previous high latitude voyages. Even the location of your boat in the UK could affect the timing. To stick my neck out, I…
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Happy New Year everyone! 2023
December 27th 2022 I hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas and are now enjoying a well deserved rest. At times like this we often look back on the year that is about to slip away. For a while, I felt like 2022 was a bit of a failure after I decided not to…
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The Royal Irish Yacht Club – Giving a talk on sailing to Jan Mayen
3rd November 2022 – Dun Laoghaire I was invited to give a talk about my expedition to Jan Mayen to members of the Royal Irish Yacht Club. Any excuse to visit Ireland is very welcome so I grabbed at the chance. I don’t like flying unless it is really essential and as there is a…
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Vertue Yachts Website
This is a great website run by Roger Robinson to provide information about Vertue Yachts. Not to be confused with the old Vertue Owners Association website which was successfully run by Mathew Powers for many years. Vertueyachts.com is more archival with loads of technical information but there are also regular newsletters which are worth signing…
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And now long trick is finally over
Day 83 Scoresby Sund Expedition Rotherhithe, London Last Thursday we collected our Parson Russell Terrier from the Dog Sitters. My fear that Tilman would no longer recognise me was soon dispelled! It was so nice to see him again. I now can officially declare the failed Scoresby Sund Expedition is over. It is the first…
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The long trick is (almost) over -Stornoway to Dunstaffnage in pictures
Scoresby Sund Expedition Day 70 to 87. Although Sumara never made it to Scoresby Sund, our arrivals and departures added up to an even number, so it wasn’t a complete disaster! When does the trip come to an end? It’s when I am reunited with Tilman, our Parson Russell Terrier. I am hoping he still…
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Iceland to Scotland
Scoresby Sund Expedition 2022 Days 69. 18th August 2022 Position: Stornoway, Outer Hebrides, Scotland Weather: Windy with sunshine and showers My last proper post was made in Raufarhofn, Northern Iceland. I did compose a quick post when we had our pit-stop in Seydisfjordur on the East Coast but never found any Wi-Fi before we shot…
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Sat Phone update…
Day 65 Scoresby Sund Expedition Position N 60.52.7 x W7.38.04 Just SW of the Faroe Islands Weather: Light southerly, calm sea It’s getting warmer – at last! Although we are only making slow progress south, averaging about 4 knots, each day brings a little more warmth. This watch is the first watch without needing to wear my massive sea…
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Sat Phone update…
Received Saturday 13th August at 08.47 GMT Day 64 Scoresby Sund Expedition Position: 62.49N x 09.0WSpeed 3.3 kn, Course 165 MWeather: Much calmer now. Force 3 SW The Magnetic Attraction of the Faroes It seems Sumara just wants to go there! The last two days have been pretty awful bashing into steep seas with strong…