La Coruna to Gloucester onboard Bessie Ellen Sept. 2023

I joined the 120 year old Gaff ketch Bessie Ellen on Saturday 16th Sept 2023 in the port of La Coruna in Galicia, Northern Spain boasting the worlds only operational Roman lighthouse, Torre de Hércules. Leaving the port port in the late afternoon we were escorted by a pod of around 20 dolphins. The night …

My first transatlantic voyage onboard the Brig Morgenster March 2023

I joined the ship on Friday 10th February 2023 in Marigot bay on the Dutch side of the island of Sint Maarten, the other half of which is administered by France. The next day I helped set the top sail and t-gallant on both the fore and main masts and hoisted the fore course, top …

Island hoping in Cabo Verde aboard schooner Oosterschelde in Feb 2022

This was my third voyage on Oosterschlede having previously sailed from The Canaries to Cabo Verde and from Ullapool to St. Kilda. I joined the ship in Palmeira on the island of Sal on 13th February 2022 I didn’t plan to spend much time on Sal, having been there before I knew there wasn’t a …

Darwin 200 Voyage Aboard Tall Ship Pelican of London in 2021

Whilst covid was still a big problem in 2021 things were starting to open up provided adequate precautions were taken. It was at this time I received an email from Classic Sailing about a last minute cancellation to sail on the Pelican of London on leg two of it’s circumnavigation of the UK . The …

Moving away from US big tech for privacy, security, and geopolitical reasons.

Online privacy and security have always been important but. in recent years our online lives have been dominated by US big tech firms and what they are doing and have done with our data is of great concern. I periodically investigate alternatives to these products and services and thought it maybe worthwhile to document what …

Tall Ship Sailing: Sailing on the gaff ketch Tecla from Reykjavik to Ullapool via the Faroes, Shetland, Fair Isle and Orkney.

Joined ship on Sat 27th August 2022 Set sail heading North but due to prevailing easterly it wasn’t possible to sail to the Westermann islands. So North it was to the Hornstdir nature reserve. During my 12-4 am watch we saw the Northern lights. We continued sailing East past the Western fjords and set anchor …